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MEMORIALS
OF
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V OL. I.
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In Memory of
NG
STEPHEN SPAULDING
1907 1925
CLASS of 1927
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

1
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MEMORIALS
OF
LIVERPOOL
VOL. I.-HISTORICAL
}
LONDON: PRINTED BY
SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
AND PARLIAMENT STREET
די
I
:
awn by 9.Austin. Esq
LIVERPOOL, FROM THE MERSEY, MY UK
COMME
THE SHIP-BUILDING YAKDE AND LADING 1.
· THE UNK
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WARZ
Robi Wallis, dirent

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}
MEMORIALS
OF
LIVERPOOL
HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL
INCLUDING
A HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE
amee
BY
Allamente
A.
PICTON, F.S.A.
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. I.-HISTORICAL
LONDON
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
All rights reserved
1873
PREFACE.
CONS
YONSIDERING the number of publications which
have been issued about Liverpool, the obtrusion on
the public of two rather bulky volumes may seem to
require some apology.
Possibly this may be afforded by the very multiplicity
of the works alluded to, which necessitates a large
amount of collation and arrangement to bring the infor-
mation within the scope of the ordinary reader. Apart,
however, from this, there are other reasons which render
the present time opportune for a work of this description.
Although histories, guides, and handbooks are so nume-
rous, there are extremely few which present any indi-
cations of original research. For the most part they
are meagre in the information given; the same super-
ficial history is repeated in each; the same errors are
perpetuated from one to the other. To this sweeping
charge there are some honourable exceptions.
Thomas Baines was the first to depart from the beaten
track, and to bring into the field the results of the
examination of original and contemporary documents.
Mr. James Stonehouse, also, has rendered good service
in securing a large amount of floating traditional infor-
mation on manners, customs, and localities.
Mr.
I have endeavoured to follow in the same track. At
vi
PREFACE.
the present day the inquiring mind of the public is not
content with the apocryphal narratives which satisfied
our credulous predecessors. Information at first hand
is demanded as the basis of all veritable history. In
this way, documents of the most miscellaneous kind, if
contemporary with the period treated of, frequently con-
stitute materials of the utmost value. It has been my
effort in the following pages to bring together, from
every available source, a true record of the rise and
progress of my native town.
In addition to the documents already brought to light
which afford original information on the history of the
town, there are doubtless many others extant amongst
the papers of our old borough and county families-
packets of letters, rent-rolls, inquisitions, wills, &c.-
which, if examined and collated, would assist in the
illustration of Liverpool life in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. This task must be left to future
inquirers.
But it is especially in the topographical portion of
this work that the present time is peculiarly opportune.
The improvements and changes in the Liverpool streets
and buildings during the last half-century have been so
great, and the extension of the suburbs so enormous,
that the very aspect of the town and neighbourhood,
and those legends and traditions which grow up in
every locality, and impart a flavour and raciness to its
associations, are in danger of being forgotten.
Towards the illustration of this part of the subject I
may claim to have possessed certain advantages. The
nature of my avocations for many years has necessarily
made me familiar with the various districts of the town,
PREFACE.
vii
and the changes which have taken place in them. To
the next generation these features will be as strange as
the picture of a foreign country.
As to the manner in which I have executed my task,
my readers will, I am sure, exercise a fair and candid
judgment. No doubt errors will be discovered, and
criticism may be very properly applied to the literary
workmanship; but I can honestly say, I have done the
best in my power to present a true and faithful picture
from the materials within my reach.
I do not expect a large circle of readers, nor have I
provided for them.¹ Provincial history and topography
are not usually very attractive to the general student.
Our streets are not, like those of the metropolis, irra-
diated with the memories of the great, the noble, and
the gifted, who have trod their precincts, and rendered
them for ever memorable. My pages are filled with
names and incidents, the interest of which is circum-
scribed within very narrow limits.
And yet there are elements in the history of Liverpool
which should invest it with some amount of interest to
every thoughtful mind. It is the story of patient perse-
verance and successful enterprise; of the triumph of that
indomitable spirit which has led the descendants of the
Saxon thegns and the Danish Vikings to plough with
their keels the seas of every clime, and to raise their
standard on every continent. Many problems, political
and social, may receive light from the ever-changing but
progressive history of a great commercial community.
A large proportion of the details are doubtless trivial,
and comparatively insignificant; but if capacity and
1 The edition is limited to 400 copies.
VOL. I.
a
viii
PREFACE.
power to serve their generation be the test, the names
of such men as Ralph Sekerston and Sir Thomas John-
son, Liverpool merchants of the olden time, have as good
a claim to be recorded as those of the world-renowned
George Heriot or Sir Thomas Gresham.
However imperfect may have been the execution of
my task, the information here brought together may
serve as a basis for future historians to extend and
embellish. For the benefit of such I have added an
Appendix, containing a list of the published works and
other sources of information on Liverpool. I have also
appended a copious Index for reference.
J. A. P.
SANDYKNOWE,
WAVERTREE, NEAR LIVERPOOL:
November 1872.
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
HISTORICAL.
CHAPTER
PAGE
L
FROM
THE EARLIEST
TO THE
PERIOD
END
OF THE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY
1-83
II.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
III.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
IV.
NINETEENTH CENTURY FROM 1800 TO THE CLOSE OF
THE REIGN OF GEORGE II1.
84-172
173-293
•
294-415
V.
NINETEENTH CENTURY ;
REIGNS
OF GEORGE
IV.
AND
416-561
WILLIAM IV. 1820-1837
VI. NINETEENTH CENTURY, REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA
562-635
VII.
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE
636-704

E
LIVERPOOL, FROM THE MERSEY, N? I,
2000
NORTH.
!

MEMORIALS
OF
LIVERPOOL.
CHAPTER I.
FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE END OF THE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
THE TOWN of LIVERPOOL is generally regarded by
strangers as something akin to the parvenu who never
had a grandfather:
Genus et proavos et quæ non fecimus ipsi
Vix ea nostra voco.
Whatever our claims to respect may be, they are usually
identified with the modern and recent. The expansion of
our commerce, and the spirit of modern improvement,
have done much to obliterate our ancient landmarks, and,
almost with the facility of Aladdin's genii of the lamp,
have substituted palaces for hovels, stone for brick, and
spacious thoroughfares for narrow tortuous lanes. Like
honest Dogberry, we have got-metaphorically speaking
--two new coats, and everything handsome about us.
:
CHAP.
I.
Pre-
historic.

Notwithstanding all this, Liverpool is not quite reduced
to the condition of the undemonstrative knife-grinder. Incidents.
We have a story to tell a story of small beginnings and
great results; of early feebleness, long stagnation ap-
proaching to decay; with a reaction to progress almost
VOL. I.
B
2
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
CHAP. unparalleled. Nor are we quite destitute of the elements
of medieval romance. We have had a feudal castle,
with its donjon, moat, and subterranean passages.
We
have possessed an embattled tower, one or more ancient
manor houses, and chantry chapels in our church. We
have been protected by walls and gates, and have stood
the brunt of three sieges. Our charter of incorporation
is one of the oldest in the kingdom, and we have returned
members to Parliament from the time when the first
Royal Writ of Summons gave a local habitation and a
name' to the Commons of England.
Charters.
Natural
surface.
Estuary.
We have only to scratch beneath the surface anywhere,
to find relics of the foundations of past ages, and we have
only to perambulate our streets with an observant eye
and a little research, to call up memories of bygone days,
not perhaps of the medieval period, but interesting, ast
illustrating the growth and progress of the town, and the
manners and customs of the olden time.
The part of the country in which Liverpool is situated
was not very distinguished in the earliest periods of our
history. The south-western district of Lancashire, com-
prising the hundred of West Derby, was exceedingly slow
in development, remaining in a state of rusticity and bar-
barism long after the southern and eastern counties had
become flourishing seats of wealth and commerce. The
natural surface of the land had much to do with this.
Composed almost entirely of members of the great triassic
formation, the undulating sandstone ridges were generally
barren heaths, the depressions occupied by peat mosses,
and the intermediate portions where land of moderate
quality existed were covered with wild forests.
The estuary of the river Mersey is of course the great
feature of Liverpool. Its course is here nearly due north
and south. Into these tidal waters a small stream, fed by
a peat moss on the elevated land to the eastward, ran in
an oblique line from north-east to south-west, forming at
its mouth an open pool or sea-lake, of which many similar

PREHISTORIC CONDITION.
تن
existed on both sides of the river. The triangular piece
of land thus separated rose near its extremity to an eleva-
tion of about fifty feet above the river, where the sand-
stone protruded through the boulder clay which covered
the lower levels.
CHAP.
I.
relics.
stones.
No relics of primeval man have been discovered within Primeval
the precincts of the borough, but in the immediate neigh-
bourhood there are indications of settlements of a very
high antiquity. About three and a half miles from Liver-
pool Exchange, at the meeting point of three townships,
stand five unhewn upright stones, the remains of a circle.
called from time immemorial the 'Calder Stones.'1 These Calder
stones are noteworthy, not only as a specimen of the
stone circles to be met with in many other parts of the
kingdom, but as offering remarkable examples of the cup
and ring carvings occasionally to be met with, presenting
almost every known and recognised type of these cut-
tings. Professor Sir James Y. Simpson, of Edinburgh,
who has written a very interesting memoir on the sub-
ject, ascribes these remains to the early stone period,
before the introduction of metallic tools, and asserts that
the chisellings and carvings can be all easily imitated
even on granite rocks, by flint weapons and a mallet. He
maintains that this and similar structures, with the relics
found in connection with them, 'point to a race different
from, and seemingly anterior to the appearance of the
Celtic race in our islands.'
2
inhabi-
tants.
If this view (a view held by some of our first archæolo- Aboriginal
gists) ultimately prove to be correct, then we have in the
Calder stones, within hail as it were of the busy mart and
great modern city of Liverpool, a stone structure erected
and carved by a Turanian race, who dwelt in this same
locality, and lived and died in this same home, many long
1 Galdar signifies in Anglo-Saxon a wizard, an enchanter, a term not
unlikely to have been applied by the rude Saxon immigrants to a structure
of whose mysterious import they were ignorant.
2 Historic Society's Transactions,' vol. xvii. (1864–5) p. 257.
B 2
4
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
Ancient
cemetery.
Cymric
period.
Roman
roads.
centuries before Roman or Saxon, Dane or Norman, set
his invading foot upon the shores of Britain; and possibly
anterior to that far more distant date, when in their
migrations westward the Cymry and Gael first reached
this remote Isle of the Sea.'
6
In July 1867, in sinking the foundations for some villas
at Olive Mount, Wavertree, about a mile from the site of
the Calder stones, the workmen came upon the site of
an ancient cemetery, in which were found a number of
earthenware urns, containing ashes and burnt bones. The
pottery was of an extremely rude and archaic type, the
paste coarse and thick, abounding in pounded stone; the
only ornamentation the impression of a thong or cord
whilst the paste was moist. The only implements found
were a few flint arrow- and spear heads. Most of the
urns were destroyed by the workmen in digging. Two
have been preserved with their contents, and are depo-
sited in the Liverpool Public Museum. There can be
little doubt that these relics belong to the same pre-
historic age as the Calder stones.
Under the Cymric or British occupation, the site of
Liverpool was on the southern margin of the territory of
the Brigantes; the opposite shore of Cheshire being the
northern boundary of the Cornavii. The reminiscences
of the ancient Britons are extremely scanty in this part,
consisting principally of references in the names of places
to natural features, such as the river Douglas (black and
blue), Tew (muddy) brook, &c.
6
Under the Roman dominion this part of Lancashire
was included in the province of Maxima Cæsariensis,'
but it appears to have been entirely neglected by the
great conquerors. The nearest Roman road crossed the
Mersey at Warrington, west of which I am not aware
that any authentic Roman remains have been found. The
strangest fact connected with the Roman occupation is
that the estuary of the Mersey appears to have been
entirely unknown at that period. It is not mentioned
ROMAN PERIOD.
5
I.
either in the Geography of Ptolemy (the second century), CHAP.
nor in the Itinerary of Antonine (probably the third cen-
tury), though the Dee, the Wyre, and the Ribble, are all
noticed. Had the noble estuary of the Mersey then
existed in anything like its present volume it would have
been impossible to have overlooked it, and in the highest
degree improbable that it should not have been utilised.
In the time of the Romans the Ribble seems to have Rivers.
been the chief port of this district, and Ribchester (Rigo-
dunum) is said to have been a city as great as any out of
Rome; the port was Poulton, below Preston at the Neb
of the Naze, so vastly inferior at the present time to
various situations on the Mersey and the Dee, that it is
impossible not to admit that some extraordinary change
has taken place in their physical condition since that
period. Tradition says that the port of the Ribble was
destroyed by an earthquake, and also that there were
tremendous inundations in Cheshire and Lancashire about
the termination of the Roman dominion in Britain.
Various phenomena we have seen point to some such
catastrophe.' 1
Mersey.
This opinion is strongly confirmed by the frequent River
occurrence of submarine forests on the shores, and of
peat mosses extending under the sands below the level of
the sea.
It seems probable that the broad sheet of water
from the Sloyne up to Runcorn was originally a fresh-
water lake, the overflow of which found its way to the
sea by a comparatively small outlet through low marshy
lands, and that either by the subsidence of the coast line,
or from some other natural cause, the sea broke in and
formed the present narrow portion of the estuary. If
this were so, as there would be no harbour, the insigni-
ficant stream might well be overlooked by the Roman
geographers.
In the absence of all historical evidence it would be
¹ Report of Messrs. Telford, Stevenson, and Nimmo on the Rivers Dee
and Mersey, in May 1828.
#
6
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
Anglo-
Saxons.
an impossible attempt to fix the exact period at which
this incursion of the sea, fraught with such important
consequences, occurred. It may, however, be inferred
approximately. It could not have taken place before
A.D. 400, or we should most probably have had a notice
of it in some Latin author; and it must have been an
accomplished fact before the incursions of the Danes in
the ninth century, as they sailed up the estuary and set-
tled at various points on the coast.
The Anglo-Saxons obtained possession of the district
in the latter half of the sixth century, and founded the
petty kingdom of Deira-so called in all probability from
the wild state of the country, abounding in game-which
included all the lands north of the Mersey and Humber
as far as the Tees. In A.D. 617, Deira and Bernicia were
united under Edwin, forming the kingdom of Northum-
bria. We still retain in Liverpool some reminiscences of
this period of our history, before the conversion of our
Anglo-Saxon forefathers to Christianity. Two eminences
Low Hill. on the east side of the town are called respectively Low
Brownlow Hill and Brown-Low Hill. Low is a corruption of A.-S.
Hill.
Danish
Dames.
hláw, a tumulus or grave-mound, which in the times of
Saxon heathendom it was customary to throw up over the
remains of distinguished persons. As these tumuli were
usually erected on eminences, the hill and the mound
became associated together under the same name, of
which we find numerous instances in all parts of the
country. The grave-mounds in the present case have
disappeared ages ago, but there can be little doubt that
in the names Low Hill and Brownlow Hill, we preserve
the faint memory of the interment of chief men of our
own race, more than twelve hundred years since.
In the ninth century the Danes, after ravaging the
country, began to establish themselves along the coast.
The nomenclature of the district round Liverpool exhibits
a curious mixture of Anglo-Saxon and Danish; Toxteth,
Walton, Everton, Bootle, belonging to the former, and
SAXON PERIOD.
7
I.
Kirkdale, West Derby, Crosby, Roby, to the latter. The CHAP.
Danish names are limited to the curved line of coast
between Birkdale (Southport) and Widnes, and the chord
line connecting the two extremities.
6
That the Danish settlement near Liverpool was of some
importance may be inferred from the existence of the
Thing-Wald,' or hill of counsel the forum and place of
justice, which remains to this day under the same name,
Thingwall,' about four miles from Liverpool.
6
The kingdom of Northumbria was converted to Chris- Northum-
tianity about A.D. 627, and it is only reasonable to infer bria.
that soon after this date churches began to be erected,
and some kind of ecclesiastical jurisdiction established,
but the present divisions of the parishes and townships
are of much later origin. They date from a period
subsequent to the Danish invasion, and are probably
referable to the reign of Alfred the Great (849–901).
The sparseness of the population and its rude state in
contrast with the southern and eastern parts of the island
may be illustrated by a single example. The counties
of Lancaster and Norfolk contain nearly equal areas,
the original division of the counties into hundreds and
parishes, it is natural to suppose that the amount of popu-
lation formed an important, if not the sole element.
Norfolk is divided into thirty-three hundreds and 740
parishes. Lancashire, with the same extent of territory,
has only six hundreds and sixty-six parishes, We may
thus fairly infer that at the time of their formation, say
the end of the ninth century, Norfolk was ten times as
populous as Lancashire.
In Hundreds
and
parishes,
Mersey.
The earliest mention of the river Mersey is in a deed River
of the reign of Ethelred A,D, 1004. The origin of the
name it is not easy to determine, but it seems only
reasonable to conjecture that it has some connection with
the name of the kingdom of Mercia (A.-S. Myrcnaric) of
which it formed the northern boundary,
So matters remained until the period of the Norman
8
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
Oswald.
6
CHAP. Conquest. We have glimpses during the Saxon times of
good King Oswald residing at his pleasant retreat at
Winwick, and being there defeated and slain in battle
by the heathen Penda, King of Mercia in A.D. 642, the
locality being called Mackerfield,' the field of slaughter,
to this day. We find, subsequently, that Edward the
Confessor had a manor and an aerie of hawks at West
Derby. All this time we have no mention of Liverpool.
Domesday When the Domesday survey was made in 1086, we find
survey.
Roger de
Poitou.
Henry I.
a record of the manor of Esmedune, occupying at least a
portion of the site of modern Liverpool. Of this I shall
have to speak more fully by and by.
The land on which Liverpool stands was part of the
fief (inter Ripam et Mersham) granted by the Conqueror
to Roger de Poitou, one of the great family of Mont-
gomery. After losing it once during the reign of the
grantor, he regained and held it during the life of
William Rufus, but was finally ejected by Henry I. after
the great battle on the Severn. The fief was then con-
ferred on Stephen de Blois, afterwards King Stephen, and
on his fall it passed to his successor Henry II. It was
possessed for about twelve years by William de Blois,
brother of Stephen, and on his decease again reverted to
the Crown.
Attempts have been made to show that charters were
granted to Liverpool before the end of the twelfth
century. Enfield mentions one by Henry I. in 1129,
and there is a dubious entry in the corporation records
under the date of 1581, alluding to two supposed charters
of Henry I., which are not given or quoted. Another
charter is given in full by Troughton in his history,
Henry II. ascribed to Henry II., A.D. 1173. This is also quoted
by Mr. E. Baines in his 'History of Lancashire,'¹ on the
authority of a copy which he says is preserved in the
handwriting of the late Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke.' Not the
slightest proof is attempted of the authenticity of these
1 Vol. iv. p. 57.
TWELFTH CENTURY.
9
documents, which may safely be pronounced clumsy
forgeries.¹
>
CHAP.
I.
There can be no question that King John was the John.
real founder of the borough and port of Liverpool. He
is not usually considered a model prince; nor is it cus-
tomary to pour out libations to his 'pious, glorious, and
immortal memory,' yet I confess to feeling, something
like Burns in his Address to the De'il,' rather a sneak-
ing sort of regard for him. The ancient and loyal
borough of Liverpool acknowledges him as her municipal
founder, and perhaps on that account he is as well worthy
of notice as many of the founders' whose memory
Oxford delights annually to celebrate. It must be ad-
mitted that in his selection of the site for the castle and
the port he showed the eye of a strategist and the fore-
sight of a statesman.
The circumstances which led to this event were the A.D. 1170.
following. After the expedition of Strongbow, Earl of
Pembroke, in 1170, and the partial conquest of Ireland,
the communication between the two countries became an
object of great importance, and the attention of the ruling
powers was directed to the provision of suitable ports of
arrival and departure. The south-west of England was
well supplied by Bristol and Milford Haven, but the
north-western district was by no means so well provided
for. The Ribble had lost its ancient prestige and the
· Portus Setantiorum' of the Romans was silted up and
abandoned. The river Dee at Chester, which during
the Roman and Saxon periods had been the great port of
the district, had become in consequence of the shallow-
ing of its channel almost useless for the embarkation of
1 The spurious charter of Henry II., given by Troughton, is said to have
been fabricated by a Mr. James Williamson, for the purpose of selling it to the
Corporation, who were anxious to show that Liverpool had been a borough
by prescription long before the time of King John. To show this, he in-
serted the phrase 'Lyrpul quondam vocata Litherpul,' which Troughton
has absurdly travestied by 'Lyrpul quondum vocant Litherpul,' which con-
veys no meaning whatever.
10
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
1170.
CHAP. troops. At Shotwick, about eight miles lower down the
Dee, on the Cheshire shore, a quay was constructed and
a castle built to protect it from the incursive Welsh
neighbours. Further accommodation was still wanting,
and it was not long in being provided.
Gilbert de
Furnesis.
Warine.
Grant to
Fitz-
warine,
In the early part of the reign of Henry II., Gilbert de
Furnesis or Furness, Baron of Kendal, was appointed the
king's receiver for the honour of Lancaster, and his
youngest son Warine or Warren was made keeper of the
castle and prison of Lancaster. As a reward for his
services, Warine received from the Crown amongst other
possessions the manors of Litherland, French Lea, and
Liverpool. The deed of grant is not extant, but its
existence is proved by a subsequent deed executed by
King John when Earl of Mortaigne, about the year 1190,
confirming the possession of the property to Henry Fitz-
warren, the son of the Warine above mentioned, in which
the previous deed is alluded to and the name of Liver-
pool first occurs. The grant runs as follows:
6
Know ye that we have granted, and by this our deed
confirmed, to Henry, the son of Warine de Lancaster, the
lands which King Henry our father gave to Warine his
father, that is Ravensmeols, Ainsdale, Litherland, Liverpool,
and French Lea, and eight pence (rent) in the borough
of Preston.'1
It is almost certain that the attention of John, whilst
regent in his brother's absence in the Holy Land, had
been called to the advantageous site of Liverpool for a
port. Very early in his reign he executed another deed
of confirmation to Henry Fitzwarine of the lands above
mentioned with the exception of Liverpool, which is
omitted from the list. By the accounts in the Pipe Rolls,
and the statements in the Testa de Neville of offices held
under the Crown, it appears that large sums were ex-
pended in West Derbyshire in the third and fourth years
I quote the translation from Mr. T. Baines ('Liverpool,' p. 73) not
having access to the original,
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
11
of John's reign in strengthening the castles in that district.
Toxteth was at the same date formed into a royal park.
CHAP.
I.
1206.
In the year 1206 John visited Lancashire. On Fe-
bruary 26th he was at Lancaster, and on the 28th at
Chester. It cannot absolutely be proved that he passed
through Liverpool on his journey, but all the proba-
bilities lie that way, as his subsequent proceedings indi-
cate his interest in the locality. On the 28th of the A.D. 1207.
following August (1207) he formally entered into pos-
session of Liverpool by a deed of confirmation and
exchange with the aforesaid Henry Fitzwarine as fol-
lows:
6
with Fitz-
John, by the grace of God, &c. Know ye that we Exchange
have granted, and by our present charter have confirmed warine.
to Henry Fitzwarine of Lancaster, the lands which King
Henry our father gave to Warine his father, for his
services; to wit, Ravensmeols, Ainsdale, and the French
Lea, and eight pence rent in the Borough of Preston-
and the English Lea which we have given to him in
exchange for Liverpool-and Up-Litherland, which the
aforesaid Henry our father had given with the aforesaid
lands, to the aforesaid Warine his father, and which the
said Henry hath remised to us and our heirs; to be holden
to him and his heirs, &c.'1
This document was signed at Winchester, witnessed by
a number of the earls and barons of the day, and counter-
signed by the Archdeacon of Wells.
At the same time and place was executed the first
charter constituting the borough of Liverpool. From its
language it may be fairly inferred that the burgages
alluded to had already been commenced, which would
confirm the inference of John's personal visit some
eighteen months previously. The following are the
exact terms of the charter in the original, supplying the
contractions:
¹ The remainder of the deed it is unnecessary to quote.
12
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
CHAP.
I.
1207.
John's
charter.
CARTA REGIS JOHANNIS
Rex omnibus qui burgagia apud villam de Liverpul
habere voluerint, &c. Sciatis quod concessimus omnibus
qui burgagia apud Liverpul cepint quod habeant omnes
libertates et liberas consuetudines in villa de Liverpul
quas aliquis liber burgemotus super mare habet in terra
nostra. Et nos vobis mandamus quod secure et in pace
nostra illuc veniatis ad burgagia nostra recipienda et
hospitanda. Et in hujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras
patentes vobis transmittimus. Teste Simon de Pateshill
apud Winton xxviii die Aug. anno regni nostri nono.'
John's
charter.
Burgages.
Castle.
CHARTER OF KING JOHN.
'The King to all who may be willing to have burgages
at the town of Liverpul, &c. Know ye that we have
granted to all who shall take burgages at Liverpul, that
they shall have all liberties and free customs in the town
of Liverpul, which any free borough on the sea hath in
our land. And we command you that securely and in
our peace you may come there to receive and inhabit
our burgages. And in testimony hereof we transmit to
you these our letters patent. Witness Simon de Pates-
hill at Winchester the 28th day of August, in the ninth
year of our reign.'
The burgages' mentioned in the charter were tene-
ments or dwellings which must have been constructed
by the king's order before the charter was granted.¹
The original form of the town was dictated by the
necessities of the case. The castle occupied the most
prominent position commanding the slope to the beach
on three sides. On the fourth or north side a street ran
1 Littleton, sect. 162, says of burgage, 'Tenure en Burgage est lou
attiennement Burgh est, de que le Roy est Seignior, et ceux que ont tene-
ments deins le Bourg teignont del Roy leur tenements, doit payer al Roy
un certain rent par an.'
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
13
CHAP.
I.
1207.
from the castle gate. There were two approaches to the
town from the land side. One from the east crossed the
Pool brook at the end of Dale Street, and crossing Castle
Street approached the sea by the line of Water Street. Streets.
The other approaching from the north curved westward,
forming the line of Tithebarn Street and Chapel Street.
Between these two cross streets ran the High Street, and
at each intersection our pious ancestors set up a cross,
one called the High Cross, the other the White Cross.
These burgage tenements were no doubt humble
enough in their construction, probably for the most part
built with oak framing from the wood of West Derby,
filled in with wattle and clay. As trade prospered, here
and there a stone house would be erected, a town hall
for the meetings of the burgesses, and by and by a
chapel of ease to the mother-church at Walton.
Court.
After granting the charter to the new borough King A.D. 1208.
John ordered the Hundred or Wapentake Court of West Hundred
Derby to be removed to Liverpool, where we find it
recognised in a Pipe Roll of 1208.
From the Patent Rolls and the sheriffs' accounts we
learn that use was made of Liverpool in the reign of
John for shipping stores and reinforcements to Ireland
and to Wales. In 1215 the town was garrisoned for
the king during the rising which took place after the
granting of the Great Charter.
The borough and port seems to have commenced its A.D. 1222.
career prosperously. In the 6th Henry III. (1222),
fifteen years after its foundation, a tallage or subsidy was
levied on all the king's manors, according to a valuation.
Liverpool was assessed at 5 marks, equal to 50l. at the
present day. West Derby had fallen to 1 mark or 107.
In the 13th Henry III. (1229) a new charter was A.D. 1229.
granted to Liverpool, which presents some points very Charter.
significant of the progress of the borough and of the
tendencies of the times. The charter of John was based
on the widest principles of free trade. The king offered
14
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1229.
C
his burgages to all who chose to come and settle at
Liverpool, with liberties and free customs to all alike.
In the course of twenty-two years vested interests had
grown up. The burgesses in possession wished to keep
the good things to themselves, and we see in the charter
obtained at this date symptoms of a protectionist and
exclusive policy. Henry does not, like his father, grant
'to all who shall take burgages at Liverpul' liberties
and free customs; but he enacts that the burgesses of
the same borough shall have a mercatorial guild (gildam
mercatoriam) with a hanse and other liberties and free
customs to the same guild pertaining; and that no one
who is not of the same guild shall transact any merchan-
dise in the said borough, unless by consent of the same
burgesses. We have also granted to the same burgesses,
and their heirs, that they shall have sac and soc, and
thol and theam, and infangenethef, and that they shall
Privileges. be quit throughout our whole land, and through all
seaports, of toll, lastage, passage, pontage, and stallage;
and that they shall do no suit of counties and wapen-
takes for their tenures which they hold within the
borough aforesaid,' &c.
chant.
Some of these terms will probably require a little
explanation. The first privilege granted is that of a
Guild mer- mercatorial guild. The word is of Teutonic origin, and
originally signified a rateable payment, which was made
by the members of the societies for mutual help, which
were a prominent feature of the Anglo-Saxon polity.
English guilds are noticed as recognised institutions in the
laws of Alfred, Ina, and Athelstane. They survived the
Norman conquest, and were frequently confirmed in
their privileges by the two Williams and Henry I. They
are typical of the self-reliance and power of combination
which has always distinguished the English character.
Municipal corporations are only one type out of a variety
of forms which the guilds assumed the guild merchant
--an association for mutual protection in matters of trade
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
15
CHAP.
I.
1229.
-in fact a trades union. The charter of Henry III.
gave power to the burgesses of Liverpool to form such
an association, and so led to the incorporation of the
borough.¹ King John's so-called Charter' was not in
reality a charter at all; it was merely a Letter Patent,
offering to all his subjects who chose to accept them,
certain inducements to settle at the new borough of
Liverpool. King Henry's charter gave power to the
persons who had taken up the burgage tenures to form
themselves into a 'communitas,' guild, or corporation of
an exclusive character. The guild so formed was to have
a hanse. Hansa' was originally a duty levied on ships Hanse.
and goods. It is also employed in the sense of union or
assembly as in the Hanse Towns. In the charter granted
by Archbishop Thurstan to the Great Guild of St. John
of Beverley (temp. Henry I.), he grants permission to the
burgesses of that town to have their Hans-house in order
that therein they may transact their business (ut ibi sua
statuta pertractent). The Hanse at Liverpool must have
been a place for the receipt of custom or for assembly;
very probably for both purposes. Soc and sac' was the Soc and
privilege of holding courts and inflicting penalties.
sac.
Thol was a tax upon seamen's wages received on Thol.
coming ashore. Theam was the right of pursuing serfs
or nativi' who might have escaped from bondage.
Infangenethef was the right to capture a thief found on
the premises. Toll, lastage, passage, pontage, and stall- Toll, &c.
age were payments exacted in the good old times
from traders under the pretexts of taking in or putting
out ballast, passing rivers, crossing bridges, or exposing
1 Charters of Incorporation do not and cannot create corporations. They
have always depended and still depend, even for their validity, upon the
pre-existence of the 'Communitas,' and upon their assent and acceptance of
the charter. Charters, therefore, do not 'incorporate.' They merely record.
They may declare the form and shape of certain municipal titles, offices, or
functions within the corporation, but they do not touch the inherent cha-
racteristics of it.'-Toulmin Smith's English Guilds,' Introduction, xxii.
London, 1870.
16
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
1229.
CHAP. goods for sale, from all of which the burgesses of Liver-
pool were to be free in every town of His Majesty's
dominions. The sum paid for procuring this charter is
not endorsed on the face of the document as in many
subsequent instances, but in the Pipe Rolls there is an
entry of the same date: Burgenses de Livrepol recep-
tum de x marcis pro habenda carta regis quod villa de
Livrepol liber Burgus sit in perpetuum. Et quod habeant
Gildam mercatoriam cum aliis libertatibus in carta illa
contentis.'
Common
seal.
Present
seal.
The power of incorporation carried with it the right
of electing municipal officers. In Saxon times the
head of the community was called the reeve or steward,
shire-reeve or sheriff, borough-reeve, or port-reeve, as
the case might be. Under the Norman dominion he
took the title of bailiff or provost (prepositus). In
Liverpool, it appears probable that two bailiffs were
annually appointed from the commencement, though we
have no names of earlier date than 1309 (3rd Ed. II.).
The appointment of mayor is later still.
To this period of the charter of Henry III. there can
be little doubt must be ascribed the origin of the common.
seal of the borough. As previous to this time no incor-
poration existed, there could have been no seal required,
but with the grant of the guild, a common seal was essen-
tial to give validity to their documents, at a period when
the art of writing was so rare an accomplishment as to
confer immunity from punishment for felony upon its
possessor. The common seal of the borough of Liver-
pool (still in use) has been a crux antiquariorum giving
rise to controversy amongst the cognoscenti as animated
as that between Jonathan Oldbuck and Sir Arthur War-
dour respecting the famous Pictish inscription.
The present seal is of silver of the vesica piscis form,
two inches and a quarter in length, and an inch and
five-eighths in breadth, bearing a bird with elevated
wings, a sprig in its beak, and a scroll below. On the
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
17
extreme right is the symbolic crescent and star. The
inscription round the margin is in rudely-shaped Lom-
bardic capitals as follows:
DOR CGS IVDLOVE B✩
РИЛИ
TODIZ
SATIDIS
עה
SIGILIS COИмVÉС * DоRGESIVDLEV@B★
On the scroll
CHAP.
I.
1229.

IODI2
Of this jargon it would be impossible to make any
sense without such conjectural emendations as would
almost destroy its identity. Fortunately, however, we
are not left in this condition of dim obscurity. Much
has been written on the subject by persons well qualified
from the study of ancient documents to pronounce an
opinion. Not to weary the reader by wading through a
discussion which would be somewhat tiresome, I will
briefly give the conclusions arrived at by a careful com-
parison of the various views of the writers.
The original seal was lost or destroyed at the time of Original
the siege in 1644. It is stated in an order of the Long seal.
Parliament in 1646, relative to a dispute between the
corporation and Lord Molyneux, that all the wrytings
and ancient records belonging to y said corporation
were taken away when that Towne was taken by the
VOL. I.
C
18
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. Enemy.' Impressions of this ancient seal are extant,
I.
bearing the inscription as follows:
1229.

TER FOL
C
Seal.
Suri
)
SIGIEL COHMуиа воRGESID LEVERPOL
1
Or, supplying the contractions, Sigillum commune
Borgensium de Leverpol (the common seal of the
burgesses of Leverpol). Mr. Gough Nichols has conclu-
sively shown from analogy with other examples that the
so-called liver or cormorant was intended to represent
the symbolic eagle of St. John the Evangelist, to whom
the inscription on the scroll, IOPIZ, a contraction for
Johannis, referred. The crescent and star were adopted
by Richard Coeur de Lion, and are found on his great
seal. They are found also on the Irish penny of King
John, and on the first great seal of Henry III., and are
very common as a device during the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries. The sprig is probably intended for
the fleur-de-lis. The modern seal is a rude and barbarous
copy of the original, imitated by an unpractised hand
from an impression, and the enigmatical letters are
simply blunders.2
1 The guilds or corporations had almost always their patron saint, and St.
John was rather a favourite. Out of 600 English guilds, the records of which
were examined by Mr. T. Smith, scarcely any were found without this
appendage.
2 Anyone who wishes further information on this subject may consult
with advantage the following articles: 'Gentleman's Magazine,' July 1847.
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
19
I.
1229.
The usual translation of the motto round the seal is CHAP.
'The common seal of the burgesses of Liverpool.' Mr.
Toulmin Smith, in his work on the English guilds, main-
tains that the word commune in similar cases is not to
be taken as an adjective, but as intended for the genitive
of the word communa (French, commune), which was
used as identical with guild or corporation. It would
then read The seal of the guild (or corporation) of the
burgesses of Liverpool.'
6
6
The name of Liverpool is even more enigmatical than Name.
the seal, and has hitherto baffled all investigators in en-
deavouring satisfactorily to account for its origin. That
the name was originally applied to the water rather than
to the land appears to be agreed on all hands. The
embouchure of the small stream was called the Pool'
down to the formation of the Old Dock, and the name
was perpetuated until recently in the Pool Lane (now
South Castle Street). It is the first portion of the name
which constitutes the difficulty. Many conjectures and
etymologies have been hazarded, but none has hitherto
been found which meets with general acceptation. The
spelling has been tortured into a variety of forms, no less
than forty variations being given in Mr. E. Baines's
Lancashire'; but it has ultimately settled down into
very nearly the original orthography in the charter of
John, where it is spelled Liverpul.
6
The royal charters of the olden time were usually
matters of bargain and sale. Under the Norman monarchs
the bailiff of a borough was the king's officer, who had Bailiff.
to account to the exchequer for the customs and rents
received. It became the practice with the monarchs
when wanting money to farm these bailiwicks to the
highest bidder, and hence arose a system of rapacity
'Archæologia,' vol. xxi. p. 543, paper by Mr. Hamper. Transactions of
the Liverpool Historic Society,' vol. i. pp. 56, 105, by Mr. H. C. Pidgeon;
vol. i. p. 76, by Mr. Rd. Brooke, F.S.A.; vol. iii. p. 52, by Mr. John
Gough Nichols, F.S.A.; vol. xix. p. 217, by Mr. H. Ecroyd Smith; and in
the Liverpool Mercury,' April 25, 1828, a paper by Mr. Barron Field.
c 2
20
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1229.
and extortion declaimed against by the contemporary
chroniclers. The burgesses, in order to free themselves
from this scourge, found it advantageous to farm the
royal dues themselves, giving no doubt the highest price
in the market. Hence the frequent charters of the
Plantagenet period granting the revenues in fee-farm
to the burgesses themselves. Some such transaction
evidently took place at the granting of the Liverpool
charter of incorporation, for by a deed bearing date the
day following that of the charter (March 25, 1229),
Fee-farm Henry declares that we have granted to our honest men
of Liverpool, our town of Liverpool, to be held at farm
from the feast of St. Michael, in the thirteenth year of
our reign, unto the end of four complete years, ren-
dering therefore unto us in each of the aforesaid years,
at our exchequer, by the hands of the Sheriff of
Lancaster, at two terms 107.; to wit, at Easter in the
thirteenth year of our reign 57.; and at the feast of
St. Michael in the same year 5l.; and so from year to
year, at the same terms, 107., as is aforesaid.' It will be
seen that his Majesty gives no credit; he takes care to
provide for payment in advance.
lease.
Grant to
Ranulf.
A.D. 1232.
William
de Ferrers.
On October 19, in the same year (1229), all the lands
between the Ribble and the Mersey were transferred
the king to Ranulf, Earl of Chester, including, as the
document states, the Borough of Liverpool with the
appurtenances.'
Three years after this (1232) the Earl of Chester died
without issue, and in the division of his property, Liver-
pool fell to the share of William de Ferrers, Earl of
Derby, who had married the deceased earl's sister Agnes.
This venerable couple died in 1247, at the age of ninety-
four years, within a month of each other, having lived
together as man and wife seventy-five years, and left
behind them a memory long respected for justice and
good conduct. A second William inherited the title and
estates, from whom they passed in succession to his son
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
21
I.
1232.
Robert de Ferrers, a minor at the time. The unprin- CHAP.
cipled rapacity of the period is manifested in the grant
by the king to his son Prince Edward, of the wardship
of the young earl and his estates during his minority for Robert de
the express purpose of making good the deficiency in a
previous settlement which had been made by the king
on his son.
Ferrers.
In the 41st Henry III. (1257), a return was made of A.D. 1257.
the revenues on these estates, by which it appears that
the fee-farm rent of Liverpool still continued at the sum
of 107. The lessees are not stated, but very probably
the lease remained in the hands of the burgesses.
Earl Robert de Ferrers, who had no great reason for
gratitude to his royal master, on attaining his majority
joined the popular party under the leadership of Simon
de Montfort, and was present at the battle of Lewes
(May 14, 1264), by which the power of the Crown was A.D. 1264.
for a time shattered and almost destroyed. In the con-
vention of burgesses, usually called the first Parliament,
summoned by De Montfort in 1264, Liverpool was not
represented. On the fall of De Montfort, at the battle
of Evesham, De Ferrers, for a time, escaped ruin by
making his submission to the Crown.
On February 5, 1266, at Liverpool, he signs an In- A.D. 1266.
speximus' of the charter of the borough, by which he
confirms all the existing privileges. The same year he
again rebelled, joining the sons of De Montfort and raising
his standard in Derbyshire, where he had large estates
and influence. He was defeated and captured, and Fall of De
although his life was spared, all his property was con- Ferrers.
fiscated to the Crown, and immediately regranted to
Edmund Plantagenet, younger son of the king, created
Earl of Lancaster. On July 11, in the same year, the
king issued an order to his niece, Maria de Ferrers, wife
of the earl, to deliver up the castle of Liverpool to Adam
de Gosmuth, who was appointed keeper of the lands and
tenements of the quondam earl.
22
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1272.
Edward I.
Quo
warranto.
to.
6
On the accession of Edward I. (1272) the wars in
which he engaged led to continual pecuniary difficulties,
to supply which extraordinary means had to be resorted
One of these was the issue of writs of Quo warranto,
to test the titles of corporations and landed proprietors,
and wherever a flaw could be found to seize on the
pro-
perty as lord paramount. Hugh de Cressingham, the
king's treasurer-the man who a few years afterwards
made himself so hateful to the Scotch that after the
battle of Stirling (September 11, 1297) they flayed his
dead body and cut the skin into straps-was sent down
with others to hold the enquiries in Lancashire. He held
his court at Lancaster in the octaves of the Holy Trinity,
A.D. 1292. 1292, where the bailiffs and commonalty of Liverpool
were summoned to appear to show by what warrant
they claim to be quit of common fines and amercements of
the county and suits of counties and wapentakes, and of
toll, stallage, through-toll, passage, pontage, and lastage
throughout the whole kingdom of England, &c., which
belong to the Crown and dignity of our lord the king,
without the license and will of the lord the king, or of hist
progenitors.' It is on the record that certain men of the
borough of Liverpool came for the commonalty, and say
that they have not at present a bailiff of themselves, but
Edmund, have been accustomed to have, until Edmund the king's
Lancaster. brother' (the then earl) impeded them, and permits
them not to have a free borough, wherefore at present
they do not claim the aforesaid liberties, except that they
may be quit of common fines and amercements of the
county, &c., and of toll, stallage, &c., through the whole
kingdom.'
Earl of
6
6
They proceed to complain that as to the other liberties
they have been accustomed to have them, but the afore-
said Edmund now has them. They then quote the
charters of John and of Henry III. to show that the
liberties of which they have been deprived were held
direct from the Crown.
THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
23
The court came to the conclusion that whereas it
appears by their evidence that the aforesaid Edmund
hath usurped and occupied the aforesaid liberties, the
sheriff is commanded that he cause him to come here on
Monday next, to answer for himself, and the com-
monalty were directed to be present to prosecute for our
lord the king, together with William Inge, one of the
king's council. The deputies of the Liverpool com-
monalty were John de la More, Adam Walsemann, and
Richard Liverpol.
CHAP.
I.
1292.
Earl of
It appears from these proceedings that the new Earl Edmund,
of Lancaster had carried things with a high hand and Lancaster.
had revoked on his own authority most of the privileges
conferred by the royal charters. Notwithstanding the
peremptory bearing of the commissioners, there is no
record of any action being taken against the earl. The
king's brother was too exalted a personage to deal with
summarily, and he and his successors went on collecting
the tolls for forty years subsequently. Several other
enquiries were heard at the same time, in which Liver-
pool was concerned, touching wreck cast on the shore,
respecting prisoners escaping from the castle of Liver-
pool, &c.
to Parlia-
In the year 1296, urged by pecuniary difficulties, the A.D. 1296.
king imitated the example of Simon de Montfort and Burgesses
summoned the boroughs of the kingdom to send repre- ment.
sentatives to a Parliament at Westminster. This was the
first Parliament called by writs of the Crown, and in this
Liverpool was represented by two honest and discreet
burgesses, Adam Fitzrichard and Robert Pinklowe. They
were paid their travelling expenses and wages for their
services. They had the honour of taking part in the
passing of the celebrated statute De tallagio non
concedendo,' which established the principle of the
right of the Commons to control the public purse.
Edmund Plantagenet, the first Earl of Lancaster, died Death of
in 1296. From the Inquisitio post mortem' we learn Edmund.
C
Earl
24
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
that his income from Liverpool amounted to 251. per
annum, equal to 3751. of our currency. This was a
1296. large increase from the fee-farm rent of 107. in 1229
and 1257. No doubt the town had progressed in the
interim, but one main reason probably consisted in the
earl's usurpation of the town's privileges, setting aside
the terms of the charters and collecting the tolls by his
agents.
in 1272.
We have now reached the close of the thirteenth cen-
tury, the first in the existence of Liverpool. The mate-
rials for recording the progress of the town are few and
Population far between. In 1272, at the accession of Edward I., a
census was taken of the inhabited houses, amounting to
168, which at five persons to a house would give a popu-
lation of 840. The issue of a writ to Liverpool to send
representatives to the first Royal Parliament, indicates
that the town was considered at least a place of some
promise; but when we compare its fee-farm rent of 107.
with the corresponding lease of the Crown rights at
Bristol at the same period of 266l. 13s. 4d. per annum,
the insignificance of our northern port is strongly shown
by the contrast.
A.D. 1306.
Fourteenth Century.
On the accession of Edward II., 1306, a new Parlia-
Edward II. ment was called, to which Liverpool sent as its represen-
Writs sus- tatives Richard More and John More. No further writs
pended.
of summons were issued to Liverpool for the next 240
years, which is sufficient testimony to the poverty of the
town and its slow rate of increase.
Earl
Thomas.
In various orders issued during the reign of Edward I.
for the regulation of the ports, such as prohibiting the
export of bullion, supply of vessels for transporting troops
to Scotland, &c., Liverpool is not thought worthy of
notice.
Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, was succeeded by his son
Thomas, who by his own wealth and his alliances was
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
25
I.
1309.
probably the most powerful noble in the kingdom. He CHAP.
seems to have had a kindly feeling towards the town.
In the 3rd of Edward IL (1309), he made over by deed
to our burgesses of our town of Lyverpole' six large
acres of moss land to the east of the town, to which I
shall have occasion hereafter to refer.
In the same year we first find official mention of the Bailiffs.
names of the bailiffs. It occurs in a deed relating to the
estates of Crosse, of Crosse Hall in Liverpool, which is
witnessed by John de la More and Alan Walsman, bailiffs.
These are the same names which occur as deputies in
1292 to the Quo warranto enquiry at Lancaster.
Fall of
Earl
In 1322 came the ruin of the proud Earl Thomas. He A.D. 1322.
raised an insurrection against his royal cousin, but was
encountered and overthrown at Boroughbridge, and Thomas.
brought to the block at Pontefract, his own fortified
castle. His estates, and Liverpool along with them,
passed into the possession of his brother Henry. Soon
after the execution of Earl Thomas, the unfortunate
Edward II. made a progress through the northern parts
of England, and visited Liverpool, where he lodged in
the castle, from whence a deed, quoted in Rymer's
Fœdera, is dated.
A.D.
In 1325 the bailiffs and commonalty received a royal ▲.d. 1325,
order to allow no persons to pass through Liverpool un-
less they were proceeding to Flanders. Another order
required them to arrest all vessels, and to send them
round to Portsmouth; and a third directed them to ex-
amine all letters, and to arrest all suspicious persons. All
these precautions proved in vain. The king's vacillating,
weak, treacherous conduct had so disgusted his adherents,
that his ruthless queen and her paramour carried public
opinion with them, and brought his reign to an ignomi-
nious end in 1327.
A.D. 1327,
Scots.
At the accession of Edward III. the Scots were ravag- Ravages
ing the north of England, wasting the country, and driv- of the
ing the inhabitants before them. The governors of
26
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
1327.
CHAP. Liverpool and other fortified castles received orders to
open their gates to receive the fugitives. The male in-
habitants of Lancashire capable of bearing arms were
required to join the king at Newcastle. The northern
part of the county was reduced to great distress. Many
of the townships petitioned to be relieved from their
taxes on account of their miserable condition. Every
man had to arm himself at his own expense, according to
his state and condition of life. Even the poorest were
required to provide a bow and arrows, or a cross-bow
and bolts. In Liverpool the archers were accustomed to
exercise at a place called Shooters' Green, the locality of
which it is not possible now to identify.
Earl
Henry.
Report on
Liverpool.
6
The unfortunate state of the times prevented Liverpool
from making progress. At the time of Earl Henry's
accession to the estates of the honour of Lancaster, of
which Liverpool formed a part, a jury was impanelled to
enquire into, and report on, the value of the earl's pro-
perty in the borough. They report that there is at
Lyverpoll a certain castle whose trench and herbage are
of the value of 2s. per year; and that there is a certain
dovecote under the castle of the value of 6s. 8d.; and
that there is a certain borough in which are divers free.
tenants holding in burgage, and paying yearly 81. 8s.;
and that there is a certain market held on Saturday
whose tolls are worth 107.; and that there is a certain.
ferry beyond the Mersey which is worth 40s.; and
that there is a windmill of the value of 26s.; and a
watermill of the value of 24s.; and that there is a
certain fair held on the day of St. Martin whose toll
is of the value of 13s. 9d.; and that there is a certain
park which is called Toxteth, whose herbage in summer
is of the value of 117.; sum total, 35l. Os. 5d.' If we
deduct the value of Toxteth Park, the amount of re-
venue from Liverpool is 247.-equal to 360l. against 251.
in 1296. It must be remembered that the customs duties
are not included in this estimate. The burgesses were
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
27
free, and it is probable that the duties levied on strangers
passed to the Crown. The summary presents rather a
pleasing picture of a small medieval town with its wind
and water mills and its annual fair, which was no doubt
a gala time for the inhabitants. The weekly market, pro-
ducing a revenue of 107. per annum, equal to 1507.
modern, must have been rather important to the sur-
rounding district.
CHAP.
I.
1327.
Holland.
During Earl Thomas's possession of the honour of Robert de
Lancaster, he had made considerable grants of land and
manors in Liverpool and elsewhere to a follower named
Robert de Holland. The family took their designation
from the township of Up-Holland, near Wigan, where
they settled soon after the Conquest. Sir Robert de Hol-
land was secretary to Thomas, the second Earl of Lan-
caster, and was endowed by him with large estates. In
the 35th Edward I. (1307), he built and endowed a col-
legiate church at Up-Holland for a dean and twelve
secular priests, which was subsequently (in 1319) con-
verted into a Benedictine priory.
Sir Robert was not quite faithful to his patron on his
last unfortunate expedition; but he seems, nevertheless,
to have been looked upon with considerable suspicion by
the new king (Edward III.). In the first year of his
reign a writ of enquiry was issued, and a jury impanelled Enquiry.
at Lancaster to examine the title of Sir Robert to the
lands which Earl Thomas had bestowed on him, and
which were now claimed by the new Earl Henry. The
jury consisted of lords of manors, or what would in Scot-
land be called lairds. Amongst the names we find
several closely connected with Liverpool, as John le
Norreys of Speke, John de la More of Lyverpoll, Adam
Clerk of Lyverpoll, Galfrey de Waleton, Richard de
Walton, &c. The jury found that seven years before
the decease of Earl Thomas, Sir Robert de Holland had
been in possession of the castle and borough of Lyverpoll,
of the park of Toxteth, of the manors of Everton, Waver-
28
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
I.
1327.
Revenue
from
Streets.
tree, Great Crosby, and others, but that he produced no
charter or deed proving the grant from the late earl, nor
had the free tenants on the estates attorned themselves
either from their homages or fealties to the aforesaid
Robert de Holland. They therefore refused to deliver a
verdict between the contending parties. The issue is left
in obscurity by the existing records; but as we find that
in the 46th of Edward III. a considerable portion of the
property was in possession of Sir Robert's descendants,
and as we hear no more of him in connection with
Liverpool, it seems probable that a compromise was
effected, by which Liverpool was handed over to Earl
Henry.
It will be seen that the revenue from Liverpool had in-
Liverpool. creased from 25l. in 1296 to 30l. 10s. (equal to 4571. 10s.)
in 1327. It is in the reign of Edward III. that we first
find any reference to the streets of Liverpool by name.
Castle Street, Dale Street, Chapel Street, Moore Street
(now Tithebarn Street), and Banke Street (now Water
Street) are mentioned in deeds of this date. To these I
shall have occasion again to refer. In the 2nd Edward
III. (1328) authority was granted to the burgesses to
levy tolls on all articles of merchandise in aid of the
paving of the town. Similar grants were repeated at
various times in the succeeding reigns; but paved streets
had not become general in the towns of England until
long afterwards, for we find Leland, writing in the reign
of Henry VIII., describing Liverpool as a pavyd towne,'
indicating thereby that there were many towns at that
time which were not 'pavyd.'
A.D. 1333.
Inspexi-
mus
charter.
6
6
In the 6th Edward III. (1333), the first of the In-
speximus' charters was granted to Liverpool. Under
the Plantagenet monarchs this was a favourite mode of
wringing from the reluctant traders a contribution to
the exhausted exchequer of the king. During the early
reigns succeeding the Conquest, charters and grants were
looked upon rather as a personal act of grace from the
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
29
feudal superiors, than an official grant from the sovereign.
At the decease of a noble, his successor was frequently
called to produce the title by which he held his estates,
and on the accession of a new monarch the cities and
boroughs were summoned to produce their charters for
inspection and renewal.
6
A money payment was always demanded as an equiva-
lent for the royal sanction. This instrument merely
records the inspection of the two previous charters of
John and Henry III., and after reciting them verbatim,
concludes thus: We moreover, the grants and con-
firmations aforesaid holding firm and valid, do for us
and our heirs, as much as in us is, grant and confirm
them to the aforesaid burgesses and their heirs and
successors, as the charters aforesaid do reasonably testify,
and as the same burgesses and their ancestors the
liberties aforesaid have hitherto reasonably used and
enjoyed. These being witnesses; the venerable father W.
Archbishop of York,' and others. The fine of forty
shillings is stated at the foot as the price of the confirma-
tion.
CHAP.
I.
1333.
In 1335, on the occasion of the king's invasion of A.D. 1335.
Scotland, Simon de Beltoft and Henry de Kendall, were
commissioned to impress six ships of war of the larger and Impress
stronger kind which may happen to be found on the of ships.
coast, and to fit them out with mariners and soldiers,
and to be provided with victuals and other things neces-
sary for war; to proceed from the port of Liverpool to
the port of Skynburnness on the Solway, and to cruise
against any Scotch vessels they might find on the seas.
The expense to be paid by orders on the king's exche-
quer.
A letter is extant bearing date the 11th Edward III. A.D. 1338.
(1338) from Earl Henry to the Sheriff of Lancaster,
William le Blount, stating that he had forwarded certain
leases (cartas) for his tenants in Liverpool, and charging Leases.
him to take good security that he might receive the
30
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
CHAP. fines for increase in value. The amount stated, five
marks, or 31. 6s. 8d., for each acre (equal to 50l. in modern
1338. currency) is so large as to raise a suspicion of an error,
either in the document itself, or in the transcription.¹
A.D. 1342.
Subsidy.
A.D. 1848.
A.D. 1346.
Duke
In the 15th Edward III. (1342), a subsidy of a ninth
on all personal property having been granted by the
Parliament in aid of the Scottish war, an enquiry was
made into the value of the property in each locality.
The tax produced 127. 58. 11d. in Liverpool. This being
one-ninth of the value, the personalty of the burgesses of
Liverpool amounted at that period to 1107. 13s. 3d., or
1,6591. 18s. 9d. in modern money.
At this time there were 168 burgesses in the town.
The average personalty of each burgess was therefore
assessed at one mark (equal to 107.), which does not give
a very exalted idea of the wealth of the place.
It is probable, however, that the valuation was very
low, and that it did not include merchandise, which paid
the tax in a different form. The furniture and chattels
of the bourgeoisie of the period were of the simplest
possible description, as we may read in the pages of
Chaucer and Piers Plowman. Wearing apparel and arms
were the only objects on which expense was indulged,
except amongst the upper classes.
In 1348, at the siege of Calais, Liverpool contributed
one bark and six men. London sent twenty-five, Bristol
twenty-four, Hull sixteen, and Portsmouth five ships.
Two Liverpool men, William de la More and William
Molyneux, distinguished themselves in these wars under
the Black Prince, and were duly knighted, one at the
battle of Poitiers, the other at Navarrete.
In the 20th Edward III. (1346), Henry, Earl of Lan-
caster, died and was succeeded by his son the second
Henry. Henry, not long subsequently created first Duke of Lan-
Inquisitio caster. From the Inquisitio post mortem,' and from a
post
mortem.
6
¹ See T. Baines, 'History of the Commerce and Town of Liverpool,'
p. 149.
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
31
subsequent return, we learn some particulars of the state
of the town at the middle of the fourteenth century.
The original burgage-tenements in passing from hand to
hand by purchase or inheritance had become divided
sometimes into very minute portions, as we read of a
third of a burgage, an eighth part, and a forty-eighth
part. The ordinary quit-rent of a burgage was 12d.
payable at Lady-day, and 2d. at the feast of St. Michael.
One burgage in the possession of Dionysius Keelynge
was held by service of finding stabling for twelve horses
on every visit of the lord within the borough. Forty
acres of land on Salthouse Moor are recorded as let at
68s. 6d. per annum, or ls. 8d. per acre (equal to
25s. 7 d.). There was a horsemill and two windmills let
to John de la More. The rental of land and buildings
amounted to 127. 7s. 13d.; the tolls, markets, &c., in-
cluding the ferry-boat, were leased at the rent of 261.
The total revenue, therefore, was 381. 7s. 12d. against
307. 10s. in 1327.
K
CHAP.
I.
1346.
mention of
In this reign we first find mention of the mayor. It First
occurs in a letter patent from the king, dated May 19, mayor.
1356, authorising Richard de Aynsargh, mayor of the AD. 1356.
town of Liverpool,' to invest 107. in land and to assign it
to the performance of divine service for the souls of the
faithful deceased in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin
Mary and St. Nicholas at Liverpool-the Statute of Mort-
main notwithstanding.
The assumption of the title is enveloped in obscurity.
The charters throw no light upon it, as they make no
mention of either mayor or bailiffs. Both titles are
French in their origin. The reeve under the Saxon
régime took the name of bailiff under the Norman
dominion. It is supposed that one of the two elected
when appointed to preside was called sometimes 'pre-
positus' or provost, and sometimes majeur' or mayor.
In England the latter name prevailed, in Scotland the
former. From the fourteenth century in Liverpool
6
32
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1356.
Lease
from
Duke
Henry.
Death of
Duke
Henry.
John of
Gaunt.
Black
death.
a mayor and two bailiffs were ordinarily appointed
annually, down to the Municipal Reform Act of 1835.
The lord duke not improbably found the collection
of the rents and dues attended with inconvenience, for on
March 24, 1357, he executed a lease in fee-farm for ten
years to the following persons on behalf of the burgesses:
Richard de Aynsargh, mayor, William de Liverpull
(clericus), probably the priest of the chapel, William
Fitzadam, John de More, Alexander Cumming, William
de Grenelf, Adam Fitzrichard, and Robert Fitzthomas.
The lease included all the burgage rents, tolls, mills, and
the ferry, reserving to the lord the castle and its pre-
cincts and any escheats or forfeitures. The rent to be
50 marks per annum, or 331. 6s. 8d. As the entire
produce ten years before was only 381. 7s. 1d., there was
a very small margin left for profit, unless we suppose,
what was probably the case, that the revenue was im-
proving.
Henry, styled the good Duke of Lancaster, died on
March 24, 1361, leaving two daughters; the younger,
Blanche, married to John of Gaunt, fourth son of the
king, who was promoted to the title of his father-in-law
and endowed with his estates in the county palatine and
elsewhere. The Inquisitio post mortem' contains no
particulars beyond the mere mention of the castle of
Liverpool amongst the late duke's possessions.
About this time the port of Liverpool is mentioned in
several documents as being used for collecting ships to
transmit troops and stores to Ireland and elsewhere.
The middle of this century is memorable for the
awful visitation of the plague or black death, which swept
over Europe like the destroying angel. From the heart
of China this pestilence, sweeping across the desert of
Cobi and the wilds of Tartary, found its way through
the Levant, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, and
at last embraced the western coast of England, whence
it soon spread all over the land. It appeared in London
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
33
CHAP.
I.
1348.
in November, 1348, and there committed the most
frightful ravages. According to some historians, one-
half of the whole population of England was swept away,
and the dreadful malady affected the cattle in an equal
degree. The poor suffered most, and at the end of the
great pestilence there were not hands enough left to till
the soil.'¹ The gloomy shadow of this pestilence passed
over Liverpool about 1360. The number of deaths was A.D. 1360.
so great that the carrying out the bodies to the parish
graveyard at Walton became impracticable, and permis-
sion was obtained from the Bishop of Lichfield to form a
cemetery round the chapel of Our Lady and St. Nicholas
(since one of the parish churches).
6
d'Ipres.
After the expiration of the fee-farm lease for ten years
granted in 1356, John of Gaunt appears to have kept the
revenues of the town in his own hands for some years.
In 1373 he gives an order on the receiver of the county AD. 1373.
of Lancaster in favour of William de Bradshagh, con-
stable of our castle of Liverpool, and keeper of our parks
of Toxtat and Croxtat,' &c., for an annuity of 13 marks
payable from the issues of the lordship of Liverpool.
In the same year he enters into a contract with a Flemish
esquire, Rankyn d'Ipres, whom he had retained in his
service on the following terms: That the said Rankyn Rankyn
is retained and dwelling with our said lord for peace and
war, for the term of his life, in manner following: that is
to say, in time of peace the said Rankyn will board at
court in the manner as other esquires of the household
of our said lord; and for his fees in time of peace'.
he had a donative of 100 shillings down and a rent
charge on the manor of Skerton of 17 marks, and 25
marks sterling from the farm of the town of Liverpool;
and in time of war he was to have by the year twenty
pounds sterling from the latter source. And further that
should the annuity be in arrear in part or in whole for
one month from the stipulated term of payment, it should
I 'Pictorial History of England,' vol. i. p. 771.
Ꭰ
VOL. I.
'
34
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1373.
A.D. 1374.
Lease
renewed.
Richard II.
be lawful for the said Rankyn to distrain in the said
town or in any part thereof, until full satisfaction be
made.' The engagement for life in this document with-
out any reservation seems a little remarkable.
In 1374, the duke renewed the lease to the burgesses
for ten years, on the same terms as before, but at a rent
increased by two marks, making the entire fee-farm rent
351. (equal to 5257. in modern currency).
•
Edward III. died, and Richard II. succeeded in 1377.
A.D. 1382. Five years after this (June 11, 1382) another In-
Charter of speximus' charter was granted, reciting and confirming
the three previous ones, with one very notable exception.
In the charter of Henry III. the burgesses had managed
to introduce a clause that no one who is not of the same
guild (or corporation) shall transact any merchandise in
the aforesaid borough, unless by consent of the same
burgesses.'
6
In the charter of Richard II. this clause is expressly
excepted: 'Illa clausula superius expressa quod nullus qui
non sit de gilda illa mercandisam aliquam in predicto
burgo faciat nisi de voluntate eorumdem burgensium,
penitus excepta.'
Whether this was 'proprio motu' on the part of the
king's advisers, or what is more probable, whether repre-
sentations had been made of the injustice and injurious
effect of the monopoly, it is pleasant to see, at a period
not remarkable for sound political economy, a recur-
rence to the common principles of justice and equity.
On this Mr. T. Baines remarks with great truth,¹ that
the insurrection of the commons under Wat Tyler a
short time previously, in which one of the chief demands
was full liberty of buying and selling in all fairs and
markets,' may have had some influence on the conclu-
sions of the government.
6
The fine for the grant of this charter was rather heavy,
being 57. sterling (equal to 75l. in modern money).
''History of the Commerce and Town of Liverpool,' p. 172.
FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
35
CHAP.
I.
1382.
William
Fitzadam.
Contemporary documents give occasional peeps into
the domestic economy and mode of life of bygone pe-
riods. William Fitzadam was a prosperous and well-to-
do burgher in Liverpool in the middle portion of the four-
teenth century. In 1357, we find his name amongst those
to whom the lease of the fee-farm was granted on behalf
of the burgesses by Henry, Duke of Lancaster. He filled
the office of mayor in 1378. In 1380 he executed his A.D. 1380.
last will and testament, of which the following is a copy: 1
6
• Last Will and Testament of William Fitzadam of His will,
Lyverpull. In the name of God. Amen. I, William
the son of Adam, being of sound mind, though weak
in body, make my last will in this manner. Imprimis, I
bequeath my soul to God, and to the blessed Virgin
Mary and all the saints; and my body to be buried in
the chapel of Lyverpull, before the face of the white
image of the Virgin, which is my perpetual place of
burial. I leave to be distributed in bread on the day of
my burial, three quarters of wheat.
I leave six pounds
of wax to be used about my body.
priest in the chapel of Liverpool 4d.
all my goods to Katherine my wife
To perform my will I appoint as my executors, John le
Fuller, and William Parker, chaplain. Given at Lyver-
pool on the Tuesday next after the feast of St. Luke the
Evangelist, in the presence of Thomas de la More, the
Mayor, and John de Eccleston, and others of my neigh-
bours, in the year 1380.'
I leave to every
I leave the rest of
and our children.
The worthy ex-mayor's goods were appraised as fol- Inventory.
lows: Inventory of the goods of William Fitzadam of
Liverpull. Imprimis, in grain, 10 marks. In seven oxen
and cows, each 10s.
mare, each half a mark.
eighteen pigs, 30s. In
sown on the ground, 77.
Sum total, 281. 6s. 4d.
In two cows, two horses, and a
In three horses, 1 mark. In
twenty-four sellions of wheat
In domestic utensils, 11 marks.
(equal to 4297. 10s. modern).
1 Given by Mr. Baines from the muniments of the Crosse family.
D 2
36
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1380.
A.D. 1394.
Lease.
A.D. 1399.
Henry
IVth's
charter.
This is of course independent of any real estate the tes-
tator had left. It would have been interesting to know
the locality of the honest burgher's residence and farm,
but on this point the documents are silent.
In 1394, another lease was granted by the duke to
the corporation, represented by Thomas de la More,
twelve times mayor between 1374 and 1406; Robert de
Derby, six times mayor; Richard de Hulme, bailiff in
1397, and William de Raby. In addition to the bur-
gages, tolls, markets, ferry, mills, &c., the lease includes
'the common pasture lying between our said town and
our park of Toxteth, and any portions of the turbary
which had reverted to the lord by the death of the
tenants. The rent was 57 marks of silver or 381., being
an advance of 3l. on the previous lease.'
John of Gaunt died in 1399, and was interred in old
St. Paul's. His son, Henry of Bolingbroke, united the
Duchy of Lancaster to the Crown, where it has ever since
remained.
Fifteenth Century.
The progress of the port and town continued very
slow. The time had not yet come for the development
of the latent capabilities of the northern districts, and the
foreign wars and the internecine warfare with which the
country was distracted during the greater part of this
century, checked and subdued every attempt at indus-
trial improvement.
6
In the first year of his reign, King Henry IV. granted
a new Inspeximus' charter, which repeats in the same
words the recitals of the previous ones, restoring the
obnoxious monopoly of the burgesses, struck out by
Richard II. For this the corporation paid 6 marks (equal
to 607.) into the royal treasury. At the same time the
king renewed the lease to the corporation on the same
terms as before.
FIFTEENTH CENTURY,
37
CHAP.
I.
1406.
In the 7th Henry IV. (1406) we first meet with the
name of the Stanley family as connected with Liverpool.
In this year Sir John Stanley obtained the royal license
to fortify a house he had built or enlarged in Liverpool. Stanley.
To this I shall have occasion again to refer.
Sir John
Atherton.
Nicol de Atherton, early in this reign, receives a Nicol de
pension of 207. per annum, one-half of which is charged
on the fee-farm of Liverpool. In 1410 Robert Bicker-
stath is granted twopence per day out of the proceeds of
the ferry.
6
tion of
The charters hitherto granted conveyed to the bur- Jurisdic-
gesses the privilege of sac and soc, that is, of holding courts.
their own courts and inflicting penalties, and likewise
exempted them from suit and service in the county and
wapentake (or hundred) courts. The jurisdiction of
these courts sometimes clashed and led to disputes. In
the 1st Henry V. (1413) a petition was presented by the
burgesses complaining that their privileges were infringed
upon, by the county officers coming into the borough and
holding courts by force, by which the said burgesses
are grievously molested, vexed, and disturbed to the
great hindrance and detriment of the said borough, and
the disinheriting of the said burgesses.' The king's
officer met this attack by a count rcharge that the
mayor and bailiffs had held the king's courts without
authority and received the tolls and profits. On this
representation, a warrant was issued by the Crown,
authorising the wapentake stewards to distrain upon the
mayor and bailiffs for all the toll and profits received
by them from the time of the king's coronation. How
the dispute was terminated there is no record to show.
In July, 1421, the king granted the fee-farm for one A.D. 1421.
year to the corporation, pending an enquiry into the Lease.
value of the property and its tenure since the time of
John of Gaunt. The king's death soon after put a stop
to the proceedings,
From this time the system of 'inspeximus' charters was
38
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. suspended, so far as relates to Liverpool, until the reign
of Philip and Mary.
I.
1424.
Moly-
neuxs and
Stanleys.
Disturb-
ance.
In the 3rd Henry VI. (1424), a circumstance occurred
which illustrates the lawless manners of the times. The
noble and knightly families of Stanley of Lathom and
Molyneux of Sefton were the dii majores who pre-
dominated in the narrow sphere of Liverpool affairs.
In rank and position they were pretty equally matched,
and each had their stronghold in the locality; the
custody of the castle being frequently in the hands of
the Molyneuxs, whilst the Stanleys possessed their own
fortified tower on the edge of the river. Generally
adopting the same political party, and not unfrequently
connected by marriage, they nevertheless indulged in
jealousy and rivalry to a degree which sometimes dis-
turbed the peace of the neighbourhood. About Mid-
summer, 1424, a gathering took place in Liverpool of the
followers of the two parties, it is not stated with what
object. The result is described in a report given in
Dodsworth's MSS. from Ralph of Ratcliffe and James
of the Holts, Justices of the Peace,' to the chancellor of
the duchy, dated July 16, 1424, wherein it is certified
that 'on Monday next after Midsummer day . . . . Sir
Richard Ratcliffe, sheriff of the county of Lancaster,
showed us a writ directed to him from our lord the king,
making mention that there was great rumour and con-
gregation of routes between Sir Richard Molyneux, some-
times dwelling at Sefton, Kt., on the one part, and Thomas
Stanley the younger of Liverpull, Esq., on the other part.
Wherefore the said sheriff charged us and many
other gentry of the king's behalfe that we should
go with him to Lierpull, then as the said congregation
and riots were ordained to be; and the said sheriffe
and we gede to Lyerpull on Wednesday next after, and
there we found the said Thomas of Stanley in his father's
house, and with a multitude of people in the town to
the number of two thousand men or more;' his pretext
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
39
C
being that the said Sir Richard will come hither
with great congregations, riots, and great multitude of
people, to slea and beat the said Thomas, his men and
his servants, the which he would withstand if he might.'
Thereupony sheriffs arrested the said Thomas, and
committed him to ward.' Having secured one com-
batant, the sheriffs and their posse comitatus, that there
was, yadden up to the West Derby fen, and there on a
mow within the said town we saw the said Sir Richard
with great congregations, route, and multitude to the
number of a thousand men and more arrayed in manner
as to go to battle, and coming in fast towards Lierpull
town; and the said sheriff arrested the said Sir Richard
and committed him to ward.' The two belligerents
were ordered by the king to withdraw, one to Windsor,
the other to Kenilworth Castle.
CHAP.
I.
1424.
Butler.
The unsettled state of the times during the Wars of
the Roses gave great encouragement to deeds of violence
and wrong. A very brutal outrage of this kind was
perpetrated in 1437 by a Liverpool man, William Poole, A.D. 1437.
one of the family of Poole, of Poole Hall in Wirral, outrage
Cheshire, connected by marriage with the Stanleys of on Dame
Hooton, upon Isabella, widow of Sir John Butler, of
Bewsey Hall, near Warrington. The circumstances are
quaintly set forth in a petition to the House of Commons
praying for redress, an abstract of which is as follows:
"That where Isabel that was the wife of John Botiller of
Bewsey, Knight, was in God's peace, and our sovereign
lord's the king, at the town of Burtonwood, in her
manor of Bewsey aforesaid, in the county of Lancaster,
the Monday next after the feast of Saint James the
Apostle last past; there came one William Poole, some-
time of Leverpoole in the county of Lancaster, gentle-
man, with many other felons and disturbers of the peace
of our said sovereign lord the king, unknown, har-
nessed and arrayed in manner of war, at v of the clock
in the morning the said Monday, and there feloniously
40
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
as felons of our said sovereign lord, in await lying, by
assault prepense, against God's peace and our sovereign
1437. lord, his crown and his dignity, the said Isabel feloniously
there then took and ravished, and from thence led the
said Isabel unto Birkhede, in the county of Chester, and
there by subtle imagination of such counsel as him list
take to him, to the intent to exclude her of her suit and
lawful remedy of the said ravishment, her imprisoned,
and in prison her held unto the Tuesday then next
following; that the aforesaid William Poole, the afore-
said Isabel drew and led against her will to the parish
kirk of Bidstone, in the same county of Chester, within
his own strength, having with him a priest of his own
assent, to wed them together; at which time it was
asked of her by the priest if she would agree her to have
the said William Poole to husband, and she said, nay,
never by her will; whereupon the said William menaced
the
her that she should be dead, unless she would say
words of matrimony; and thereupon the priest against
her will wedded them; which wedding by coercion so
done, the said William led and drew the said Isabel again
to the said Birkhede the same Tuesday, and there put her
in a strong chamber till night; and then there the said
William feloniously and fleshly knew and ravished the
said Isabel.
"Wherefore please it your said wise discretions these
premises to consider, and thereupon to ordain by autho-
rity of this present Parliament that the said Isabel may
have pursue by attorney an effectual appeal within the
county of Lancaster of the said ravishment against the
said William and other parties to the said felony; and
thereupon to have due and lawful execution, the espousals
had betwixt the said Isabel and the said William notwith-
standing. And that any matter that is or shall be to be
tried in the said appeal be tried within the said county of
Lancaster, considering that the two shires be counties
palatine and adjoining; and neither having power
the other nor jurisdiction.'
within
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
41
Nothing could more clearly illustrate the deplorable
condition of the country in the fifteenth century than
the fact that a ruffianly act of this kind could be com-
mitted openly in the face of day, and that the ordinary
tribunals were so powerless or incompetent to deal with
it that a special application to Parliament was necessary
before any attempt at redress could be undertaken.
Parliament passed an Act that unless William Poole
surrendered himself after proclamation made against
him he should be taken as a traitor attainted. What
ultimately came of the matter we are not informed.
The case attracted considerable attention, and is men-
tioned by Sir Edward Coke in his Institutes' under the
article Rape.'
6
CHAP.
I.
1437.
in the
The fifteenth century was a disastrous period in the Liverpool
history of England. War, pestilence, and famine deso- fifteenth
lated the land, and carried off the population by myriads. century.
The advancing tide of industry and prosperity, so pro-
mising at its commencement, was pushed back at least
for a century at its close. No part of the country
suffered more than Lancashire. The district was poor,
and the people rude and turbulent. Whilst their leaders
carried off the able bodied to fight in the ranks of the
rival Roses, the land was left untilled, and the population
perishing. Goaded almost to frenzy, the people rose
in 1463 in Lancashire and Cheshire to the number of A.D. 1463.
10,000, but no redress could be obtained. Liverpool
suffered grievously under this state of things. Its trade.
fell off, and its population diminished. It is very diffi- Decay of
cult to ascertain the precise facts, but several circum-
stances concur in showing the deplorable condition of
the town from the middle to the latter part of this cen-
tury. With respect to the population we have no records.
whatever at this period, nor for a long time after. We
have a return of the number of burgages in 1272, 1342,
and 1346, being 168 at the two former dates and 164
at the latter. There is reason, however, for thinking
the town.
42
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
I.
1463.
Fee-farm
rents.
that these burgages were a fixed quantity, representing
the original tenements established by King John, which
had become divided and subdivided frequently into very
Burgages. minute portions, and which, therefore, give no kind of
clue to the number of inhabitants. A much better test
is afforded by the fee-farm rents and leases granted from
time to time, the amounts varying with the prosperity of
the place. From the year 1229, when the first lease
was granted at 107. per annum, there had been a pro-
gressive increase in the annual amount, until, in 1394, it
reached the respectable sum of 381. (equal to 570l. in
modern money). The disastrous fifteenth century exhibits
a manifest decline.
A.D. 1444.
New
lease.
In the 22nd Henry VI. (1444) a new lease was nego-
tiated by the mayor and burgesses, in which they were
aided by the good offices of Sir Thomas de Lathom
of Parbold. The instructions for this lease are written
on the back of the previous lease of 1394, granted by
John of Gaunt, now in the possession of the Earl of
Derby, and are curious as showing the points deemed
worthy of attention by the 'honest and discreet men'
who then managed the affairs of the town. "These be
the points and the articles that the mayor of Liverpoole
with assent of all the good men and commoners of the
same town, praying Thomas of Lathom to sue to the
Council of the Duchy: in the first, to take the town to
farm to as easy a rent as he can get it by his good labour;
the second article, to get the annual fair on one day;
the third article is, to get us power to take a man by his
body; the fourth article is, to get us a recognizance of
, and with the seal that belongs thereto;
and these three last articles must be in a patent, both to
ourselves, to the mayor, and to the bailiffs, and to their
successors for evermore. Half in mind to take the
castle orchard in our taking, and the meadow in any-
wise. Half in mind also to speak to my lord Sir Thomas
1 Defaced in MS.
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.
43
I.
1444.
for the Moldkirke. Half in mind also to get a privy CHAP.
seal direct to the mayor, charging all those that hold of
the king in Liverpool¹ to appear before the council in
London, else they will agree' (query, disagree?) with
the mayor.
› 2
<
The rent under this lease was at the reduced rate of
21/. per annum.
The decline, however, still continued, and in the 33rd Decline.
Henry VI. (1455) another lease was granted at the
further reduction of 177. 16s. 8d. a year, being less than
one-half the amount in the time of John of Gaunt.
A.D. 1461.
IV.
On the fall of the Lancastrian dynasty, the Stanleys
and Molyneuxs, who had fought under the banner of the
White Rose, received valuable grants from the conqueror
Edward IV. The Stanleys held the borough of Liver- Edward
pool and other estates formerly belonging to the duchy.
Sir Richard Molyneux received the chief forestership of
the royal forest and parks in the wapentake of West
Derby, with the office of sergeant or steward of that
wapentake and the wapentake of Salford, and the con-
stableship of the castle of Liverpool.
The Molyneux family did not suffer by the fall of the
line of York, for in the Act of Resumption passed in
the 1st Henry VII. (1485) a provision was made that
nothing in the Act contained should be hurtfull or
prejudiciall unto Lawrence Molyneux, of or in the office
of Constable of our Castell of Lyverpool, within the
Countie Palatyne of Lancaster.'
Another fee-farm lease was granted in the reign of
Edward IV., when the amount had dropped to 147.,
being little more than a third of the revenues eighty
years previously.
The crook backed tyrant,' Richard III., bid high for
the support of the Stanleys and Molyneuxs. To the
former he granted numerous manors in Lancashire, in-
1 These were probably the holders of the burgage tenements.
2 See Gregson's 'Fragments,' App. Ixiv.
44
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
CHAP. cluding Bolton and Chorley, 1,000 marks per annum,
and the rangership of Macclesfield forest. The latter he
confirmed in the previous grants made by his predecessor.
1484.
Richard
III.'s
grant to
Richard
Cook.
6
In the second year of his reign (1484), the king made
a grant to an unknown person, Richard Cook, in con-
sideration of the good and grateful service which our
beloved servant hath performed and shall perform for us
in time to come,' of the ferry over the water of Mersey
between the town of Lythepole and county of Chester
for his life, without any account therefor to be rendered,
or anything therefor to be paid.
Sixteenth Century.
The lowest point of depression had been reached
towards the close of the previous century, and from this
time the affairs of the town began slowly to revive. With
the establishment of settled peace, the resources of the
A.D. 1485. district began gradually to develope. King Henry VII.
upon his accession lost no time in securing to himself
the possessions of the Duchy of Lancaster. In the first
year of his reign an Act was passed vesting in the
monarch the estates of the duchy and all its ancient royal
and manorial rights, all toll, pannage, passage, pickage,
stallage, lastage, tallage, tollage, and carriage, which the
tenants, inhabitants, and residents had been accustomed
to pay in all lands, market-towns, and places whatsoever
belonging to the duchy.' Liverpool of course passed
with the rest.
A.D. 1495.
6
The rapacity and greed of the new monarch pressed
very heavily on his subjects. Everything capable of
being turned into money was made merchandise of.
Richard Cook, the grantee of the ferry under Richard
III. was compelled to surrender his gratuitous lease and
to receive a new one subject to an annual payment of
60s. (equal to 45l.).
In 1495 a lease of the fee-farm of the borough was
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
45
CHAP.
I.
1495.
David ap
granted for seven years to a Welshman, David ap Griffth,
at the annual rent of 147., the same rent which was paid
under the previous lease from Edward IV. Ap Griffith
is said to have been one of the followers of the Tudor Lease to
family from the principality. However this may be, he Griffith."
settled in Liverpool and filled the office of mayor; and
it seems likely that it was in this capacity that he became
lessee as the representative of the burgesses.
The avarice of the king sometimes overreached itself.
During the unsettled times of the Wars of the Roses, the
titles to much of the property in the kingdom fell into
confusion. This gave a splendid opportunity to the
Government to issue writs of Quo warranto, compelling
the parties summoned to come forward and prove their
titles or submit to the forfeiture or a fine, as the circum-
stances might be. Three years after granting the fee-
farm lease to David ap Griffith, a Quo warranto was
issued against the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of Liver-
pool. As under the depressed and ruined state of the
town there was nothing to be extracted, the proceeding
was abandoned.
In the 17th Henry VII. (1502) the lease to David ap A.D. 1502,
Griffith was renewed, he being mayor at the time.
the town.
In the sixth year of the reign of Henry VIII., the de- A.D. 1515.
cayed condition of Liverpool attracted the attention of Decay of
the Government, not so much from any sympathy with
the misfortunes of the inhabitants, as from the fact of the
reduced amount of the contributions to the exchequer;
and a commission was sent down to investigate and report.
It was alleged that the mayor had in great measure
caused this decline in the customs revenue, by the en-
franchisement of strangers resident in the borough, thus
liberating them from the payment of the dues which
were the property of the Crown. There is no record of
the report—if any-presented by the commissioners.
In the 16th Henry VIII. (1525) the fee-farm lease was AD 1525.
renewed to Alice Griffith, widow of David, and to Henry
46
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
. I.
1529.
Lease to
CHAP. Ackers, supposed to have been her son-in-law, for the
term of twenty-one years. In the 20th Henry VIII.
(1529), another lease was granted to the same parties
for a further period of twenty years. On March 15,
1531, Henry Ackers subleased to the mayor and bur-
A.D. 1531. gesses one moiety of the fee-farm of the town for six
years, at the rent of 10%., the mayor undertaking to
collect the whole of the dues and pay over one-half.
Griffith
and
Ackers.
A.D. 1525.
Rental.
A list is extant, prepared in 1525, of the rental yielded
to the corporation out of the common lands within the
borough. It is recorded in the town's books under the
date of 1558, Robert Corbett, mayor:
The true copy of the rental that is found written in these
words following by the hand of Wm. More, Esquire, de-
puted, due at Michaelmas anno regni 16 Henrici VIII. &c. :
Sir Wm. Molyneux, Knight, for the new Tythe barn.
Rd. Barker for certain common ground lying betwixt
St. Catherine's Hey and his croft
Gilbert Cooke for common
John Smyth, Mariner, for common ground
Robert Dobbe for common
Adam Dandye for mill dam
Jenkey Baxter for common
Thomas Wynstanley for common
Sum total
6d.
20d.
8d.
10d.
20d.
10d.
4d.
12d.
. 78. 6d.
A.D, 1533.
Rent-roll.
In the year 1533, just on the eve of the Reformation,
a return was made of the royal property in Liverpool.
It is headed 'The Kings Rentally of Leverpoole made the
viij day of October in the xxiiij yeare of the Reign of
Kinge Henry the Eight (1533).'1
The number of tenants is eighty-six, the total amount
of quit rent, 10l. 1s. 4d. The localities are given in
very few instances, but mention is made of Castle Street,
Castle Hey, Moore Street, and Chapel Street. Many of
1 The rent-roll is given at length in Gregson's 'Fragments,' App. Ixv.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
47
the names are familiar in the annals of Liverpool, and
some of the families are still connected with the town.
We have my Lord of Derby,' Sir John Stanley, Sir
William Molyneux; the Mores, Crosses, Fazakerleys,
Blundells, Halsalls, Seacomes, Tatlocks, Bolds, Houghtons,
Johnsons, &c. A proportion of the entries are for
burgages, half and quarter burgages, each of the burgages
bearing a uniform quit rent of xijª, but the majority
make no reference to burgage tenure. The fair inference
to be drawn is that in the course of three centuries the
burgage system had become rather obsolete. Many
were no doubt forfeited, and regranted independent of
the burgage tenure, and other lands had been granted
not included in the original scheme. The largest pay-
ment on a single property is xlix vjd for the lands of
William More, Esquire, the smallest iii for several
quarter burgages. There is an entry for half a burgage
in Chappel Streete, occupyed by the parson of Sefton.'
Another entry to William More for the rent of an howse
in Castle Streete, built upon a vacant ground of the said
William letten unto the King's Farmers; to discharge
the said William of the rent of iiij' by the yeare, soe long
as the said William and his heires, and the sayd farmers
should be contented, iiij.
<
B
6
CHAP.
I.
1533.
A passing remark may here be made on the enormous Value of
difference between the olden times and the present in the money.
value of money. In order to assimilate the mediaval
currency to the modern, it is usual as a rough approxi-
mation to multiply by 15. This may serve for ordinary
use, but it is far from an accurate estimate. There is no
more difficult problem to solve than that of estimating
the purchasing power of money in the medieval period
as compared with our own times. The fluctuations in
prices were so great, the tampering with the currency so
frequent, the habits of life so different, and the laws of
supply and demand so frequently interfered with, that
the greatest discrepancies are met with, and inferences
48
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
༨.
1533.
from one class of facts are continually falsified by re-
ference to others at the same period.
The elements of any enquiry of this kind consist mainly
of the following particulars:
1. The intrinsic value of the coinage, that is, the
nominal value of the ounce of silver at any particular
period.
2. The rate of wages of the ordinary labourer.
3. The price of the necessaries of life in the currency
of the period, taking wheat and cattle as the main
articles.
4. The rent of land at the time.
By comparing these particulars, inferences may be
drawn as to the purchasing power of money at any point.
in our history, and conversely of the condition of the
people.
Let us take, as an example, Liverpool in the early part
of the sixteenth century, before the Reformation. At
this time the ounce of silver was worth 3s. 4d., or, in
other words, six ounces of silver were coined into 20s.
As silver now bears the value of 5s. 2d. per oz., the
shilling of Henry VIII.'s time was worth 1.55 times the
modern coin in intrinsic value. The price of wheat
commodi- fluctuated from 1350 to 1500 from 4s. 6d. to 6s. 8d. per
quarter, but 6s. Sd. was considered the standard price.
In the 30th Edward I. (1302) a quarter of wheat was
worth 4s., a bull 7s. 6d., a cow 6s., a fat sheep 1s.
Value of
ties.
In the Inventory of William Fitzadam, inserted above,
prime cattle are quoted at 10s. each; pigs at 1s. 8d.; as
the ounce of silver was at that time worth only 2s. 1d.
the value in money of the sixteenth century would be
cattle 16s. and pigs 3s. 2d. each.
The wages of an ordinary labourer were throughout
the sixteenth century about 61d. per diem.
The rent of land in the neighbourhood of Liverpool
was on the average about 2s. per acre, as given in the
returns of the chantry property at the time of the disso-
SIXTEENTH CENTURY,
49
lution. The rents of cottages are quoted at 3s., 4s.,
2s. 8d., &c.
Let us now see what inferences we can draw from
these facts.
CHAP.
I
1533.
labour.
A labourer earning 6d. per day would earn in twelve Wages of
days the value of a quarter of wheat at 6s. 8d.; in six
days he might purchase a pig, or in thirty days he would
have wherewith to purchase a fat beast. Compare this
with the present day. 2s. 6d. may be considered a high
average for agricultural labour. With wheat at 45s. per Price of
quarter, it takes eighteen days of labour to earn the
price, whilst to obtain the amount to purchase a fat cow
or pig it would take at least three times the extent of
labour it cost the peasant of the sixteenth century.
wheat.
Let us now look at the rent the labourer pays for his Rent.
cottage. In the sixteenth century from six to eight days'
labour paid the rent. At the present day with a cottage
at 57. per annum no less than forty days' labour are re-
quired for the purpose. Even at 31. per annum twenty-
four days' labour are taxed for the payment.
land.
The contrast would be still more striking in the
thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. The con-
clusion is inevitable, that the cottager and labourer of
the sixteenth century obtained the necessaries of life on
much easier terms than his descendant of the nineteenth.
As to the rent of agricultural land, if we estimate the Rent of
present annual value of fair arable land at 30s. per acre,
it will be about ten times the rent before the Reforma-
tion, allowing for the difference in the standard of
coinage. Or, comparing the rent with the produce: in
1533 a quarter of wheat represented the rent of 3
acres of land; at the present day it only represents
1 acre.
1
At the same time it is only fair to state that
the 14 acre on the modern farm will produce larger and
better crops than the 34 acres of the olden time.
In comparing the monetary values of the figures Monetary
given in medieval documents from the thirteenth to the values.
VOL. I.
E
50
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1533.
Mr.
Froude's
views,
• West-
minster
Review,'
sixteenth centuries, we may consider that the purchasing
power of the necessaries of life in wheat, cattle, and rent
will be about fifteen times the nominal value as com-
pared with our own time, but as the labouring class
nominally received one-fifth of the present rate of pay,
it follows that their command of the prime elements of
subsistence was three times greater than at the present
day.¹
It is proper, however, to make the qualifying remark
that the employment at the rate of wages mentioned
above was not a constant quantity. At harvest and seed
time there was a great scarcity of hands, of which the
peasantry naturally took the advantage by increasing
their demands, against which the statutes of labourers'
vainly strove by prohibitory enactments.
6
The reign of Henry VIII. has of recent years become
a battle-field for the theories of rival historians. One
school, of which Mr. Froude may be considered the ex-
ponent, look upon this period as the golden age of
England, in which the nobles and gentry were liberal
and open-handed, and the people faithful and obedient,
where want was unknown, and peace and plenty scattered
their blessings around.
6
Another school, the views of which are ably sum-
marised in the Westminster Review' for January 1871,
have drawn conclusions the very opposite. According
to them no period in our history was more disastrous
or disorganised. Disorder and discontent prevailed on
every side. Famine and pestilence stalked through the
land, and crime was only restrained within bounds by
punishments of the most sanguinary and cruel character.
The enquiry is by no means foreign to our present
history, as the fortunes of Liverpool were closely bound
up with the events passing in the country and the results.
which flowed from them.
6
See, on this subject, Tooke's History of Prices' and Smith's' Wealth
of Nations.'
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
51
CHAP.
I.
1533.
Henry
The fact is, there is considerable truth both in the
optimist and pessimist view of this portion of our annals.
The early years of the reign of Henry VIII. were on the
whole prosperous.
The land had rest from the harassing Reign of
wars of the previous century, and, though impoverished, VIII.
was slowly recovering itself. Labour was in demand,
and the necessaries of life were cheap and abundant.
The feudal system was dying out, and the burghers and
middle class were assuming an importance never known
before.
for wool.
This progressive state of things continued to about the Demand
middle of King Henry's reign, when it received a rude
shock from two causes. The first arose from what
might and ought to have been a national benefit, the
demand for English wool abroad. This led to the
aggregation of farms, the enclosure of commons, and the
conversion of arable land into pasture.
'The cultivation of the land, which heretofore had
employed and maintained, not in affluence but with all
necessaries, the great bulk of the people, was suddenly
suspended. Thousands, most likely millions of acres,
which had been under the plough from time out of
mind, were all at once converted into pasture to meet
the new and increasing demand for English wool.'¹
Even so early as 1518, Sir Thomas More writes that Sir
'the sheep were devourers of men, women, and children; More.
villages decaying, tenants evicted, commons enclosed.'
It was publicly asserted that 50,000 ploughs were thrown
out of use, and 675,000 persons rendered destitute of
employment.
Thomas
out of
In the 7th Henry VIII. (1516) a proclamation was A.D. 1516.
issued, commanding the land thrown out of tillage to be Land
again brought under the plough. In 1534 a statute thrown
was passed (25 Henry VIII. c. 13) for the same pur- tillage.
pose, in the preamble of which it is stated that a good
sheep for victual that was accustomed to be sold for
Westminster Review,' January 1871.
A.D. 1534.
E 2
52
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1534.
Suppres-
sion of
monas-
teries.
2s. 4d., or 3s. at most, is now sold for 6s., or 4s. at least;
and a stone of clothing wool, that in some shires of this
realm was accustomed to be sold for 1s. 6d. or 1s. 10d.,
is now sold for 4s., or 3s. 4d. at the least.' No doubt
in the end, as manufactures arose in the country and
took off the superfluous labour, the evil was partially
remedied; but in the mean time the poor suffered greatly.
This suffering was greatly aggravated by another cause,
the suppression of the monasteries, and the sale and dis-
persion of their property (1535-8). Whatever the faults
A.D. 1535. of the monks might be, they were kind and easy land-
lords. They never enhanced their rents nor harassed
their tenants by arbitrary fines, as was too much the case.
with the temporal owners. The poor were fed, with
perhaps too lavish a hand, at the gates of the monasteries.
The monastic lands fell into the hands of greedy and
rapacious nobles and hangers-on of the court, who
raised the rents in many cases to three times their
previous amount.
Loss of
employ-
ment.
Revival
of trade,
The poor, losing employment from the cause above
mentioned, and in the absence of a poor law having no
longer the monastic dole to fall back upon, endured
grievous sufferings, which the prevailing epidemic of the
century—the sweating sickness--greatly aggravated.
Let us now return to the ancient and loyal borough,
from which perhaps we have wandered too far.
Notwithstanding the depressed condition of affairs at
the commencement of Henry VIII.'s reign, the transac-
tions relative to the leasing and subleasing of the town's
revenues indicate something of a revival of trade. There
are a few fragmentary portions of the town's records which
A.D. 1525. extend back to about the year 1525, and throw a little
light on the internal condition of the town. The local
government at that time consisted of the mayor, Thomas
Houghton, two bailiffs whose names are not given, and
twelve aldermen, in addition to the burgesses in common
Town-hall. hall assembled. The Town-hall stood in High Street, on
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
53
the site of the present Liverpool and London Chambers,
and was called Domus Beatæ Mariæ.'
6
On State occasions, the officials were bound to attend
his worship, armed with halberds and bills, and he had
the power of calling for the attendance of the burgesses at
his pleasure. Every morning, mass was said at St. John's
altar in the chapel before six o'clock, that the labourers
might commence the day by divine service; and every
evening at eight the curfew was rung, after which all
well-disposed people were expected to be at home, and
no suspicious persons were allowed to walk the streets
after the hour of nine.
CHAP.
I.
1525.
The worthy burgesses seem to have been of a cheerful
turn, for a company of 'waits,' or, in modern phraseology, Waits.
a band of music, was provided at the expense of the town,
to play every day except Sunday. There was a public
warehouse for the storage of goods, the keeper of which
was a corporate officer.
The only branches of industry mentioned, besides the Trades.
ordinary purveyors of meat and drink, are flax-dressing
and tanning. Sanitary provisions were not entirely for-
gotten. No flax was to be gigged in any house in the
town, nor was any flax or hemp to be watered within its
precincts. Persons afflicted with pestilence were to be
kept separate from the rest of the inhabitants. No horns
or hides were to be left in the streets by the tanners.
For the regulation of the streets it was provided that all
carts should pay 4d. a year towards mending the roads;
that no country carts should ply within the town; that
corn and malt should not be winnowed in the streets;
that no sheep should be turned out without a shepherd,
nor swine without a swineherd. The liberties or bounds Liberties.
of the borough were to be walked once a year, on Mid-
summer Eve, when all the inhabitants were required to
join the mayor, bailiffs, and aldermen, in public pro-
cession.
The narrow spirit of monopoly and jealousy of strangers
54
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1525.
Monopo-
lies.
Chapel
and
peeps out in one or two of the regulations. On market
days no corn was to be sold before the bell rung, and
country persons were not allowed to buy any until an
hour after. Foreign burgesses should bear equally with
those of the town scot and lot, but they should not follow
their occupations in the town, nor bake, brew, nor sell
ale, nor expose their goods for sale, except on market
days. This provision, that strangers should be compelled
to contribute to the local burdens whilst deprived of the
means of earning a livelihood, is about as cool an exhibi-
tion of selfishness as will often be met with.
When the confiscation of monastic property took place
chantries. at the Reformation, Liverpool was little affected by it.
The Chappell of Leverpoole' had four chantries, to
which I shall further refer in connection with the account
of the church. The lands belonging to these chantries
were sold, principally to the tenants. A list of these is
extant, signed by Thomas Hokenhall, mayor, for the noti-
fication of the truth in tyme to come.' Many of the names
are still existing in Liverpool, or were so in the last gene-
ration, as landholders-such as Secome, Rose, Crosse,
Moore, Tarleton, Fazakerley, Dyson, Bixteth, Melling, &c.
A.D. 1541.
Decay.
Leland.
Liverpool suffered along with the rest of the kingdom
from the causes mentioned above. In an Act passed in
1544 a list of towns is set forth which had fallen into
decay, and in which it is declared, 'That there hath been
in times past many beautiful houses which are now fall-
ing into ruin.' Amongst these decayed towns Liverpool
is included.
6
John Leland, the king's antiquary,' received a royal
commission in 1533, empowering him to search for all
records, manuscripts, and relics of antiquity in the cathe-
drals, colleges, abbeys, and priories throughout England."
This roving commission lasted six years. His journal, or
'Itinerary,' was first published in 1710-12. In the
course of his visit to Lancashire he passed through Liver-
pool, and thus alludes to it:
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
55
6
CHAP.
I.
Lyrpole, alias Lyverpoole, a pavid Towne, hath but a
chapel, Walton a iiii miles off, not far from the se is a
Paroche Chirch. The King hath a Castelet there, and 1533.
the Erle of Darbe a Stone Howse there. Irisch Mar-
chester
chauntes cum much thither, as to a good Haven.' In the
margin he remarks: At Lyrpole is a smaule costome
payid that causeth marchantes to resorte.' Again: Good Man-
Marchandis at Lyrpole, moch Irisch yarn that Manchester trade.
men do by ther.' The yarn here mentioned was doubt-
less linen yarn spun in Ireland and woven in Manchester
and the neighbourhood. This is the first intimation we
have of the textile manufactures of South Lancashire-
the first feeble rill of that manufacturing industry and
commerce which has swelled into such a mighty stream.
I have already alluded to two leases of the fee-farm of
the town granted in 1525 and 1529 to Alice Griffith and
Henry Ackers for two successive terms, expiring in 1566,
and to a sublease from the latter of one moiety to the
corporation for six years. In the 21st Henry VIII.
(1530), Henry Ackers prosecuted a number of persons A.D. 1530.
for a breach of the custom of toll of the ferry at Lyver-
pole. There must have been some forfeiture or other
determination of the lease, for we find that in the 28th
Henry VIII. (1537) the fee-farm was let to Thomas A.D. 1537.
Holcroft, a great speculator in the property of the dis-
solved monasteries; and in the same year Holcroft assigned
his interest to Sir William Molyneux of Sefton. From
this time forward the lease of the Crown rights was prin-
cipally in the hands of the Molyneux family. Two years
afterwards (September 3, 1539) Sir William Molyneux A.D. 1539.
granted a lease of one moiety of the fee-farm to the Lease of
mayor and burgesses at the yearly rent of 101.; he after-
wards assigned the other moiety to Edmund, or Edward,
Gee, for a fine of 4l. down, and a yearly rent of 8l. Gee
was connected both with Liverpool and Chester, having
been mayor of the former borough in 1548, and of the
ancient city in 1551, during which latter mayoralty he
fee-farm.
56
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1539.
Sweating
sickness.
was carried off by the fatal scourge, the sweating sickness.
He is said to have been a large importer of wine from
Spain, and undertook to give the right of pre-emption of
his importations to his patron, Sir William Molyneux.
The dreadful epidemic just mentioned ravaged Liver-
pool twice during the space of eight years-in 1540 and
A.D. 1548. 1548. The numbers carried off during the first visitation
are not mentioned; but at the latter date it is recorded
that 250 of the inhabitants died of the disease. As the
population could not at this time have exceeded 1000, it
is probable that in these two epidemics nearly one-half of
A.D. 1558. the population perished. The plague returned in 1558,
when it is alleged that 250 persons were again swept off.
This is probably an exaggeration; but these repeated
visitations may account for the fact, that whilst the trade
of the port was falling into its natural channel in con-
nection with the incipient manufactures of Lancashire, the
town is frequently referred to in the reign of Elizabeth
as a poor and decayed place.
A.D. 1547.
Reissue
of writ,
In 1547, the borough resumed its privilege of sending
representatives to Parliament which had been suspended
from 1306. During the early period of our Parlia-
mentary history, writs were not issued to the boroughs
separately and by name, but a general writ of summons
addressed to the sheriff of each county required him to
return two citizens or burgesses for each city and borough
within his county. During the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries, nearly the whole of the returns of the sheriffs
of Lancashire were to the following effect: Non est
aliqua civitas seu aliquod Burgum de quibus aliqui Cives
seu Burgenses venire possunt seu solent secundum
tenorem Brevis, propter eorum debilitatem et pauper-
tatem.' (There is not any city or borough from which
any citizens or burgesses are able or accustomed to come,
according to the tenor of the writ, by reason of their
debility and poverty.) Lancaster and Preston once or
twice returned members during this interval, but Liver-
•
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
57
pool was altogether lost sight of. In the 1st Edward VI.
(1547) the whole of the Lancashire boroughs were
again summoned and continued to exercise their pri-
vilege down to modern times. The members returned for
Liverpool at this time were Thomas Stanley and Anthony
or Ambrose Cave.
CHAP.
I.
1517.
Early in the reign of Edward VI. disputes arose be- Disputes.
tween the Crown lessees and the corporation respecting
the right to the tolls and customs. The corporation
claimed under the old leases granted to Griffith and
Ackers in 1525 and 1529, and insisted that the present
farmers under the Crown, the Molyneuxs, had an inferior
title. The mayor, John More, took the matter into his
own hands, persisted in holding the borough courts, and
received the fees thereto belonging. Whereupon Sir
Richard Molyneux applied for and obtained an injunc-
tion to restrain the corporation from proceeding in this
course. The questions remained in litigation until the
accession of Queen Mary (1553), when the Roman A.D. 1553.
Catholic party, to which the Molyneuxs belonged, ob-
tained the ascendency. The burgesses prudently elected
for mayor Sir William Norris of Speke, the represen-
tative of an ancient Catholic family in the neighbourhood,
but it was all in vain. The queen renewed the lease of Lease to
the fee-farm to Sir Richard Molyneux for forty-one
years. This so exasperated the burgesses that they again
resisted, and threw into prison Sir Richard's collector
of the dues, Hugh Dobie. The consequence of this con-
tumacy was that Mr. Thomas More, then mayor, was
arrested and committed to the Fleet for contempt of
court, and was only released on making an ample apology.¹
I Mr. T. Baines ('Hist. Liverpool,' p. 210) gives an extract from the
town's records, under the date of 1556, being an audit by Thomas More,
mayor, of the accounts of his predecessor, Ralph Sekerston, from which he
infers that at this date the corporation held a lease from the Molyneuxs.
This is an error in the date; Sekerston was mayor in 1550, and Thomas
More the year following. At this date the questions at issue were in litiga-
tion. Thomas More was again mayor in 1557.
Moly-
neux.
58
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1553.
A.D. 1555.
New
charter.
Abolition
of mono-
polies.
In 1553 a muster of soldiers was made for the royal
service. Derby hundred had to raise 450 men under
the command of Edward, Earl of Derby; Sir Richard
Molyneux, of Sefton; Sir Thomas Gerard, of Bryn; Sir
Piers Legh, of Haydock; Sir William Norris, of Speke,
&c. Liverpool had to furnish four men; West Derby
township, eleven; Walton and Fazakerly, seven.
On January 4, 1555, a new charter was granted to
the town in the joint names of Philip and Mary. There
is a remarkable point in this charter, which appears to me
to throw some light on the local history of the period.
Any of my readers who have taken an interest in the
subject will perceive in looking over the earlier docu-
ments that the original charter of John gave no mo-
nopoly of trade to the burgesses. This prohibition of
strangers was first introduced into the charter of Henry III.,
and in that of Richard II. it was struck out. In the
charter of Henry IV. the earlier charters were recited
and confirmed, which gave the monopoly, but that of
Richard II. which repealed it was omitted.
In the
charter of Philip and Mary that of Richard II. repealing
the monopoly is recited and confirmed, but the charter
of Henry IV. is wholly omitted. There is no doubt that
at the accession of Mary the burgesses of Liverpool
were zealous Protestants, and by the monopoly clause in
the charter they had the power to keep out the Catholics.
Hence the significant reproduction and confirmation of
the charter of Richard II. throwing the trade open to all
comers.
The privilege, restored in 1547, of sending two bur-
gesses to Parliament does not seem to have been much
valued at first. In 1555, the town returned Sir Richard
Sherburne, Knight, steward to the Earl of Derby, as one
member, and courteously left the other place vacant to
be filled up by the Chancellor of the Duchy, Master
Burchett.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
59
The extant municipal records commence in 1551. One CHAP.
of the first entries is as follows:
Anno 1551. The Rentals belonging to the towne of Liverpoll
and to the Mayor wth the burgesses of the same.
In primis, a burgage in the Wat streete, now in
the holdyng of Alexander Garnet¹
Item a Burgage in the Dale Street now in the
holdyng of Richard Warmyngham
A Burgage in the holdynge of Thomas Atherton in
the Dale Street
A tenement in Garston now in ye holdynge of Rd.
Pryce
xiiis. iiiid.
vis. viiid.
xiis.
viiis.
Added on the same page, under the date 1558—
Item, Rent growing out of Barbons lands gyven by
the lady's mercie
Item that it is recorded by the Great Inquest
aº 1558, Robt Corbet Mayor,2 a yearly rent
growing out of one Gill's lands of Bye Lane in
Darby, late in the holdynge of Willm Smyth of
Liverpole deceased .
Item, by the same Inquest, halfe a burgage of land
or Messge and Buyldyng in ye Dale Street late in
the occupation of Robert Nicholas deceased; and
his wyffe Dorothy is now admitted unto the same
by the sayd Great Inquest.
1558. Thomas More Mayor.3 Item; it is ordered
by the said Inquest that the Mayore for the
tyme being cause proclamation to be made at yo
Crosse that no shoemaker of the countrie doe
bring shoes to sell in Liverpole Market made of
horse hyde or of unlawful barked leather, to for-
fitt the same for the fyrst tyme, and the second
tyme to forfitt the same that be made of horse
hyde or of unlawful barked and tanned leather,
1 Mayor in 1559 and 1564.
2 Robert Corbet was mayor in 1558-9.
3 Thomas More was mayor 1557-8.
under whose name above is an insertion.
vis.
vis. viiid.
He preceded Corbet, the entry
I.
1551.
Records.
Rental.
AD. 1558.
60
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1558.
Plague.
A.D. 1561.
and further to make fyne at the Mayor's discre-
tion. And the thyrd tyme soe doeing to have
imprisonment at the Mayor's discretion, and to
be bannyshed the Market.
The plague of 1558 is described rather graphically in
the following extract from the corporation records:
•
1
This year and the year before was great sickness in
Liverpoole, as was all the country of these parts in Lan-
cashire, and specially a great plague in Manchester, by
reason whereof this town was in great dread and fear;
and on St. Lawrence's day was buried Mr. Roger Walker,¹
and also a child of Nicholas Brayes, at the Pool House,
the new house that Robert Corbett made, at the death
of which said Brayes's child was great murmur and noise
that the plague should be brought into that house by an
Irishman, one John Hughes, coming sickly from Man-
chester, and brought his linen clothes thither to be
washed, which after could not be found true by no pro-
bation before Mr. Mayor then being, nor Mr. Mayor then
next after, which was Mr. Corbett; but for all that, ever
after that day, the whole town suspected it for the very
plague and pestilence of God, because there was out of
the same house buried, within five or six days late before
persons; 2 and so after that it increased daily and
daily to a great number, that died between the said St.
Lawrence day and Martlemas then next after, the whole
number of 240 and odd persons, under thirteen score;
and that year was no fair kept at St. Martin's day, nor
market till after the Christmas next.'
•
In the year 1561, Liverpool was visited by a tremen-
Hurricane. dous hurricane, during which the violence of the waves
destroyed the jetty or breakwater of the old haven, the
exact site of which is not known. The little community,
depressed as they were by their recent misfortunes, ex-
hibited signs of that energy and public spirit which have
1 Roger Walker had been mayor in 1553.
2 Defect in the MS.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY,
61
6
I.
Sunday 1561.
haven
subsequently, under their successors, produced such won- CHAP.
derful results. The corporation records furnish the
following account: Robert Corbett, mayor.
being the 9th of November, this year, and next after
the great wind and storms aforesaid, Mr. Mayor called
the whole town, as many as then were at home, together,
unto the hall, where they counselled all in one consent
and assent, for the foundation and making of a new New
haven, turning the fresh water out of the old pool into
the new haven; and then and there before he rose, by
the side of the bench, of his free will gave a pistole of
gold towards the beginning, which that day was good
and current all England through for 5s. 10d., although
after, in a few days, it was not so, but by proclamation
in London, by the Queen's Majesty, was prohibited and
not current. Also, the same day Mr. Sekerston did give,
also all the rest of the congregation did give, so that in
the whole was gathered that present day the whole sum
of 13s. 9d. current, and put into the custody of Richard
Fazakerley and Robert Mosse, who were then appointed
to be collectors for that time. On the Monday morning
then next, Mr. Mayor, and of every house in the Water
Street, one labourer went to the old pool, and there
began and enterprised digging, ditching, and busily
labouring upon the foundation of the new haven; and so
the Tuesday, of every house in the Castle Street was a
labourer sent to the same work. Wednesday next then
after came forth of every house in the Dale Street to the
said new haven, a labourer gratis. Thursday then next
after the Juggler Street; with the More Street, Mylne
Street, Chapell Street, every house sending a labourer,
and this order continued until St. Nicholas's day then
next after, gratis."
The idea of commencing to build a new haven with a
capital in hand of 13s. 9d. may excite a smile, but there
is something in the earnestness of the whole proceeding
calculated to call forth our sympathy and admiration.
62
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1561.
Corbett
and
We are reminded of a similar simultaneous movement of
the people for the erection of the walls of Jerusalem in a
time of emergency.1
This record brings under our notice the names of two
Sekerston. active and energetic men to whom the Liverpool of that
day was deeply indebted-Robert Corbett and Ralph
Sekerston. Corbett was the leading merchant of the
town, and filled the office of mayor five times between
1558 and 1573. His name frequently occurs in con-
nection with the records of the time. Sekerston was a
man of a more versatile character, and seems to have
been looked up to in times of need as the sage counsellor
and adviser. We first find his name recorded as mayor
in the 3rd Edward VI. (1550). During the reign of
Mary he was under a cloud, but emerged on the acces-
sion of Elizabeth, and was again elected chief magistrate
in 1560.
A.D. 1562.
Election.
In 1562, a difficulty arose from which the town was
extricated by the dexterity and adroitness of Sekerston.
I have already mentioned that the recently revived
privilege of returning members to Parliament rather
pressed heavily on the worthy burgesses. They appear
to have been troubled
With the burden of an honour
Unto which they were not born.
The chancellor of the duchy and the Earl of Derby
were the two magnates with whom it behoved the cor-
poration to keep on good terms and make things
pleasant.' At the last election in 1555, one member
had been nominated by each of these grandees. Now,
however, there was a third party, who as a patron
demanded a share in their allegiance. After the litiga-
tion about the town's dues and tolls which led to the
incarceration of the mayor, a reconciliation took place,
1 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the
half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.'-Nehemiah, iv. 6.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
63
and Sir Richard Molyneux granted a sub-lease to the
corporation. In gratitude for this, the burgesses elected
Mr. Richard Molyneux, son of Sir Richard, one of the
members, intending to reserve the other seat for the
disposal of my lord of Derby. The chancellor, however,
was not to be put off so easily and put in his claim.
CHAP.
I.
1562.
The circumstances are very quaintly detailed in the
town's records. After mentioning the election of Mr.
Richard Molyneux before the chancellor had communi-
cated his wishes, the recorder proceeds to say that they
had 'reserved the other for my lord the Earl of Derby,
marvelling much that he sent not to the town, as he was
wont to do, requiring the nomination of one burgess,
which was a great stay (hindrance), and caused the town
to meet in the hall divers times about the same; and in
one meeting, Sir Thomas Hesketh, Sheriff of Lancashire,
sent his servant with letters from Mr. Chancellor of this
duchy, Sir Ambrose Cave, directed to Mr. Mayor and
his brethren, for the nomination of a burgess, and the
said servant was diligent expectant of an answer; but
Mr. Mayor and his brethren willed him to go to his
dinner, and after that he should be answered; and it
was thought good to take deliberation therein, and so
showed to the servant and desired his master not to be
displeased, for so much as one burgess was granted
before Mr. Chancellor's mind was known; and promised
to send him answer after my lord the Earl of Derby's
pleasure were known to us, whom always we were most
naturally beholden and bounden to, and in this doing
Mr. Sekerston was appointed one day and disappointed Seker-
another day; so that then the town agreed that Mr. ston's
Sekerston should go up to London, and so he rode
almost post, and took the said certificate with him, and
also to go to my lord the old Earl of Derby, and show
his lordship that whereas he did not send to the town
for a burgess, yet the town thought good his lordship do
his pleasure therein.' The sequel does credit to the
election
64
CHAP.
I.
1562.
A.D. 1565.
Census.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
tact and adroitness of Mr. Sekerston for we find " my
lord was well pleased with the town, giving us thanks,
and gave his election to Mr. Sekerston; and he showed
himself and kept time and hour (at the Parliament), but
was put back by the means of Mr. Chancellor. Yet he
stuck to the matter still, and obtained his room (place)
and served there; and when other town burgesses had
and did retain speakers for them in the Parliament
house, he retained none, but stood up after the manner
there, and was speaker himself, to the great grief of Mr.
Chancellor; so that in his fumes he caused privy seal
made' (i.e. a writ to be issued) and was ready directed
to fetch Mr. Mayor up to appear in the Duchy Chamber
-but as God would-by means of the Earl of Derby,
the privy seal was called in again, which, if it had not,
the town would have been put to a great charge. In
the mean time a cess was laid for Mr. Sekerston giving
his attendance in the parliament house, for the charges
of him, after 2s. a day.'
6
Brave and shrewd old Sekerston! he must have been
a very crabbed and discontented burgess who would have
grudged the 2s. a day so well earned.
In November 1565 a census was taken, from which
it appears that there were then in the town 138 in-
habited houses and 7 streets. According as we reckon
5 or 6 inmates to a house, the population would amount
to 690 or 828 inhabitants. This is a sad falling off
from the 168 burgages in the fourteenth century, and is
probably the lowest point of depression ever reached.
The number of vessels belonging to the port was 12,
with an aggregate burden of 223 tons, navigated by 75
men.
The town's records in the reign of Elizabeth are very
full and complete. They throw such light on the habits,
customs, and tone of thought of the period that I make
no apology for quoting from them pretty freely.
Although a truce had been patched up between the.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
65
I.
1566.
corporation and the Molyneuxs, the Crown lessees, yet CHAP.
the burgesses groaned under the yoke, and were anxious
to shake it off. Master Ralph Sekerston being now in
Parliament, took the opportunity of bringing the subject
before the queen's grace, which he did in the following
petition:
ston's
'Anno 1566, 31st March. To the Queen's most ex- A.D. 1566.
cellent majesty. Your poor subject, Ralph Sekerston, Seker-
of your grace's decayed town of Liverpool, in the county Petition.
of Lancaster, most humbly desireth your highness to have
respect in what estate your said town is in, for all liber-
ties and franchises given to us by any of your majesty's
progenitors is from us, your poor tenants, clearly taken
away. My petition is to your grace, that you may have
the governance still over us, and your grace shall have
our charter under the broad seal given to your majesty,
and then of your merciful goodness to grant us what
shall please your grace; and also that we may, from
henceforth, continue under your grace's said governance,
and we will obey and truly serve your majesty, under
God; for to us there is no other help but by your
majesty; only your highness hath as full power to help
us, your said subjects, in these days, as any others your
grace's progenitors have had in times past, and as our
bounden duty is, we shall pray for your majesty long to
reign over us.
'Liverpool is your own town. Your majesty hath a
castle and two chauntries clear, the fee-farms of the
town, the ferry-boat, two windmills, the custom of the
duchy, the new custom of the tonnage and poundage,
which was never paid in Liverpool before your time;
and the commodity thereof is your majesty's. For your
own sake suffer us not utterly to be cast away in your
grace's time, but relieve us like a mother.
6
This supplication was devised by Master Ralph Seker-
ston of his own politic wit and wisdom, and fair written
by a notary or clerk of the court, that cost him 8d. the
VOL. I.
F
66
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
I.
1566.
CHAP. writing, as Master Sekerston declared and saith openly
this 31st day of March, this present year 1566, which
supplication, verbatim agreeing herewith, he put into
the queen's majesty's hand at the parliament, this said
same year, he one of the burgesses of this town at and
in the same parliament and in the parliament house.'
A.D. 1576.
Horse-
races.
A.D. 1566.
Earl of
Derby.
A.D. 1567.
6
Poverty-stricken as the politic wit' of Sekerston
showed the town to be, the burgesses were not without
a zest for amusements. In 1567 a cock-pit was erected
at the public expense, and in 1576 horse-races were
established on the shore to be run on Ascension Day in
every year.
1
6
On August 5, 1566, a visit was paid to the town by
the Earl of Derby, who had in his train his sons, Lord
Strange and Sir Edward Stanley; Sir John Savage, Sir
Piers Legh of Lyme, William Molyneux of Sefton,
Grosvenor of Eaton, and other esquires and gentlemen.'
The mayor, Master John Crosse, with the bailiffs and
burgesses met them at the town's end (now the end of
Dale Street) and attended them to the tower of Liverpool,
where the said earl and his train rested, and had a
couple of partridges, and to drink with of his lordship's
cost, and other things at his lordship's; and there Mr.
Mayor, his brethren with the bailiffs and common bur-
gesses, did present him with a banquet of delicious deli-
cates of two courses of service,' &c.
6
In March, 1567, a muster of soldiers was ordered to
Muster of reinforce the army in Ireland, when the following pro-
clamation was issued in Liverpool :
soldiers.
6
Everyone must have a cassock of blue watchet York-
shire cloth, guarded with two small guards, stitched with
two stitches of blue apiece, a very good yew bow and a
sheaf of arrows in case, a red cap, a stag or stirk buck-
1 In taking down some old buildings at the top of Shaw's Brow in 1868,
the remains of a cock-pit having a sunk area, with tiers of benches round
cut in the rock, were laid bare. This may possibly have been the relics of
the one in question.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
67
skin jerkin, a sword dagger, and every man to have
13s. 4d. in his purse.
6
Walton Parish must furnish William Lyddell with a
harquebus, the charge whereof is 64s. 10d. This William
Lyddell is a butcher, late come to Liverpool from York as
he saith.'
The same month the levies of South Lancashire mus-
tered in Liverpool, and were sent to Chester, where they
were joined by the forces from Derbyshire, Staffordshire,
Cheshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire. The Staffordshire
uniform was red; all the others were dressed in blue.
They were shipped part in Chester and part in Liverpool,
whence also 650 horse soldiers were forwarded to Ire-
land.
6
CHAP.
I.
1567.
Queen of
In 1571, the conspirators under the Duke of Norfolk A.D. 1571.
in their plans for the escape of Mary Queen of Scots had Mary
a device to carie the Quene of Scots away to the seaside Scots.
and then to have a shippe redy about Lyrpole, or some
such place in Lancashire.'
elected.
In 1572 Ralph Sekerston was elected member for the A.D. 1572.
last time. On this occasion the chancellor was allowed Sekerston
to have the nomination of the other member, a Mr.
Greenacres. In 1574, when war with Spain was con-
sidered imminent, Sekerston, along with five others, under-
took the entire charges of putting the town into a state
of defence. The other contributors were William Moore
and John Crosse, the two Liverpool squires; Robert
Corbett, the greatest merchant and shipowner of the port;
Richard Howard and Richard Mosse. From this time
we lose all record of Sekerston. He died about 1580,
and his place as member was supplied by Matthew Dale.
Sekerston had served the town long and well. His
memory was cherished, and a saying of his applicable to
the troublous times of the middle of the sixteenth century
was handed down for several generations: Save me and
mine, and the good town of Liverpool and theirs, and then
let the nobles kill whom they please.'
6
F 2
68
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1573.
Earl of
Essex.
Émeute.
In 1573 the Earl of Essex passed through Liverpool,
and set sail for Carrickfergus to take the command of the
queen's army in Ireland. A detachment of his troops
was left behind to follow him, when an émeute took place,
very graphically described in the town's records, of which
the following is the substance:
6
Magister Jno. Crosse, armiger, mayor.
· Edward Bartley, esquire, Captain of the Motley Coats,
and Roger Sydenham, gent., Captain of the Blue Coats,
came to this town after the said Earl of Essex and his
company were departed and sailed for Knockfergus, alias
Carrickfergus.
On the 4th day of September a grievous conten-
tion and discord sprang betwixt these two, Bartley
and Sydenham; and Sunday morning next after, being
5th Sept. the same year, Roger Sydenham, Lieutenant
of the Blue Coats, at his uprising, walking and coming
forth of Roger Jameson's house, his host, with three or
four of his soldiers, and the said Capt. Bartley coming
with a company of his Motley Coats, drew their swords
and set upon the said lieutenant and forced him and his
men for safeguard of their lives to take in to the houses,
where, against the ragious persecution and enterprise
of the said Bartley, therein by the good shift of the roof
of the same house, the said Sydenham and his men all
but one were conveyed into a high loft or chamber by the
ladder, and so they drew up the ladder up to them in the
said loft, and so escaped death, as pleased God, but that
one soldier which was stayed in the house was all to
much swynged and beaten, kneeling upon his knees bare-
headed, calling and crying out most woefully for mercy
and pardon of life. In these the said Capt. Bartley
caused that soldier bluecoat to be set in the stocks at the
high cross, and caused a cantel of a chest board to be
nailed to his side, and there was watched with a dozen
tall bills of this town. Roger Sydenham, poor gentle-
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
69
man, was in cover all the while. It is long to repeat
and more to rehearse the riot, tumult, and disorder of
the said Capt. Bartley and his motley coats, and over
tedious to write of the spoils of both motleys and blue
coats, as well abroad in the country hereto adjoining as
within this town.
'Truth is, there was such insurrection stirred by the
said Capt. Bartley as the like was never seen in the town
and this country, for to be short, Mr. Mayor and all the
town suddenly, as pleased God Almighty, were ready
upon the heath of this town, every man, with their best
weapons, so as by good chance every householder being
at home Sunday morning, eager as lions, made show
almost even like to the number of the said captains and
all their soldiers, so as the captains and all their men
being arrayed and there upon the said heath, the said
Capt. Bartley and all his gentlemen moved Mr. Mayor
to order all in good part, and to think no other but all
shall be well and quiet and so proved; and after the
said battle array Mr. Captain showed all courtesy and
gentleness to Mr. Mayor, and came up to the town in
friendship and amity; and after all this done, the captains
and their soldiers were more gentle to deal with all the
while they abode within the town,'
Allowing for a little pardonable exaggeration as to the
prowess of the townsmen, it is clear that every house-
holder was provided with weapons and prepared to use
them as members of a trained band or volunteer corps.
In a requisition for an armament in August, 1574, in
which the contributions of each landholder in the county
of Lancaster are set forth, the Earl of Derby amongst
other weapons is required to provide 30 long.bows,
30 sheafs of arrows, and 30 steel caps for the archers.
Other landholders in like proportion. It would seem,
therefore, that the national weapon which won the fights
of Creçy, Agincourt, and Flodden, had not gone out of
use at the end of the sixteenth century.
CHAP.
I.
1573.
A.D. 1574.
Requisi-
eq
70
CHAP.
I.
1576.
Loyalty.
A D. 1577.
Earl of
Derby's
visit.
6
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
The loyalty of the country to 'good Queen Bess' was
most remarkable. Here is an account of the celebration
of one of the anniversaries of her accession to the throne:
This year, the 17th day of November, 1576, and enter-
ing upon the 18th year of the reign of our most gracious
sovereign lady Elizabeth, Mr. Thomas Bavand being mayor
of this her majesty's corporation and port town of
Lirpole in the county of Lancaster, caused the same
day in the evening a great bone fire to be made in the
market place, near to the high cross of the same town,
and another anenst his own door, giving warning that
every householder should do the like throughout the
town, which was done accordingly. And immediately
after caused to call together his brethren the aldermen,
and divers others of the burgesses of the same town, and
so went all together to the house of Mr. Ralph Burs-
cough' (mayor in 1583) alderman, where they ban-
queted a certain time, which done Mr. Mayor departed
to his own house accompanied of the said alderman and
others, a great number, upon whom he did bestow sack
and other white wine and sugar liberally, standing all
without the door, lauding and praising God for the most
prosperous reign of our said most gracious sovereign
lady the queen's most excellent majesty, whom God
grant long over us to reign with great tranquillity and
victorious success over all her grace's enemies. And so
appointing his bailiff and other officers to see the fires
quenched he departed.'
In the following year (1577) during the mayoralty
of the same Mr. Thomas Bavand, Henry, Earl of Derby,
en route for the Isle of Man, came to Liverpool and
waited for a fair wind. The corporation in their efforts
to do him honour, seem to have excelled themselves.
The earl arrived on the 15th of April and remained
until the 28th, residing at his fortified mansion in Water
Street. On Monday the 22nd his honour came to the
church or chapel to view and appoint out a fit place for
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
71
the cloth of state, which was on the south side of the
same church or chapel, richly hanged with costly orna-
ment and cloth of gold. And Mr. Thos. Bavand being
then mayor of Lyrpole aforesaid, caused preparation to be
made for a great triumph; to honour the said noble earl,
at the said most honourable feast, appointing Thomas
Englefield to be captain and leader of a great number of
town's men, burgesses of Lyrpole and others, whom he
caused his bailiffs, Roger Roose and Robert Ball, to see
furnished and trimly set forth as soldiers in warlike
manner to march and skirmish before the said right
honourable earl, who did the same very orderly and right
well at divers and sundry convenient times during the
said most honourable feast. The same said 22nd day of
April aforesaid the said right honourable earl came to
evening prayer at five of the clock in the afternoon,
accompanied with Mr. Mayor, the aldermen, bailiffs and
others aforesaid, going in due order; that is to say, the
said two bailiffs foremost, and then the bailiffs' peers, then
after them the aldermen, then certain of my lord's gentle-
men, then the serjeant bearing the mace before Mr.
Mayor, and then next after Mr. Mayor my lord's honour's
usher, and then the said right honourable earl in his robes
of red purple, his train being borne up by Mr. Leigh of
Bagguley, and then came after a great number as well of
his honour's gentlemen as yeomen, and so his honour
coming to the church at that time, first of all he did mark
himself unto God, and then trimming himself did his duty
in making obeisance to the place of estate, and before his
honour did take his own place obeisance again to the
said place of estate and so sat down. And afterwards,
service being done, at his honour's going from church,
there was the said Capt. Thomas Englefield with his
soldiers ready, and there skirmished very bravely and
orderly; shooting of great store, not only of culliver
shot, but also of great cast ordinance and chambers,
being placed in the church yard according to Mr. Mayor's
CHAP.
I.
1577.
72
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. appointment, besides shooting off from the ships riding
in the river.'
I.
1577.
1
C
The next morning-Tuesday, St. George's Day-the
festivities were resumed, when his honour came to the
church very gorgeously, and after went in solemn pro-
cession about the church yard and so entered again into
the church, and there offered a piece of gold which was
given to Sir James Seddon ¹ clerk, minister there. That
being done, Mr. Cadwell, his honour's chaplain, made a
godly and learned sermon upon the Psalm 50 v. 7, Audi
populus meus et contestabor te Israel, &c. And at
every time of my lord's departure from church there was
great triumph as aforesaid; so that there was shot at the
least 1,200 culliver shot during the said most honour-
able feast. And the same evening, at after supper, one
Ralph Powell, gunner, being ready with squibs, to make
pastime, cast the said squibs abroad very trimly, whereat
his honour took great pleasure.'
6
'
6
On Wednesday his honour' came to church again
in the same state, when one Mr. Untter, her majesty's
chaplain, made a passing famous learned sermon' on
Rev. xxii., Ecce venio cito, et merces mea mecum, which
sermon, it is very unkindly remarked to the prejudice of
Sir James Seddon, was lyked much above the other.'
Our record continues: There were many things done.
and pastimes made, as a morris dance-over and beside
the premises; which were all so orderly and trimly
handled as was to the liking and great pleasure of the
said right honourable earl, the like whereof was never
seen or known to be done in the said town of Lirpole,
for the which his honour did not only give unto Mr.
Mayor manifold thanks, but also constrained him to
take his honour's liberality, sore against Mr. Mayor's
mind, to bestow upon the said company. All these
things being finished in decent order, then on the Sun-
1 The title of 'Sir' given to the minister illustrates Shakespeare's Sir
Hugh Evans, the parson, in the 'Merry Wives of Windsor.'
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
73
day next following, God sending his honour a prosperous
wind and fair weather, his honour took shipping at
Lirpole in the Edward, Mr. Tarbuck's ship, about four
of the clock in the afternoon, being accompanied with
the Michael of Lirpole, the Bee of the same, the Eliza-
beth of Alt, and the Good Luck of Douglas.'
6
C
It has often been said that Liverpool loves a lord,'
and certainly the incense of adulation was never pre-
sented in a more demonstrative form than on the occa-
sion here set forth. One would imagine his honour'
must have been heartily sick of the daily iteration during a
weary week of the merry pastimes,' sermons, triumphs,'
shootings, and squibs with which they delighted to
honour him. How all this expenditure in so small a
community can be reconciled with the dreary picture of
poverty presented in Sekerston's petition eleven years
before I will not take upon myself to say.
CHAP.
I.
1577.
The number of streets in the town had increased from Streets.
five in the reign of Edward III. to seven in the reign of
Elizabeth, the additional ones mentioned being Juggler
Street (afterwards High Street) and Mylne Street (now
Oldhall Street).
In 1579, the burgesses asserted their right to be A.D. 1579.
carried across the Mersey gratis. It is in the records
'agreed, that not any freeman nor his family pay any
ferry, but upon good will, and that the ferryman shall
carry, or cause to be carried, into the boat and out
again, all freemen and their families without contradic-
tion.'
Disputes
In 1581, a dispute of long standing between the rival A.D. 1581.
ports of Liverpool and Chester was brought to a legal with
issue. Chester had from an early period claimed to Chester.
look upon Liverpool as a mere dependency, and to con-
trol the course of trade there, notwithstanding letters
patent and acts of parliament to the contrary.
In 1570, a contest for the right of search took place,
with what result we are not informed. In 1581, the
74
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1581.
A.D. 1582.
Presenta-
tion to
dissension broke out afresh on occasion of a company of
Spanish and Portuguese merchants in Chester wishing to
restrict the trade in Liverpool. The Earl of Derby, who
had been so handsomely fêted four years previously,
could do no less than interfere on behalf of his enthu-
siastic admirers. He brought the subject before the
Privy Council, whence it was referred to the Master of
the Rolls. Secretary Walsingham, in making this com-
munication, describes the Earl of Derby as the chief
person in those parts, and patron of that poor town of
Lyverpoole.' The decision of the judge was in favour
of Liverpool, and it was thought quite consistent with
the usage of the times that a compliment should be paid
him for the favour thus shown.
The following is the town's record:
6
'Johannes Crosse, armiger, mayor, 27th day of April,
24th year of her majesty's reign, 1582. Item at the
the judge. same assembly a motion was made by Mr. Mayor to his
said brethren and burgesses, concerning a hogshead of
wine to be bestowed and presented at their cost upon
the right worshipful the Master of the Rolls, as a simple
token of the town's good will towards his worship, at
whose hands the town hath received much goodness and
great trophies in matters touching the affairs and com-
modity thereof; which hogshead of wine it was agreed
should be with all convenient expedition provided and
sent to his worship's house, toward the which Mr. Mayor
proffered 10s., Mr. Wm. More 10s., Mr. Wm. Secome
6s. 8l., Mrs. Burscough 5s., Mr. Robt. More 10s., Mr.
Mainwaring 38. 4d., Mr. Bailiff Nicholson 5s."'
Incidents of this kind exhibit in a clear light the
enormous difference in the tone of feeling on public
matters between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Imagine the right honourable the Master of the Rolls of
the present day accepting a present from a successful suitor
for the goodness and favour,' in other words, the gross
partiality, shown in his decision of an important cause!
6
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
75
6
CHAP.
I.
1586.
About this time the antiquary William Camden ob-
tained the information respecting Liverpool which is
embodied in his Britannia,' first published in 1586.
Camden was rather a compiler than an original observer, descrip-
most of his information having been derived from Leland tion.
and Glover. It is very doubtful if he ever visited Liver-
pool. The following is his reference to the town:
6
From Warrington the Mersey grows broader, and
soon after contracts itself again; but at last opens into a
wide mouth very commodious for trade, and then runs
into the sea, near Litherpoole, in Saxon Liferpole, com-
monly Lirpoole, called so (as 'tis thought) from the
water spread like a fen there. It is the most convenient
and frequented place for setting sail into Ireland, but
not so eminent for its being ancient, as for being neat
and populous. For the name of it is not to be met with
in old writers; but only that Roger of Poictiers, who was
lord of the honour of Lancaster (as they expressed it in
those days), built a castle here; the government whereof
was enjoyed for a long time by the noble family of the
Molineaux, knights, whose chief seat lies hard by at
Sefton, which the same Roger de Poictiers bestowed
upon Vivian de Molineaux about the beginning of the
Normans. 1
This description is meagre, and incorrect in several
particulars, and wants the life-like truth of old Leland's
personal narrative.
Camden's
The trade of Liverpool undoubtedly took from this
period the forward movement which more or less it has
maintained ever since. In 1570 the income of the cor- A.D. 1570.
poration was 20l. 14s. 8d. In 1590 it had reached Income of
86l. 13s. 2d. The Liverpool customs duties produced tion.
in 1586 the sum of 2721. 3s., whilst the associated
ports of Chester, Conway, and Beaumaris yielded only
2117. 4s. 8d.
In 1588 came the excitement of the great Spanish
1 Gibson's 'Camden,' edit. 1695, p. 790.
corpora-
76
CHAP.
I.
1588.
Spanish.
Armada.
Humphrey
Brooke's
ment.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
armada. Lancashire bore its full share in the patriotic
uprising in defence of English independence.
The Earl of Derby as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire
and Cheshire took the lead in the military preparations,
in which he was aided by his son Ferdinando, Lord
Strange. The trained bands were called out, and the
beacons on the various eminences-Everton, Billinge,
Ashhurst, Rivington, &c.—kept in readiness with watchers
to flash their messages of fire through the country on
the first alarm. Some idea may be formed of the supe-
riority of Cheshire, by much the smaller county, over
Lancashire by the number of armed men furnished by
each, Cheshire sending 2,189 against Lancashire 1,170.
The first tidings of the sailing of the armada were
announce brought to England by a Liverpool merchant and mariner,
Humphey Brooke, in returning home from St. Jean de
Luz. He furnished to the queen's ministry the particu-
lars of the Spanish fleet as follows:
The particular note of the King of Spain his fleet departed
out of Biscay and the province the 13th of August, whereof
is General Don John Martinas de Realde, natural of the
town of Bilboa.
Imprimis viij armados or great ships of vii and viii hundred
tons the piece.
Item iiij reserves of small ships of the burden of 60, 70 and
80 tons.
Item vj small barks made gally wise that row 30 oars upon
a side.
Item, 2,000 mariners.
Item, 4,000 soldiers.
Item, 20,000 calivers.
Item, 20,000 muskets.
Item, 1,000 Quintals of powder.
Item, 20,000 long pikes for horsemen.
Item, 78,000 Quintals of biscuit.
Item, 100 tons of garlic.
Item, 20,000 porkers for victuals.
Item, 3,000 Quintals of Holland fish.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
77
Item, the King's Commission sealed up, not to be opened
before they were 30 leagues at sea.
Item, the common speech of the vulgar people was that they
did go either to Ireland or else to Rochelle, but the opinion of
the most was that they went for Ireland.
By me, Humphrey Brooke of Liverpoole, Merchant, departed
out of St. Jean de Luz in France the day after that the fleet
set sail from the passage to go along the coast to meet the rest
of the fleet which was incastred.
This was of course only a portion of the great arma-
ment which soon came to so signal a discomfiture.
CHAP.
I.
1588.
About this time we find connected with Liverpool one
of the most illustrious names in the galaxy of England's
worthies. In 1588 the two members returned for Liver- Francis
pool were Edward Warren, Esq.; and Francis Bacon, elected
Esq., to be hereafter so signally distinguished as
The wisest, greatest, meanest, of mankind.
He was at this time about twenty-seven years old.
He had just previously been made a bencher of Gray's
Inn, and during the time of his service for Liverpool he
was made Queen's Counsel and Registrar of the Court of
Star Chamber.
Bacon sat for Liverpool from 1588 to 1592, when he
was returned for Middlesex. None of his biographers
seem to be aware of this passage in the life of the great
philosopher. Mr. Spalding, for instance,' says that 'in
November 1592, Bacon entered Parliament as one of
the knights of the shire for Middlesex. His first speech,
in February following, contained an urgent pleading for
improvement in the law.'
He had really sat in Parliament for four years pre-
viously. Just at the time of severing his connection
with Liverpool, he wrote as follows. The passage is
deeply interesting as indicating an important crisis in his
career :
1 Life of Bacon, 'Ency. Britt.' 8th edit. vol. iv. p. 352.
Bacon
member
78
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1588.
"I wax now somewhat ancient: one and thirty years
is a great deal of sand in the hour-glass. My health, I
thank God, I find confirmed, and I do not fear that
action shall impair it; because I account my ordinary
course of study and meditation to be more painful than
most parts of action are. I ever bear in mind, in some
middle place, that I could discharge to serve her majesty;
not as a man born under Sol that loveth honour, nor
under Jupiter that loveth business, for the contemplative
planet carrieth me away wholly; but as a man born
under an excellent sovereign, that deserveth the dedica-
tion of all men's abilities.
'Again, the meanness of my estate doth somewhat move
me; for though I cannot accuse myself that I am either
prodigal or slothful, yet my health is not to spend, nor
my course to get. Lastly, I confess that I have as vast
contemplative ends as I have moderate civil ends; for 1
have taken all knowledge to be my province, and if I could
purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with
frivolous disputations, confutations, and verbosities, the
other with blind experiments and auricular traditions
and impostures, have committed so many spoils—I hope
I should bring in industrious observation, grounded con-
clusions, and profitable inventions and discoveries.' The
world knows how nobly the grand career, thus sketched
out, was subsequently fulfilled.
The annals are silent as to any intercourse between
Francis Bacon and his Liverpool constituency. The
probability is that he was introduced by the Chancellor
of the Duchy, and that the honest burgesses had very
little choice in the matter. So true it is
The world knows nothing of its greatest men.
What would we not give for some record of Francis
Bacon's notes on Liverpool! Did his keen eye and
sagacious mind picture the future development and pro-
gress of the quaint little borough which he represented?
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
79
I.
1588.
Was his experience of men and things at all directed by CHAP.
this his first introduction into public life? Was he draw-
ing upon his Liverpool experiences when he penned the
following passage in his immortal essays? • Mean men
in their rising must adhere, but great men, that have
strength in themselves, were better to maintain them-
selves indifferent and neutral; yet even in beginners, to
adhere so moderately, as he be a man of one faction,
which is most passable with the other, commonly giveth
best way. The lower and weaker faction is the firmer in
conjunction; and it is often seen that a few that are stiff
do tire out a greater number that are more moderate.'
We know not, but it is something to have been con-
nected even temporarily with the great author of the
principles of modern scientific progress, who, as it was
finely said by Cowley, 'like Moses from the top of Pisgah
looked round from his lonely elevation on an infinite
expanse-following with his eye the long course of fer-
tilising rivers, through ample pastures, and under the
bridges of great capitals measuring the distances of marts
and havens, and portioning out all these wealthy regions
from Dan to Beersheba,' 1
It has been already stated that at the dissolution the Chantry
chantry rents, the only property possessed by the church rents.
in Liverpool, were seized and sold by the Crown. A
portion of these, originally intended for the foundation
of a school, was restored by Queen Elizabeth in 1588
amounting to 5l. 13s. 4d. per annum.
the six-
On the whole the sixteenth century closed with greatly Close of
improved prospects for the town of Liverpool. The teenth
lowest point of depression had been passed, and a tan- century.
gible and steady trade had commenced particularly
between Ireland and the nascent manufactures of Lanca-
shire. The customs returns and the revenue of the
corporation were increasing, and from the slight indi-
cations we can gather, the population was on the ad-
1 Macaulay's Essays: 'Bacon.'
80
CHAP.
I.
1588.
vance.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
In 1565 the number of householders was 138.
In 1590 the number of freemen is given as 179. The
householders and freemen were by no means identical.
A change was gradually taking place in the municipal
franchise. government of the town which is not without its in-
Change
in the
terest.
1
The original charter of John conferred certain pri-
vileges on those who should take burgage tenements
under the Crown, but made no provision for municipal
government. The charter of Henry III. supplemented
this by creating a corporation (gildam mercatoriam) with
an implied though not expressed power to elect corporate
officers. The first officers were called bailiffs, of whom
the earliest notice occurs in the year 1309. In 1356
(30th Edward III.) we first meet with the title of mayor,
who was originally, it is believed, the senior (major)
bailiff.
The grant of sac and soc in the charter of Henry III.
gave the power of holding courts and of inflicting
penalties. This could be exercised only by the burgesses,
those who held burgage tenements under the Crown. I
have already alluded to a petition from the burgesses in
1413, complaining that their jurisdiction was invaded by
the officials of the wapentake or county courts, and claim-
ing their right on the ground of their burgage tenures.
Sergeant Mereweather 2 says in reference to this subject,
If there is any borough in England in which burgage
tenure ought to prevail, it should be Liverpool. Burgage
tenure . has no legal foundation except as descriptive
of the occupiers of houses within a borough, that is, the
inhabitant householders, who as every house within a
borough must be held by burgage tenure, were neces-
sarily burgage tenants.'
•
2
1 Burgenses; Municipes Burgorum, seu villarum clausarum incolæ, vel
qui tenementa in iis possident, et ratione eorum Burgagium domino burgi
pensitant.-Ducange, sub voce.
6
2 History of English Boroughs,' vol. ii. pp. 829–31.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
81
I.
The steps by which this free and popular system CHAP.
degenerated into one of the closest and most exclusive,
are very interesting to trace. The guild or corporation 1588.
constituted by the charter of Henry III., consisting at
that time of the burgage tenants, obtained the privilege
that no one who is not of the same guild shall transact
any merchandise in the aforesaid borough, unless by
consent of the same burgesses.' This clause was con-
tested and, as we have seen, was struck out from some
of the succeeding charters, but was, nevertheless, strictly
acted on, as appears from the town's records. Settlers
in the town wishing to follow their occupations were
admitted members of the guild on payment of certain
fines and thus became freemen,' although not burgesses
by virtue of holding a burgage tenement. The burgages
being heritable and saleable property, in the course of
time became subdivided, as we find in the Rentally'
temp. Henry VIII., into half and quarter burgages and
even eighth parts, and finally disappeared altogether as
conferring any municipal rights. The freemen' thus
took the place of the burgage tenants and retained the
appellation of the common burgesses.'
6
That from an early period some committee or council Common
was elected by the burgesses to manage their affairs is council.
certain from subsequent references, but no regular system
was adopted until the reign of Elizabeth. In the 26th
of her reign, January 13, 1584, a common hall was held
under the presidency of Edward Halsall, mayor,' with
all his brethren and aldermen, and a great number of the
common burgesses of the town,' wherein upon good
consideration had for the reformation of divers disorders,
they condescended and agreed' upon the following ar-
rangements:
C
That there ought to be (amongst other things) a com-
mon council within the town of the mayor, aldermen, and
twenty-four others of the most discreet and substantial
free burgesses inhabitants thereof, by whose discretion
VOL. I.
G
82
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
I.
1588.
Self-
elected.
or the greater number of them in their common assem-
blies, without the rest of the commonalty, all causes
touching the common wealth and good government of
this town ought from time to time to be ordered and dis-
posed, which said good usage, by usurpation of late dis-
ordered assemblies of whole commons (wherein, through
the variety of opinions of such a multitude seldom any
good success hath ensued) is now so defaced that in effect
there remaineth no memory thereof at all, saving that
twenty-four burgesses once every year, being empanelled
and sworn at the next Portmoot court holden after
the election of the mayor, to enquire of offences passed,
have further, for some remembrance of the former
custom, taken upon them to prescribe rules and orders
for the government of the said town, which by reason.
that the mayor and aldermen have not been parties there-
unto, have been seldom kept or observed, wherefor the
mayor for the present, much misliking, hath desired a
reformation.' To remedy this defect, they proceeded to
elect a common council of twenty-four members besides
the mayor and aldermen. This was strictly and properly
within their province; but apparently instigated by the
mayor who 'much misliked' popular assemblies, the
burgesses went much further, and resolved that the com-
mon council so appointed should have the power of
filling up vacancies in their own body, and so become
practically irresponsible to the burgesses in future. This
was clearly beyond their province. The charters had
recognised no body but the burgesses at large, and the
burgesses at any particular period had no authority to
vote away the rights of their successors under the
charters.
Thus matters stood in the municipality at the end of
the sixteenth century. The old burgage tenures had
almost entirely disappeared. The burgesses of the day
were the 'freemen' admitted members of the guild or
corporation, who were so careless of their rights as to
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
83
acquiesce in the creation of an oligarchy entirely irre-
sponsible.
We have no information as to the origin of the office
of alderman in Liverpool. It is not recognised in the
charters, and first makes its appearance in the latter half
of the sixteenth century.
Thus ends the medieval period of our local history,
one of feebleness, stagnation, and comparative decay. The
next century inaugurates a new order of things but not
all at once.
CHAP.
I.
1588.

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холок
хохо
@ 2
84
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAPTER II.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
II.
1600.
CHAP. AT the commencement of this century, four hundred
years had elapsed from the foundation of the borough.
Although there had been occasional scintillations of
prosperity, yet on the whole the port of Liverpool could
not be pronounced a success. The population continued
few, and the trade very limited.
Com-
merce
Condition.
The manufactures, commerce, and wealth of the coun-
try still lingered in the districts south of the Trent. Lan-
cashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire remained a
rude and barbarous district, behind the rest of the
kingdom in culture and in the material elements of
prosperity. All this was soon to be changed, but not
at first rapidly. The seventeenth century was a time of
transition and preparation; the early part was linked to
the medieval period by its habits and institutions; the
concluding portion had assumed much of the spirit and
many of the attributes of modern progress.
Our information about the condition of Liverpool
'during the first half of this century is scanty and meagre.
The recording scribe whose eloquence rendered the
annals of the corporation during the reign of Elizabeth
so copious and interesting had departed without throw-
ing his mantle over the shoulders of his successor, and
we have to glean, as best we may, such information as
scattered documents are found to furnish.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
85
C
6
CHAP.
II.
1601.
The first incident which presents itself in this century
is a resolute maintenance by the burgesses of their inde-
pendence of the county authorities. In 1601, under the
mayoralty of John Byrde, a precept was issued by the
high sheriff, Sir Cuthbert Halsall, to the parish of Walton,
including Liverpool, imposing a levy of 8l., and the
supply of twelve sufficient and serviceable men of the
most experienced in their piece' to be brought before Sir
Richard Molyneux at the Castle of Liverpool, and for-
warded toward the furnishing forth of soldiers for her
majesty's wars in her highness's realm of Ireland.' The Lovy.
sheriff required a contribution from Liverpool of 6l.,
besides their proportion of men. Thereupon at a meet-
ing of the burgesses in common hall, the record states
that it is by the whole assembly thought meet and
convenient not to yield thereunto, nor to bring any men
of this town at all, but rather to stand upon and maintain
our privilege which we have both by charter and the
laws of this realm, and for that we serve her majesty
by sea; and in this so doing the town will save Mr.
Mayor harmless, from all indemnities that shall or may
happen to fall or arise thereof in the defence of the
same.'
A.D. 1602.
with
In 1602, the rivalry between Chester and Liverpool
again broke out. The incident is a curious one, and
throws some light on the manners of the times. It Dispute
seems that in shipping soldiers to Ireland from Chester Chester.
it was the custom for the government to issue a precept
to the mayor of Chester, who then gave an order to the
mayor of Liverpool to furnish a certain proportion of
shipping at the isle of Hilbre, at the mouth of the Dee,
to receive the troops. The burgesses of Liverpool, feel-
ing aggrieved at this subordinate position, memorialised
her majesty's council, alleging that their port is more
convenient to ship those men that are to be transported
in their ships; whereupon their lordships directed that
for the better understanding of the matter the mayors
86
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
CHAP. of Chester and Liverpool should on either part send
sometime this term some meet person sufficiently autho-
rised and instructed to deliver unto their lordships such
reasons as they could allege on either side.'
1602.
Dispute
with
Waterford
and
Wexford.
The mayor of Chester sent up the recorder, Robert
Whitby, gent., with an elaborate petition, which gives a
woful picture of the discipline of the English army, and
of the want of proper roads. It is stated that the
charge of the carriage of the arms, furniture, habili-
ments of war, and victuals for soldiers from Chester to
Liverpool will be much more charge to her majesty
than the conveying of their ships from Liverpool to the
port of Chester. That if the soldiers should not be
shipped at the port of Chester, b pass along to Liver-
pool, the country will be much endangered by the
soldiers by robberies and spoils, as hath often happened;
the soldiers being insolent and unruly, and the country
not able to rule them when they are out of Chester.
That divers soldiers if they be not shipped at the port.
of Chester will run away and disper themselves, as
hath been often seen, and so the numbers not full for
the een's service.'
6
The Liverpool delegate failed to appear, whereupon
the lords of the council discharged the said Whitby
from any longer attendance, and have left the course.
which hath been formerly used for the transportation of
soldiers from Hilbre to be continued until they shall
show just cause to the contrary.'
A little before this time a dispute arose with the
merchants of Waterford and Wexford. By ancient pre-
scriptive custom the freemen of Waterford and Wexford
were held free of the town's customs in Liverpool, with
the same immunity for Liverpool freemen in the two
Irish ports. A common warehouse having been pro-
vided in Liverpool for the storage or hallage of merchan-
dise, the Irish importers claimed to store their goods
free of charge, on the ground of their prescription. The
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
87
CHAP.
corporation of Liverpool resisted this claim and made II.
the following entry: It is now concluded and agreed
that from henceforth, the keeper of the said warehouse 1602.
of this town, for the time being, shall take and receive
hallage of all Waterford and Wexford men, for all goods
and merchandises by them brought hither, or hereafter
to be brought, as other the foreigners do, or ought to
pay, any freedom notwithstanding."
Lease to
Molyneux.
In the 2nd James I. (1605) a new lease of the fee- A.D. 1605.
farm of the town was granted by the Crown to Sir
Richard Molyneux for a term of forty-one years, to com-
mence at the expiration of the previous lease, at the
annual rent of 14l. 6s. 8d., the same amount as pre-
viously paid. This was the last lease granted by the
Crown. Long before its termination the Crown rights
had been alienated and settled in the Molyneux family.
At this time the original obligation of paying the
expenses of the borough members was still in force.
In 1610, alderman Giles Brook and Mr. Thomas Rem- A.D. 1610.
chinge or Riding received respectively 28l. 14s. and 271.
from the borough fund in repayment of their outlay in
attending Parliament.
of offices.
The system which had grown up in the middle ages Purchase
of purchasing offices under the Crown, long abrogated
as regards civil offices, though recently in force as applied
to the army, was in the seventeenth century the rule in
nearly all public bodies. Thus we find Mr. Peter Tor-
buck, appointed town clerk of Liverpool in 1611, con-
tributing 50%. in plate, marked with the arms of the
borough. Two years afterwards he died, and his suc-
cessor Mr. Robert Brooke contributed a similar sum.
6
In 1617, under the mayoralty of Mr. Edward Rose, A.D. 1617.
the mayor's name having been made rather free with by
the gossips of the town, a resolution was passed, that if
any person speak evil of the mayor he shall lose his
freedom.'
In 1618, according to a return made to the Govern- AD. 1618.
88
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1618.
ment by the mayor of Chester, who still claimed a sort
of precedence of the Dee over the Mersey, the number
of ships belonging to Chester was 15, of the aggregate
Shipping. burden of 383 tons, whilst Liverpool had risen to 24
ships and 462 tons. The Liverpool marine had there-
fore doubled itself since the year 1565, when the return
was only 12 ships and 223 tons. The same indications
of progress are manifested by the number of burgesses,
which had in 1620 increased to 245 from 138 in 1558.
The later return, however, must be qualified by the
probability that the earlier statement only included the
burgesses by tenure, whilst the later census doubtless
included all the freemen' who had been admitted with-
out holding burgages.
A.D. 1620.
Subsidy.
6
In 1620, King James having entered upon a disastrous
contest on behalf of his son-in-law the Count Palatine,
who had been elected King of Bohemia, summoned a
Parliament, to which Liverpool sent as its representatives
Thomas May and William Johnson.
In response to the king's urgent demands the Parlia-
ment granted two subsidies on February 15. Each
subsidy involved a demand of 4s. in the pound on land,
and 28. 8d. in the pound on goods.
The following entry in the corporation records illus-
trates the method of the levy in Liverpool:
'xxiij die Aprilis anno Regis Jacobi, Angliæ, Franc.
et Hib. xviij, et Scotia xliiij (1621).
'On the day and year above written, at an assemblie
held in the comon hall at Liverpoole, before Edward
Moore, Esq., maior of Liverpoole, and shieriffe of
Lanc, Raffe Secume, Edward Moss, Willm. Banister,
Richard Moss, Thomas Hockenhull, and Richard Mellinge,
aldermen ; John Williamson and Hugh Stirzaker, bayliffs,
and the greater part of the comon counsell of this towne
assembled yt whereas there is a subsydie presently to
be collected for the use of ye king's matie, it is concluded
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY,
89
II.
and agreed by this assemblie yt if Mr. John Crosse, Esq., CHAP.
who is assessed to paye after the rate of iiijs lande, and
Mr. Raffe Secume, who is lykewyse ass in the subsydie 1620.
books for land, doe not show sufficient cause why the
inhabitants of Liverpoole should be contributors with
them in the paimt of the said somes for their lande upon
Friday next, that then the said Mr. Crosse and Mr.
Secume are to answare for their owne lande accordinge
to the proportion that they are assessed by the commis-
sioners of the subsydie.
દ
hall.
Upon Friday following being the xxvijth of this Common
instant April, the said maior, aldermen, and bayliffs, and
the greater part of the comon counsell of this towne
assembled in the comon hall of Liverpoole. At the in-
stance and request of the above named Mr. Crosse and Mr.
Secume, it was agreed and consented unto by the whole
assemblie yt the pte of subsydie upon them imposed for
lande, shall for this one tyme and for this only subsydie
be collected amongst the inhabitants of Liverpool, as it
hath been formerly so done, and this to be noe precat or
matter prejudiciall hereafter against the said towne.
And if the said Mr. Crosse and Mr. Secume doe not
hereafter show sufficient cause unto the maior of Liver-
poole and comon counsell of this towne for the tyme
being that they are to be assessed for their lande with
the towne and not of themselves, that then they the
said Mr. Crosse and Mr. Secume are to pay their subsydie
for their land of themselves, and neither of them to give
information unto the commissioners of the subsydie here-
after against the inhabitants of Liverpoole, to put them
into the subsydie book otherwyse than for easinge them-
selves of their paimts for land.'
This is not very easy to comprehend. The probability
is that the lands mentioned were held on lease from the
corporation, when it might become a question whether
the subsidy was payable by the lessee or the freeholder.
90
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II
1623.
Election
Subsidy.
In 1623 James called another Parliament, to which
Liverpool returned Sir Thomas Gerard, Knight, son of
Sir Thomas Gerard, Bart., of the Catholic family of Bryn,
and George Ireland of Hale. The Parliament voted
three subsidies and three-fifteenths in aid of the king's
necessities. The mode in which these taxes were levied.
is set forth in a series of documents of the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries given by Gregson.' Each Hundred
was taken separately according to a general assessment
of the value. Towards each 100l. required from the
whole county, West Derby contributed 267., Leyland
8l., and Salford, Amounderness, Blackburn, and Lonsdale
167. 10s. each.
In the distribution of this amongst the several towns and
parishes, according to one account when Derby Hundred
had to pay 1007., the proportion of Liverpool was 17. 17s. ;
that of Wigan, 31. 16s. 11d.; Warrington, 17. 11s. 3d.;
West Derby township, 2l. 15s. 6d. The proportions dif
fered from time to time, and were settled by the justices.
in session assembled.
I have already alluded to the changes which time had
effected in the municipal arrangements of the borough
and to the attempt made in the year 1584 to render the
common council self-elected and independent of the
general body of the burgesses. In the charters already
granted no mention was made either of mayor, bailiffs,
or aldermen. The privileges were granted to the general
body of the burgesses in their corporate capacity (gilda
mercatoria) who were left free to organise the manage-
ment of their affairs in their own way. In the course of
time the bailiffs and the mayor had become the visible
impersonation of the corporate body. In order to
obtain a legal recognition of these offices, and to regulate
the mode of their appointment, a new charter was ap-
A.D. 1626. plied for and obtained in the 2nd Charles I. (1626).
After reciting in general terms the previous charters, it
Charter.
1
'Fragments,' p. 15, et seq.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
91
CHAP.
II.
1626.
proceeds to enact that the 'said town of Liverpool here-
after shall be a free town of itself, and the burgesses of
the same town and their successors for ever hereafter
shall be, by virtue of these presents, one body corporate
and politic in deed and in name, by the name of mayor,
bailiffs, and burgesses of the town of Liverpool in the
county of Lancaster.' The first mayor was to be James
Stanley, Lord Strange; the first bailiffs, Richard Tarleton
and James Southern. Their successors were to be elected
annually by the burgesses on the feast of St. Luke
(18th October). The mayor and senior alderman were
to be justices of the peace for the borough. The remain-
ing portion of the charter is simply confirmatory of the
rights and privileges conferred by the previous charters,
and giving power to transact the usual business belong-
ing to a municipal corporation. It will be observed that
there is no provision for the election of a common council,
nor is power given to prevent any one not of the guild
from transacting merchandise without the consent of the
burgesses. The constitution is eminently liberal and
popular. A short time after the grant of this charter
a common hall was held, at which a council of fifty-six
was appointed from amongst the burgesses to manage hall.
the corporation affairs. For want of an organised mode
of re-electing the council, it soon drifted into the exclu-
sive and self-elected system which has always since more
or less prevailed down to the Municipal Reform Act.
The number of councillors appears to have varied from
time to time, for in Richard Blome's account of Liverpool
in 1673, he states 'tis governed by a mayor, bailiffs,
aldermen, recorder, town clerk and common council, con-
sisting of forty burgesses.' It is singular that in none
of these charters is any reference made to the office of
alderman. It is stated that the senior alderman shall be
a justice of the peace, but as to what constitutes an
alderman the charter is altogether silent. At a sub-
sequent period down to the passing of the Municipal
Common
Charters,
92
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1626.
Dispute
with
Dobson.
Reform Act, everyone who had occupied the civic chair
was styled alderman, and it was probably the same at an
earlier period.
6
Provision is made in the charter for the appointment
of a common clerk or town clerk, and Robert Dobson,
gent., is nominated to the office. This Mr. Dobson was
in his day the cause of no little anxiety and annoyance
to the worthy burgesses of Liverpool. He had purchased
his office in 1623 for the sum of 70l. in plate, and seems
to have thought that having bought his constituents he
was at liberty to sell them. He levied fines ad libitum,
neglected to enter up the records, and (horribile dictu !)
actually took precedence of the bailiffs, contrary to
order.' He was prosecuted and convicted by a Liver-
pool jury, but appealed against the decision, and beat the
corporation. He then carried things with a high hand,
set the mayor and burgesses at defiance, boasting that
whoever was mayor of Liverpool, he would be town
clerk. He went so far as to characterise the whole body
of burgesses as a set of bashragges' (whatever that may
mean). For this act of lese-majesty he was taken into
custody, but escaped out of the hands of the bailiffs and
applied for a writ of certiorari to remove the case into
Dobson another court. He was then dismissed by the corpo-
ration, but refused to deliver up the records, and was
summoned to give up the seal and books under a penalty
of 401. The burgesses proceeded to proscribe him.
against re-election under a penalty of 100l. against any
mayor who should reappoint him, and 207. against any
councillor who should vote for him. Dobson then brought
an action at the assizes, which was ultimately left to
reference, and the decision being against him, he was at
last got rid of. After this warning, the practice of selling
the office was abandoned, but a rent charge of 6l. 13s. 4d.
per annum was still exacted from the holder towards the
repairs of the church. One may fairly suppose that the
town
clerk.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
93
pickings and perquisites of office even at this period were
not utterly despicable.
CHAP.
11.
1626.
resistance.
Stirring times were now at hand. The rough and
ready system of checks and balances, by which the English Spirit of
constitution had hitherto been maintained, no longer
sufficed. In one direction the spirit of feudalism and
the spirit of commerce contended for the mastery. In
another, liberty of worship strove against sacerdotalism.
In a third sphere the sturdy Commons struggled against Prospect
the royal claim to tax his people at his will and pleasure.
Principles were at stake involving the profoundest ele-
ments of civil polity and political rights. The whole
kingdom rang with the din of the contending parties, and
was preparing for the inevitable collision.
of civil
war.
of the
Generally speaking-with of course numerous excep-
tions-the towns favoured the cause of the Parliament.
In the midland and eastern counties many of the landed
proprietors, especially the smaller class of gentry, em-
braced the same party; but throughout the greater por-
tion of the kingdom the rural population formed the
bulk of the Cavalier array. In South Lancashire, espe- State
cially in the hundred of West Derby, most of the resident county.
gentry, the Molyneuxs of Sefton, the Blundells of Ince
Blundell and Crosby, the Norrises of Speke, the Faza-
kerleys of Fazakerley, &c., were Catholics. The Stanleys,
Earls of Derby, though Protestants, were attached to the
royal cause.
The Moores of Bank Hall were almost the
only Puritan family amongst the landed gentry. For a
considerable period John Moore was the only Protestant
magistrate in the district, and being employed by the
Government to hunt up popish recusants he lived isolated
from all his neighbours.
The burgesses of Liverpool leaned on the whole to
the Puritan and popular side; but there was a large
party, including the majority of the council, which ad-
hered to the royal cause, to which the influence of the
Molyneux family contributed not a little. In 1623, A.D. 1623.
94
II.
1625.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. Liverpool returned one Roman Catholic and one Pro-
testant Royalist to Parliament as mentioned above. In
1625, James, Lord Strange, afterwards the great and good
Members. Earl of Derby, who sacrificed his life for his royal master,
sat in conjunction with Edward Moore, who represented
the popular party. Lord Strange being elected mayor in
1625, became the returning officer, and was incapable
of being returned to the first Parliament of Charles I. His
brother, Thomas Stanley, was elected in his place along
with Edward Bridgman, son of the Bishop of Chester,
and brother of Orlando Bridgman, afterwards member
for Wigan in the Long Parliament, an able lawyer and an
active Royalist.
A.D. 1628.
Sale of
lordship.
In 1628, Harry Jermyn, a person who subsequently
attained considerable notoriety by his alleged secret mar-
riage with the dowager princess of Orange, daughter of
Charles I., was returned along with John Newdigate, a
member of the old Warwickshire family of that name,
both ardent Royalists.
In the same year, the king driven to extremities for
want of money, which was refused by his refractory Par-
liament, adopted the plan of selling such of the royal
estates and manors as were within his power. He had
already obtained a loan from the city of London of
222,8971. 2s., and in consideration of this and a further
advance of two sums of 120,000l., and 25,000l. respec-
tively, he executed a deed conveying to certain trustees
about 1,000 manors in various parts of the kingdom,
including Liverpool. The portion relating to this borough
is as follows. After reciting the considerations, it is
stated that his said majesty did give and grant unto
Edwd. Ditchfield, John Highlord, Humphrey Clarke,
and Francis Moss, and their heirs, all that town and lord-
ship of Litherpoole, parcel of the honour of Lancaster,
with the appurtenances; and all that battelage and pas-
sage over the water of Mersey there, and the butchers'
shambles in the said town of Litherpoole; and all stall-
*
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
95
ages, and tolls of markets and fairs, with the perquisites
of courts, in Litherpoole aforesaid; and all customs,
anchorages, and key tolls of the water of Mersey there
and within the said town or lordship, then late in the
tenure of Sir Richard Molyneux, Bart., and by parti-
culars thereof mentioned to be of the annual rent or
value of 147. 6.s. 8d., and to be parcel of the lands and
ancient possessions of the said duchy; and all farms,
messuages, cottages, mills, buildings, lands, tenements,
waters, moors, marshes, woods, underwoods, and all
tithes and hereditaments whatsoever, within the lordship
and town, places, fields, parish or hamlet of the said town
and lordship to the premises belonging (except all forests,
chases, parks, advowsons of rectories, vicarages, chapels,
and other ecclesiastical benefices within the premises, to
them or any of them belonging; and all mines of gold
and silver within or upon the premises, being or to be
found, and all prerogatives to the same mines belonging).'
The yearly rent payable under the lease to Sir Richard
Molyneux of 147. 6s. 8d. was reserved.
by
II.
1628.
In 1628 Sir Richard Molyneux was created an Irish
peer by the title of Lord Maryborough. In 1632 he A.D. 1632.
purchased from the Lord Mayor and citizens of London Purchase
for the sum of 450l., the Crown rights in the town and Molyneux.
lordship of Liverpool as conveyed to them. He subse-
quently redeemed the annual rent reserved of 147. 6s. 8d.,
and thus became the owner of the entire in fee simple.
money.
In 1634 the memorable levy of ship-money took A.D. 1634.
place. Humphrey Chetham was at this time high Ship
sheriff of Lancashire, to whom the writ for the collection
within the county was directed. Some memoranda of
his are extant made on the writ. He observes, if you
shall tax and assesse men according their estate, then
Liverpoole being poore, and now goes, as it were, a
beginge, must pay very little; letters patent are now
forth for the same towne.' The assessors were, besides
the sheriff, Robert Williamson, mayor of Liverpool, and
96
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1634.
Resist-
ance.
A.D. 1640.
Election.
C
Robert Thompson, mayor of Lancaster. The whole
county was assessed at the sum of 475l., of which Liver-
pool was required to pay 15l. The most part of the
inhabitants grumbled and paid, but some refused, and
threatened to resist by force of law. The mayor re-
ported this to the corporation in common hall assembled,
as follows: That, whereas by virtue of his writ for
levying of a certain sum of money towards the erecting
and furnishing of a ship of 400 tons for his majesty's
service, the said Mr. Mayor with the assent of the alder-
men and others of the same town, hath assessed and
imposed a competent sum of money for that purpose
upon several inhabitants and others within the precinct
aforesaid, and for that purpose hath directed several
warrants to the bailiffs and other officers of this town for
the levying and collecting the several sums upon the
several parties assessed upon them, and that several of
the parties aforesaid do refuse to pay the monies imposed
upon them, or suffer distress against them, but doth
menace the said bailiffs with suit if they levy the same;
it is, therefore, ordered and concluded by the house
aforesaid, that if any suit or trouble be brought against
the said mayor, or any other officer, by executing his
warrant, that defence thereof shall be made at the
general cost of the whole town, as well for the fees and
charges in suit, as other necessary charges in going or
riding about.' From this there were only two dissen-
tients, John Moore, Esq., and Edward Nicholson.
The following year, in August, a fresh assessment was
laid on Liverpool of 257., but the Roundhead party had
acquired additional influence, and nothing was ever paid.
After contending with difficulties for eleven years,
Charles found himself compelled to call a Parliament in
1640. To this, probably the shortest Parliament on
record, Liverpool sent two men decidedly hostile to the
court, James, Lord Cranfield, and John Holcroft, the
latter of whom was mayor in 1644, and afterwards sat
SEVENTEENTII CENTURY.
97
CHAP.
for the borough of Wigan. These of course voted with II.
the popular side in the debates on ship money, which led
to the prompt dissolution on May 5.
1640.
Parlia-
ment,
In October, 1640, the elections to the memorable Long Long
Parliament were held, when each party put forth their
utmost strength. No doubt a fierce struggle took place
in Liverpool, but no particulars have been handed down
to us. The result was a drawn battle, each party re-
turning one member. The Roundheads were repre-
sented by John Moore, of Bank Hall, who became one John
of the regicide judges, a thorough Parliamentarian and Moore.
an unscrupulous partisan of Cromwell. Of this gentle-
man I shall have occasion to speak hereafter. The
Royalist member was Richard Wynne, of the family of Richard
Gwydyr, in Caernarvonshire, who on the death of his
brother, Sir John Wynne, succeeded to the estates and
baronetcy. Sir Richard Wynne began life in the service
of the court, and accompanied Prince Charles in his
matrimonial expedition into Spain, of which he wrote an
account, which is printed in Hearne's collections. He
held afterwards an office in the household of Henrietta
Maria. In the short parliament elected in April 1640
he sat for the borough of Newton, and was now intro-
duced to Liverpool by the influence of the Stanleys and
Molyneuxs.
In the turbulent times which succeeded, Wynne proved
deficient in moral courage. He voted on behalf of
Strafford on his impeachment; but consented, in Decem-
ber 1641, to form one of the deputation to present the
Remonstrance to the king. His subsequent conduct was
vacillating and unreliable. He subsided into insignifi-
cance, and died in August 1649, when his place was sup-
plied by the veteran parliamentary campaigner, Colonel
Thomas Birch.
On the eve of the civil war, both of the great political
parties strained their utmost exertions to strengthen
their position in the county of Lancaster. The Court of
VOL. I.
H
Wynne.
Thomas
Birch,
98
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1641.
Lord
Wharton.
Parlia-
mentary
commis-
sioners.
Ralph
Assheton.
Richard
Shuttle-
worth.
Star Chamber in the duchy was abolished on August 1,
1641. The Parliament next assumed the power of
nominating the lords lieutenant and deputy-lieutenants in
the counties. Lord Wharton was appointed Lord Lieu-
tenant of Lancashire, and amongst the deputy-lieutenants
then nominated we find John Moore and Sir Thomas
Stanley.¹
The Parliament also sent down into Lancashire four
of its members to call out the militia and to put the
county into a state of defence. This deputation con-
sisted of Ralph Assheton of Middleton, Richard Shuttle-
worth of Gawthorp, Alexander Rigby of Goosnargh, and
John Moore of Bank Hall, Liverpool. These were all
noteworthy men. Ralph Assheton was a man of large
possessions and ancient descent, who early espoused the
popular cause, and represented the county in the Long
Parliament. He was appointed colonel of the forces in
Lancashire, and very ably sustained the cause, rising to
the rank of general, and dying in 1650. His son, Sir
Ralph Assheton, was knighted very early in life by
Charles I. He served under his father during the civil
war, but although a decided Presbyterian he took a
prominent part in the restoration of Charles II., and
was by him created a baronet.
Richard Shuttleworth of Gawthorp was member for
Clitheroe. He was among the first of the Lancashire
gentry to arm his tenantry in opposition to the arbitrary
proceedings of the king. His uncle of the same name
Five brothers of the Shuttle-
was member for Preston.
worths were distinguished officers in the Parliamentary
¹ Sir Thomas Stanley, of Bickerstaffe, was a scion of the great house of
Lathom and Knowsley, collaterally descended from their common ancestor,
the Lord Stanley of Bosworth Field. With a single exception, he was the
only one of the name who espoused the popular cause. He was a thorough
partisan, as will subsequently appear in the text.
It is from this unscrupulous old Roundhead, and not from the chivalrous
Earl James and his heroic countess, Charlotte de la Tremouille, that the
present Earls of Derby deduce their pedigree.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
99
army. Richard Shuttleworth the younger, colonel in
the service, died young, exhausted with the fatigue and
anxiety of parliamentary and military service.
CHAP.
II.
1641.
Rigby.
Alexander Rigby of Goosnargh, member for Wigan, Alexander
was a man of great ability, but a thoroughly unscrupu-
lous partisan. His activity was unwearied, his energy
irrepressible. Lawyer, statesman, magistrate, colonel,
in every capacity he carried out energetically his hatred
to the royal cause.
He commanded at the disastrous
siege of Lathom House, rendered memorable by the
heroic defence of the noble Countess of Derby, Charlotte
de la Tremouille, and had his revenge in the part he
took in the execution of her husband in 1651. He was
nominated on the High Court of Justiciary for the trial of
the king, but declined to serve. He was subsequently
made a judge by Cromwell, and died whilst on circuit.
Of John Moore I have already spoken, and shall have
occasion hereafter to speak.
tions.
The civil war was now imminent, and both parties Prepara-
prepared for the struggle. In no part of the kingdom
was neighbour more set against neighbour, and family
against family, than in the county of Lancaster. The
subject is so interesting, and the history of Liverpool
touches at so many points on incidents in the contest,
that I make no apology for entering pretty fully into
this portion of our local history. Fortunately the
materials are ample. The original documents consist of
tracts and letters of the period, to which the municipal
records add considerable information.
After the retirement of the king to York (May 1642), A.D. 1642.
petitions were presented both to the Parliament and the Petitions.
king by the inhabitants of Lancashire, professing the
utmost affection for his majesty's person, and praying for
a settlement of the existing distractions in Church and
State. On June 6 the royal answer was despatched to
Sir John Girlington of Thurland, a Catholic and Royalist,
the high sheriff, assuring his loyal and true subjects of
(
H2
100
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1642.
County
meeting.
Com-
mence-
his zeal and constancy for the maintenance of the true
Protestant religion, both against Popish superstition on
the one hand, and schismatic innovation and confusion
on the other.'
Concurrently with this, his majesty issued a commission
of array, authorising and requiring the loyal inhabi-
tants to arm in defence of the king and his preroga-
tive. The sheriff convened a county meeting, which
was held on Fulwood Moor, near Preston, on June 20,
1642, and numerously attended by both parties. Lord
Strange,¹ with his son, a youth of fifteen, Lord Molyneux
and Sir Thomas Tyldesley were amongst the Royalists.
The sheriff read the petition and answer, and imme-
diately afterwards the royal proclamation announcing
the commission of array. He then called out, ‘You
that are for the king follow us!' and rode across the
moor towards Preston, followed by the leaders and
about 400 Royalists crying For the king! for the king!'
The Roundheads gathered in another part of the moor,
raising the shout of 'The king and parliament!'
6
Practically this was the commencement of the civil
war, although King Charles did not raise his standard at
civil war. Nottingham until two months afterwards.
ment of
War-
rington
fortified.
The first contest in Lancashire was for the possession
of the fortified places and the stores contained in them.
Considerable stores of gunpowder and match had been
collected in Preston, Manchester, Warrington, and
Wigan.
Warrington was garrisoned by the Earl of Derby for
the king, and strongly fortified, according to a contem-
porary account, with gates, mounts, and an engine
devised and placed upon the bridge to stop the passage
over it.'
<
Another account states: The Deputie Lieutenants for
the Earle of Darbie were no less diligent on the King's
1 By the decease of his father on the 29th of September following, he
became the seventh Earl of Derby, under which title he is better known.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
101
II.
1642.
part, striving to raise up what souldiery they could and CHAP.
to Garrison such Townes in the county as were emminent,
and thorow roads, as Preston, Wiggon, and Warrington.
Warrington they mood walled round about, making
stronger gates and fortifications. Preston and Wiggon
they did not make so stronge, only some Engines maid of
Tymber was placed in the streets of eyther towne to keep
horse out.'1
chester
Manchester was the only town secured for the Parlia- Man-
ment, and here the first shot was fired, and the first blood for Par-
drawn. The accounts materially differ as to the circum- liament.
stances. In a paper printed by the authority of Parlia-
ment, it is asserted that on July 5 there was a fight
between the Manchester people and the armed bands of
Lord Strange, in which twenty-seven persons were killed.
This account was afterwards discredited. Another state- First shot
ment fixes the date as July 15, and alleges that Lord
Strange whilst walking in the street was shot at with
two pistols out of a window by his relative Sir Thomas
Stanley. A third account, given in the record from
which I have already quoted, states as follows:
Not long after, the said Earle of Darby, accompanied
with Mr. Thomas Tildsley of Merscow and other gentle-
men of qualitie, made a journey to Manchester in a
bravado to take a vew of the towne or take occasion
against it, and being ther and in their jollitie in a window
at Mr. Greene's, some of them hearing a pore man of the
towne (his name I never harde) giving out some words
in favour of the Parliament, one of them out of the house
discharged against him and killed him. Who it was
I never hard of certainty, but Tildsley was supposed.
Another levelled against Mr. Birch in the street, who
escaped by thrusting himselfe under a carte of Gorsses.2
(
1 A Discourse of the Warr in Lancashire,' 1655.
2 This is the origin of an absurd story told by Seacome ('Hist. House of
Stanley') of Colonel Birch having been trailed under a hay-cart by order of
the Earl of Derby. I shall refer to this again.`
fired.
102
CHAP.
II.
State of
Liverpool.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
The state of parties in Liverpool was at this time
much divided. The majority of the council were
1642. Royalists, but the preponderance of the inhabitants was
on the side of the Parliament. John Walker, the
mayor, acting under the authority of the royal com-
mission of array, and co-operating with Lords Strange
and Molyneux, had done his utmost to put the town
into a state of defence. About thirty barrels of pow-
der and a quantity of match were in store, brought
from Warrington. Earthworks were thrown up round
the town furnished with gates and bars at the street
ends, with a fosse twelve yards wide and three yards
deep.
King's
letter.
In carrying out these operations, the mayor met with
considerable opposition within the town and was threat-
ened from without. In order to encourage his loyalty,
the king forwarded the following letter:
CHARLES R.
Trustie and well beloved, wee greet you well. Whereas you
have by your obedience to our commission of array issued unto
ye Countie Pallatyne of Lanc" done dyvers services tending to
the putting in execution of the said commission, for which you
are threatened to be arrested, and carried out of the said
Countie, although wee have still speciall occasion to require yr
services therein; Our express will and comand therefore is that
you fail not to attend us personally forthwith upon significa-
cion made unto you in this behalfe during our abode in these
parts; and therefore wee straitly require you upon your allegi-
ance that you doe not absent yourselfe out of the said Countie
Pallatyne of Lanc", neither suffer yourselfe to be aniwyse en-
gaged, detayned, or kept from giving yor readie attendance
accordingly, being called or summoned by us or our comand,
whylst wee shall continue heere, upon anie pretence, order,
warrant, or comand whatsoever from either or both Houses of
Parliament, without speciall leave and lycence first obtained,
or directions to you under our owne hand, as you (avoide)
our highest displeasure, and will answer the contrarie at your
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
103
peril. For which this shall be yor sufficient warrant and
autoritie.
Given at our Courte at Yorke, the first day of July 1642.
To our trustie and well-beloved John Walker, Maior of Liverpoole,
in our Countie Pale of Lanc.
CHAP.
II.
1642.
On August 25, 1642, King Charles erected his stan-
dard at Nottingham, and the civil war commenced in
good earnest. The Parliamentary lieutenants sent down
to Lancashire on the one hand, and the commissioners of
array on the other, did their best to stimulate the par-
tisans on both sides. In September, Lord Strange, now Muster
Earl of Derby, mustered his forces at Warrington, and at War-
proceeded to attack Manchester the head quarters of the
Lancashire Roundheads, with about 2,000 foot and 300
horse. After several fierce onslaughts, he was repulsed
with considerable loss.
rington.
risoned.
Liverpool was occupied by a small garrison of Liverpool
Royalists; the retainers of Lord Derby occupying the gr
tower, and the castle being held by Lord Molyneux,
who along with Sir Thomas Tyldesley commanded the
royal forces in West Derby hundred. Caryl (afterwards
Lord) Molyneux also commanded a regiment.
On December 10, 1642, Lord Derby met the com-
missioners of array at Preston, when it was determined
that the sum of 8,7007. should be rateably levied on the
several hundreds of the county for the payment of 2,000
foot and 400 horse, and for the provision of magazines
and ammunition.
Wigan.
Wigan was a stronghold of the Royalist forces, from A.D. 1643.
whence the garrison sallied out in all directions, and did Capture of
considerable mischief to their opponents. On Easter Eve,
April 1, 1643, Colonel Holland marched at the head
of a force from Manchester, escaladed the earthworks
after a breach had been made, and captured the town.
The Royalists retained possession of the church, and from
the summit of the tower they poured down such a warm
fire that severe loss was inflicted on the attacking force.
104
CHAP.
II.
1643.
Lord
Derby's
advance.
Fight at
Whalley.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
6
The church was finally carried, where, it is stated, many
persons of quality were made prisoners. The Parlia-
mentarians, however, did not retain the town. Accord-
ing to the contemporary account, the souldiers were
allowed to Plunder and carey away what they could.
Great heapes of Woollen Cloath of the Drapers being laid
in the streetes. But with breakeing downe of some
workes that were maid and set in the streets to hinder
the passage of Horses and what spoile they carried, They
all marched away that night, and lefte it to the Earle who
was marching to the Relieff thereof with what strength
he had as far as Standish More, where receiving Intel-
ligence that the Towne was taken, with the spoyle of it,
and the Enimie returned and gone, In great discontent
he returned home to Lathom, never after making any
accompt of Wiggon.'
(
6
From Lathom, Lord Derby proceeded to Preston, where
he collected such force as he could muster, consisting of
eleven troops of horse, 700 foot, and infinite of club-
men,' and marched northwards, crossing the Ribble at
Ribchester and taking possession of Whalley abbey and
church. The hundred of Blackburn was in a very un-
prepared state, but Colonels Shuttleworth and Starkie
sent a summons round and collected all the stragglers to
meet at Whalley. The officers held a council of war and
determined not to fight, but according to the account
already quoted, This pleased not the souldiers then by,
That they should turn their backs upon their enimies
before they saw their faces. Therefore a many of Mus-
ketiers being resolut men replyed to the captaines bouldly,
bidding them take what course they pleased for their
safeties, yet they would aventure themselves, see the
enimie, and have one bout with them, if God will. And
therefore gathering themselves together made them-
selves readie to receive the enimie. And belyke eyther
imagyning of themselves or having intelligence from
others that the enimie would pass that way, They planted
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
105
II.
1643.
Lord
defeated.
themselves in fields on the high way side, betwixt Whaley CHAP.
and Padiam under the stone walls with their muskets,
readie charged, being hid, to give the enimie a volley of
shot if they appeared. Not long after, the musketiers Derby
under the walls waiting their opportunitie, let goe a
volley of shot against them very hotly, which did put
such a fear into them that immediately without any
delay they turned againe and downe towards Whaley
with all the speed they could make.
The Earle's clubmen being in the reare of his army
hearing the great noyse of shoutting, apprehending it
fearfully fled through the river in such haste, he being
most happie that could get through it with most speed
and run the fastest away. Noe command of the officers
nor force of the horsemen could make them turne again
or staye, but gone they would be; which wrought soe
upon the rest of the Armie, that they lykewise turned
their backs and fledd soe disorderly and confusedly, That
(as relation was) the Earle himself had much adoe to
cause them to take their Ordenance with them, he being
of the last companie that was with it.' This happened Retreat of
on April 20, 1643. Colonel Assheton now came up from Royalists.
Lancaster and Preston, and the earl retired to Pen-
wortham and thence went north to Whitehaven where
he took ship and sailed to the Isle of Man.
Colonel Tyldesley rallied the fugitive Royalists, and fell
back into West Derby hundred, Lord Molyneux co-ope-
rating with him. Colonel Assheton returned to Man-
chester, where he was received with jubilations, a day
of thanksgiving and rejoicing being celebrated with
feasting and devotion combined. After a few days' respite
he again advanced. Lord Molyneux and Tyldesley re-
tired by Ormskirk to Kirkham in the Fylde. Assheton
advanced by Warrington, which surrendered after a
short siege, on the condition of being exempted from
plunder.
After some marching and counter-marching Tyldesley
106
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1643.
drew off to Yorkshire to meet the queen, who landed
from Holland at Burlington Quay. Lord Molyneux
retired on Liverpool, where he left a garrison, and him-
self crossed the Mersey into Cheshire. Colonel Assheton
Liverpool. followed on his heels and sat down before Liverpool
about the end of April.
Assheton
attacks
First
siege.
C
We learn from a contemporary tract, that just at this
juncture a Parliamentary ship, under the command of
the Earl of Warwick, entered the Mersey whilst on a
cruise without any specific object, which, says the docu-
ment put the enemy into a great fear.' Colonel Asshe-
ton having gained possession of the church, on the tower
of which he planted his ordnance, and his forces occupy-
ing the line of Dale Street, the Royalists retired into the
castle, whence they offered a parley, and proposed to
surrender on condition that they should be allowed to
retire with their arms and ammunition to join the royal
forces, which propositions not being consented unto,
Colonel Assheton made another assault against the enemy,
slew many of them, and put them into such confusion,
that as many as could, fled away for safety, and the rest
were forced to yield themselves prisoners.' 300 were
captured, with 10 guns, and 80 killed. So ended the first
siege.
6
The town was now garrisoned for the Parliament.
under Colonel John Moore. Rosworm, the German
engineer, who had fortified Manchester, was brought
down to strengthen and improve the fortifications.
The line of Whitechapel and Paradise Street, then the
course of the pool-stream, being low marshy ground
covered by the tide at flood, batteries were erected at
intervals to command the passage. From the end of Dale
Street westwards to Oldhall Street and the river, the
rampart and ditch extended with strong gates at the
crossing of Tithebarn and Oldhall Streets. Cannon
were mounted on the battlements of the castle, and a
battery was erected on the margin of the river.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
107
On May 16, 1643, there is an entry in the town's
books of the receipt of 100 muskets, 100 bandaliers,
and 100 pikes from Colonel Richard Holland,' 'to be
employed for the defence and safetie of this towne;
and an engagement is given for the saffe redeliverie of
them unto y said colonell, when y° same shall be re-
quired.'
6
CHAP,
II.
1643.
The memorable Irish rebellion broke out in October Irish
1641. Its cruel massacres of the Protestants were ab- Rebellion,
horrent alike to Cavalier and Roundhead.
1611.
of rebels'
In the year 1642, during the mayoralty of John Seizure
Walker, the mayor and corporation seized upon certain goods.
merchandise in course of transport from Ireland to Man-
chester through Liverpool on the plea or pretext that
it belonged to rebels, and was therefore forfeited to the
corporation, who by charter or prescription had a right
to all escheats. This was the cause of long-continued
litigation. The Manchester consignees were not disposed
to submit tamely to this appropriation of their property,
and took legal means to obtain redress. The following
entry relates to this transaction :
THOMAS BICKSTETH, MAIOR.
xix Junii, 1643.
At an assemblie this day held before Thomas Bicksteth,
Gent., maior of this Burrough, John Walker, John Williamson
and the most part of the rest of the comon Counsell of
this towne, it was moved touching the securing of Thomas
Hodgson and John Woods, late Ballives of this towne, and
others that were or are officers within the said towne, from all
molestation or suits that may be brought against them by one
John Booker of Manchester or anie other on his behalfe, and
1 Colonel Richard Holland was the representative of an ancient family of
that name, originally settled at Upholland, descended from Robert de
Holland, already spoken of in these pages. One of the sons of Robert de
Holland married the heiress of Sir Alexander Denton, of Denton, and settled
on the estates. Colonel Holland was an active Parliamentary campaigner
through the whole of the civil war. He died in 1662. The estates passed,
about the end of the seventeenth century, to the Egertons of Heaton, after-
wards created Earls of Wilton.
108
CHAP.
II.
1643.
Appoint-
ment of
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
on the behalfe of Ed. Connor for removing anie goods or mer-
chandize by either of them challenged, and heretofore imported
out of Ireland; which upon good evidence appeared to be
Rebell's goods, and as the goods of Rebells seized upon for the
behalfe of this Corporation by John Walker, Esq., maior of
this burrough. It is therefore ordered by this assemblie that
accordingly the said persons upon whom this may reflect
by reason of such seizure, shall be secured and kept from all
indemnitie at the comon charge of the whole Corporation;
the monie thereupon due having been paid to the towne's
treasurer, and by him to be kept for the benefit of the said
towne.
The Parliamentarians, who were mostly Presbyterians,
minister. being now in possession, no time was lost in appointing
a clergyman of their own views to the parochial chapel.
On September 22, 1643, 'it is ordered by an assemblie
that Mr. E. Thompson shall bee minister heere, and
shall be content with such allowance as y colonells and
Deputie Lieutenants shall apoynt and allowe to be sett
out for y decent maintenance of a minister in this
burrough, together with such other dues and dueties as
shall be due unto him from y towne.'
Immediately afterwards occurs the following entry:
JOHN WILLIAMSON, MAIOR.
Nov. 23, 1643.
Further order about the maintenance of a minister from
the sequestration of the tythes of Walton.
T. STANLEY,
RAPHE ASHETON,
RICHARD HOLLANDE,
(Signed)
JOHN MOORE,
ROBT. HYDE,
Martial
law.
Robert
Hyde.
THO. BIRCHE.
The town was at this time under martial law, all the
signatures of the above document being Parliamentary
colonels. Of the above list Robert Hyde is the only
one not elsewhere mentioned in these pages. The family
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
109
II.
of Hyde, of Hyde Hall, Denton, were near neighbours CHAP.
and allies of the Hollands, the chapel of Denton being
one-half appropriated to the tenants of each estate.
On
the breaking out of the civil war, both Hyde and Holland
armed their tenants and joined the popular side, each
having a colonel's commission. Both families have long
been extinct in the male line.
1643.
governor.
Colonel John Moore was appointed by the Parliament Colonel
governor of Liverpool. As a commander he was active Moore,
and vigilant. By his influence, and partly at his expense,
several vessels were fitted out at Liverpool to cruise
against the enemy, to blockade Dublin, and to cut off
the supplies from the royal army in Ireland. The Mar-
quis of Ormonde, writing to Lord Byron under date of
January 16, 1644, says: When the fleet is gone, it is
too probable the Liverpool ships will look out again, if
that town be not in the mean time reduced, which I
most earnestly recommend your lordship to think of
and attempt as soon as you possibly can, there being no
service that to my apprehension can at once so much
advantage this place (Dublin) and Chester, and make
them so useful to each other.”
6
tion
nants.
On December 21, 1643, there is the following entry Proclama-
in the town's book: Whereas it appears that divers against
papists and other ill-affected persons or malignants, and malig-
such as have borne armes against the Parliam*, or their
wives and children are as yet inhabitting and remaining
within this towne of Liverpoole, who are suspected to
give intelligence and to doe other ill offices there; it
is therefore ordered by the now maior, the Governor,
and the rest of the Comon Counsell of the same towne,
that all such papists and malignants, except such as are
Prysoners; as also their wives, children and families,
shall within xiiij dayes after notice hereof, depart and
remove out of the said towne, upon payne to be plun-
dered and deprived of all their goods and personal estate
whatsoever.'
110
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1643.
December 13, 1643: It is ordered that the Ballives
and the Pursuivant and some others of the Governor's
officers are to go through the towne and make inquiries,
Strangers. and take notice of all strangers and other lodgers, that
such as are not faithfull and trustie to the service of
King and Parliament may be discharged and removed
forth of the towne with all speed possible in respect of
the present dangers.'
A.D. 1644.
Sunday
observ-
ance.
Keeping
ward.
6
January 28, 1644: It is ordered that all such house-
holders or other persons as shall neglect the strict ob-
servance of Sundayes and fast dayes, and shall not
frequent the church, but either loyter or stay abroad
drinking; or shall be disorderly, and taken in anie mis-
conduct, shall be severely punished, and shall forfait
for every offence 40s.'
The town was now in the hands of the Puritans, and
care had been taken, as appears from the documents
quoted, to warn away all malignants and Royalists, yet it
would seem that the townspeople did not take kindly
to garrison service; whereupon it became necessary for
the governor to issue the following edict, in prospect of
speedy hostilities:
May 25, 1644: 'Whereas divers of the inhabitants of
watch and this towne have refused and contemptiously neglected
contrarie to divers orders to appeare with their best.
armes at the beating of the drum; these are therefore
to give publicke notice and warninge to all persons
whatsoever inhabbiting within this garrison heretofore
appoynted for the keeping of the watch within the same.
That if they or any of them shall hereafter refuse or
neglect to appeare at the beating of the drum for the
settinge of the watch within the said garrison, or for the
performing of other duties within the same; or any
person whatsoever sett upon his watch or Guard shall
come off the same or neglect his dutie therein, till he be
called and releeved by an Officer-shall for everie such
offence pay to the use of his fellow soldiers the sum of
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
111
xijª or lie in prison in the Townhall until he have paid CHAP.
the same.'
6
6
6
II.
1644.
plate.
About this time, but without a specific date, there is
inserted An Inventorie of the Towne's Plate,' which Town's
shows a goodly array of cups, bowls, and various regalia.
Soon afterwards, violent hands were laid on this collec-
tion, most probably, as alleged, by the Royalists after
Prince Rupert's siege. By a later entry on the same
page, dated 1654, certain fragments are noted as still
remaining. In 1655, there is mention made of one new Town
seale ingraved with the Towne's arms.' There can
There can be seal.
little doubt that this refers to the seal now in use, re-
placing the ancient one carried away with the rest of the
plate. The collection is also said to comprise one Bridle
for correction of scoulds'! When this remedy for an
evil tongue ceased to be employed we are not informed.
Early in 1644, many of the fortified places in the north Prince
of England still held for the king were in a state of siege. advances.
A strong representation was made to Prince Rupert, then
at the king's head quarters, to make a desperate attempt
to raise the sieges. The prince accordingly raised all the
forces within his control, numbering about 10,000, and
successively relieved Newark, Chester, Stockport, Lathom
House, and Bolton. Moore had been assisting at the
siege of Lathom House, but now retired and shut himself
up in Liverpool, where he was followed by his op-
ponent.
Rupert
siege.
It is said that the prince, reconnoitring the defences Second
from the heights to the eastward, pronounced the place
indefensible—a mere crow's nest which a parcel of boys
might take. However, he sat down before it, and made
his approaches in due form. His head quarters were in
Everton Village at a cottage which ever afterwards bore
his name. His batteries were erected along the line of
Lime Street, where the trenches cut in the rock are still
occasionally to be met with. The resistance was far
greater than he had counted on. After an incessant can-
112
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
1644.
Escalade.
CHAP. nonade, carried on for eighteen days, in which he ex-
pended 100 barrels of powder, and numerous assaults, in
which he lost 1,500 men, he resolved on a night attack.
In this he was materially aided by Caryl, Lord Moly-
neux, who was well acquainted with the localities, and
led the forlorn hope. The attacking force escaladed
the rampart where it joined the outhouses of the Old
Hall. Edward Moore, the son of the colonel, in his
'Rental' (1667) says: The outhouses of the Old Hall were
pulled down when Prince Rupert took Liverpool, Whit-
suntide, June 16, 1644, putting all to the sword for many
hours, giving no quarter; where Caryl, that is now Lord
Molyneux, killed seven or eight poor men with his own
hands; good Lord, deliver us from the cruelty of blood-
thirsty papists. Amen.' The garrison was drawn up in
array at the Cross, where they beat a parley and de-
manded quarter. This was granted, the garrison laying
down their arms and surrendering as prisoners of war.
The ammunition and stores fell into the hands of the
victors.
He says:
Whitelock gives rather a different account.
Before the garrison surrendered, they shipped off all
the arms, ammunition, and portable effects; and most of
the officers and soldiers went on shipboard, while a few
made good the fort, which they rendered to the prince
upon quarter, but they were all put to the sword.' This
is confirmed by the author of the 'Discourse,' who says:
Colonell Moore with what force he had with him in the
towne, resisted while he could, but when he saw it was
in vaine long to withstand such a potent army, he betook
himself to the sea, and left the Towne to the mercilesse
mercy of their enemies, who murthered unhumanly and
plundered thevishly.' Sir John Biron (Lord Byron) was
left in Liverpool as governor.
(
Rupert remained in Liverpool nine days, having his
quarters at the castle. He then drew off with all his
available forces into Yorkshire, where, on July 2, he
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
113
took part in the disastrous battle of Marston Moor. Rupert
thence retired into Lancashire, but, avoiding Liverpool,
he crossed the Mersey at Runcorn Gap and marched on
Chester.
The Parliamentary leaders followed up their advan-
tage at Marston Moor by sending 1,000 horse into Lan-
cashire to co-operate with the county forces.
CHAP.
II.
1644.
Royalists.
On August 20, the Royalists under Lords Byron and Defeat of
Molyneux were defeated at Ormskirk by Major-General
Meldrum, and retired to Liverpool, where they were
speedily followed by their opponents.
The town was invested, but no very active operations Third
appear to have been carried on.
The siege, or rather siege.
blockade, continued from August 20 to November 4,
1644, when the garrison surrendered.
The follo ing account of the transaction is given in
Rushworth: 1 Sir John Meldrum having for some time
laid siege to Liverpool in Lancashire, and reduced the
garrison therein to great straits, and yet the officers re-
fusing to surrender it, about fifty of the English soldiers
escaped out of the town, and drove along with them what
cattle they could, and came in to Meldrum; which those
that remained in the town perceiving, and being most of
them Irish, and fearing they should be exempt from
quarter, therefore to make their peace, on November 1,
they seized upon several of their commanders and de-
livered them prisoners to Meldrum, who thereupon got
possession of the town, where were taken two colonels,
two lieutenant-colonels, three majors, fourteen captains,
great store of ordnance, arms, and ammunition. The
Royalists, to avoid plunder, had shipped most of their
best goods and treasure, intending to convey the same to
Beaumaris, but those of the other party gave notice
thereof, so that Meldrum's soldiers manned out long
boats, and took and made booty thereof.' The author
of the Discourse' characterises this as a Providence of
6
VOL. I.
1 'Hist. Coll.' vol. v. p. 747.
I
6
114
II.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. God, more than ordinary, for which Roundheads made
bonfyres for joy, and song praises to God.'
1644.
Colonel
Birch,
governor.
C
Colonel Thomas Birch was appointed by the Par-
liament governor and took up his abode in the castle.
The name of Colonel Birch has been vilified and held up
to reproach from a statement made by Seacome in his
History of the House of Stanley,' and repeated else-
where, of his harsh treatment of two children of the Earl
of Derby, Ladies Catharine and Amelia Stanley, who, it
is vaguely stated, in the times of the civil wars were made
prisoners by the Parliament soldiers in Liverpool, having
fled thither from Knowsley with the intention of pro-
ceeding to their father in the Isle of Man. Another
account states that they were captured at Knowsley.
They are said to have been kept in durance for about
eighteen months, and scarcely supplied with the neces-
saries of life, in revenge for the colonel having been
trailed under a hay cart at Manchester by orders of the
earl, whence he acquired the sobriquet of the Earl of
Derby's carter.' I have given above (p. 101) the origin of
this absurd story, which rests on no contemporary autho-
rity. Colonel Birch was a man of family and a gentle-
man, on whom Lord Derby was as little likely to have
put such an indignity as the colonel was to have mal-
treated helpless children.
C
There were two colonels named Birch who distin-
guished themselves on the Parliamentary side, Thomas
and John. They were cousins, descended from an ancient
family settled at Hindley Birch near Manchester. The
estate descended to Thomas Birch, who served with dis-
tinction in the civil wars and was made governor of
Liverpool in 1644. In 1649, on the decease of Sir
Richard Wynne, he was elected member for the borough.
In each of the parliaments called by Cromwell after
'Pride's Purge' in 1653, 1654, and 1656, Colonel Birch
was re-elected for Liverpool. In politics he was a
follower of Cromwell, and in religion a sturdy Inde-
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
115
pendent. After the Restoration, he retired to his estate,
and identified himself with the Puritan party in their
persecutions under Charles II. From the Moore Papers,
we find that Colonel Birch was living in 1667 in a house
on the west side of Castle Street. He died in 1678, at
the age of seventy.
CHAP.
II.
1644.
John
His cousin, John Birch, also colonel in the Parlia- Colonel
mentary army, had an estate at Ardwick near Manchester, Birch.
where his family were settled. Although he entered
into the conflict with as much zeal and earnestness as his
relative, he was a man of much more moderate opinions,
a Presbyterian in religion, and in politics an advocate of
constitutional monarchy. He served principally in the
west of England, where he gained the reputation of a
careful, cautious, far-seeing officer who could bide his
time, and when it came could act with singular promp-
titude and vigour. In the winter of 1645, by a clever
stratagem, he surprised and took the city of Hereford, of
which he was appointed governor. An anecdote is told
of him whilst in this capacity, which exhibits the courage
of the cleric and the moderation of the man of war. The
bishop preached a sermon before the governor in which
he inveighed against the disloyalty of the times in bitter
and insulting language. A guard of soldiers at the porch
levelled their muskets and threatened to fire upon him.
The governor, who had been attentively listening, arose
and peremptorily commanded the soldiers to retire.¹ He
acquired an estate at Garnstone near Weobley in Here-
fordshire, for which ancient borough (now disfranchised)
he was elected representative. He was excluded by
'Pride's Purge,' and remained in retirement until the death
of Cromwell. He took an active part in the restoration
of Charles II., and prepared the instructions for the com-
missioners who negotiated with the king. We shall find
his name turn up again in the subsequent pages in con-
nection with Liverpool. He survived until the Revolu-
1 Halley's 'Puritanism and Nonconformity in Lancashire,' vol. ii. p. 41.
I 2
116
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1644.
General
Meldrum.
Swine.
A.D. 1645.
Burying
the slain.
tion of 1688, in which he joined heart and hand. He
died in 1691 at the age of seventy-five, and was interred
in the chancel of Weobley church, where a monument
with a laudatory inscription is erected to his memory.
The town records immediately succeeding the civil
war are not very copious, but they throw light on the
condition of the place and the sufferings of the inha-
bitants.
On November 8, 1644, immediately after the final
siege, there is an entry: Sir John Meldrum, Lieut.
Generall of the Northern forces, admitted freeman.'
December 30, 1644, John Holcroft, mayor.
1
'Att an assemblie held this day before John Holcroft,
Esq., Maior, and Col. John Moore, governor of this
towne of Liverpoole, and the aldermen and the most
part of the comon counsell thereof. It was ordered,
that for the present the gates now att Saml. Mercer's
house end, shall be removed, and sett in the works at
the Tythebarn Street end.
6
It is further ordered that all such as have swine in
this towne are to keepe their said swine on their Back-
sides until a swineherd be chosen, and if they goe abrode
and doe anie trespasse in other men's grounds, it shall
be lawful for anie suffering damage by them to kill or
lame the said swine, or convert them to their use. And
those who have swine in the towne have power to make
choice of a swineherd, otherwise to abide the penaltie
of this order.'
(
On January 20, 1645, it is entered: We find that a
great company of our inhabitants were murthered and
slain by Prince Rupert's forces; the names of the mur-
thered we cannot yet be certified of; any of them or
their names.'
That a considerable number had been slain is evident
from the next entry: That the dead bodies of our
6
1 There is here a little discrepancy. Moore probably held the governor-
ship a short time as colonel in command before Birch was appointed.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
117
murthered neighbours buried out of the towne shall be
better covered betwixt this and the 2nd February next,
and for the effecting hereof we order that the two
bailiffs or any other officer giving notice or warning to
any house, it shall send one thither, with a spade or
whisket for the covering of them as aforesaid.'
CHAP.
II.
1645.
tion claim
During these troublous times, one thing is quite clear, Corpora-
that whatever party was uppermost, the corporation of escheats.
Liverpool always kept a sharp look out after their own
interests. During the Royalist supremacy in 1642, as
we have already seen, they seized and appropriated
merchandise from Ireland on the way to Manchester,
under the pretext that it was the property of rebels; by
which they got themselves into much trouble and liti-
gation. Under Parliamentary rule they were equally
ready to confiscate the property of malignants and
Royalists. An order of Parliament, bearing date January
16, 1644-5, which was no doubt issued on the petition
of the town's authorities, is entered in the book, January
27, as follows:
'Whereas it appears by the ancient privileges, charters,
and Records of this Towne and Port of Liverpoole,
that the forfeitures and confiscations of all rebells, tray-
tors, felons, or other malefactors; all estates, goods,
chattels, or merchandize whatsoever being found within
the precincts and liberties of this towne, doe properly
belong unto the Maior, Ballives, and Burgesses of the
said corporation, wheresoever the said offenders be or
remain, in what place or town the said offence be com-
mitted.
'These are therefore to will and require you the
Ballives of the said burrough from tyme to time to make
diligent search, and inquire for anie the goods, chattels,
or merchandize of all such as are suspected or knowne to
be guiltie of anie the offences before mentioned; and
forthwth to take and seize into safe custodie all such
estates, goods, and chattels whatsoever in right of the
118
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
said Corporacion, that if in case the said rebells be con-
victed, they may be preserved for the use of the said
1645. burrough and Corporacion as aforesaid; for which this
shall bee yo' lawfull and sufficient warrant.'
Applica
tion to
Parlia-
ment.
In addition to looking after the confiscations, more
direct assistance was sought from the Parliament.
On March 5, 1645, occurs the following entry:
'Forasmuch as the urgent state and condition of this
towne doth require that some speedie course be taken
as well for the repairing of the losses and sufferings of
the inhabitants thereof by the crueltie of the Prince's
army lately prevailing there, as also for the better
governing of the said towne for the tyme to come, it is
ordered that Mr. Wm. Langton, Recorder, shall accom-
pany the Mayor (Jno. Holcroft) to London, and there
solicit, on behalf of the said town, according to the
ensuing instructions, viz. :
'1st, to procure relief, if it be possible, for poor widows
and fatherless children, that had their husbands and
fathers slain, and their goods plundered, and others in
the town, who are in distress and want.
6
2nd, to procure that the manner of the losing, or
rather the giving, of the town to the enemies may be
fully tried and examined, that so it may appear in whose
neglect or fault it was that so much innocent blood was
spilt, when there was a possibility of resistance, or any
terms of quarter would have been granted.
6
3rd, to procure that some course be taken to secure
the town from the power of the enemy hereafter, it being
of great concernment to the country, and is not as yet,
in any good posture of defence, for want of provisions,
men, and moneys to supply the same, in case of danger.
'4th, to obtain an order for the enclosing and im-
proving of the commons and waste grounds, within the
town's liberties, for the good of the corporation, and
that the mills and ferry boats formerly belonging to the
town, and injuriously taken and kept from them by the
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
119
Lord Molyneux, may be restored to the corporation as
formerly.
5th, to agitate the business of the rebell's goods
claimed by the Manchester men.'
The petition met with success. A grant of 207. in
money was made for the widows and orphans, and 500
tons of timber for the repair of the ruined houses was
authorised to be taken from the woods of the neighbour-
ing Royalist gentry, with lead from the ruins of Lathom
House.
CHAP.
II.
1645.
grant.
This grant of timber, with the absence of any mention Parlia-
of stone, brick, or lime would intimate that the houses mentary
in Liverpool at this time were principally of timber-
framing.
The Parliament further proceeded (October 1, 1645)
to pass a bill restoring the mills and ferry-boats to the
corporation, and exonerating them from the fee-farm
rent of 201. per annum, payable to Lord Molyneux.
A further grant was made to the town of rather a Irish.
perilous nature, being an Irish estate situated in the estate.
county of Galway, far away from any settlements of the
English or Scotch adventurers. After exploring the
locality and the expenditure of some capital-it is not
stated how much-the attempt was wisely abandoned.
On the arrival of the contribution we find an entry
under date December 22, 1646: A catalogue of the
poor widows and fatherless children, maimed soldiers
who were hurt, and had their husbands and fathers slain
in this town and in the parliament's service, is ordered
to be made and certified, so that they may receive their
allowance of the contribution.' It was likewise ordered
that the widows and fatherless children receive iijs each,
and the maimed soldiers vjs each.
In 1645, the rector of Walton having joined the
Royalists, the tithes were sequestrated by the Parliament,
and out of the proceeds the sequestrators set aside 1007.
per annum for Liverpool, and thus report:
120
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1645.
Appoint-
ment of
minister.
Garrison.
Upon information that the town of Liverpoole hath
not any competent maintenance for the ministry at their
church or chapel there, it being a market town, and of
great resort, a garrison town, and the chief port of these
parts, the inhabitants many and well affected; it is
therefore thought fit and so ordered that two able and
orthodox ministers be provided to officiate there, and
shall have, out of the sequestrations of the tythes of
Walton parish, 100l. a year.'
In 1646, owing to the disaffected state of Lancashire,
the Parliament determined to garrison the town of Liver-
pool. The townspeople do not appear to have been
quite satisfied with the arrangements, for we find the
following entry in the corporation records:
'Concerning the town being a garrison, it was peti-
tioned that the works might stand as they are, and not
be altered, and a true map was drawn of them by
Samuel Aspinwall, and certified to the committee of
Parliament by Lieut.-Col. Ashurst, governor, who re-
quested the townsmen to be enlisted, but they refused,
and are resolved to be at the said governor's commands.
in case of danger, but not otherwise to enlist.'
(
1
In another entry, Mr. Mayor and the aldermen' are
empowered to treat with the governor about the settle-
ment of the garrison that one company of the townsmen
may be employed, and to have pay as others have.'
The billeting of the military seems to have been a
grievance, for it is resolved that the soldiers pay 3d.
per meal, or quarter themselves.'
The invasion of the Scotch forces under the Duke of
Hamilton in 1648 does not appear to have disturbed
1 William Ashurst, of Ashurst, was the representative of an old Presby-
terian family. His father, Henry Ashurst, had boldly resisted in 1633 the
royal promulgation of the Book of Sports. William served with distinction
in the Parliamentary army, representing at the same time the borough of
Newton in Parliament. After the execution of Charles I. he seceded, and
joined the Earl of Derby in his expedition in 1651. He afterwards assisted
in the Restoration of Charles II.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
121
Liverpool, although the decisive battle at Red Bank
Winwick on August 19, took place within fifteen miles
of the town.
6
CHAP.
II.
1645.
Plague and pestilence lent their aid in aggravation of Plague.
the horrors of civil war. It is recorded that the port-
moot court which should have been held after Christmas
1647, was deferred and put off by reason of the sickness
and infection, happening in certain houses in the Chapel
Street, which, through the blessing of God-great care
being taken and much cost bestowed in building of
cabins and removing the said families forth of the town
into the said cabins-it ceased in two months' time, with
the death of about eight or nine persons of mean quality.'
The careful attention to sanitary arrangements in this
case, and their beneficial results are very remarkable.
It is stated in some works that another visitation of A.D. 1650.
the plague passed over the town in 1650, by which 200 Plague.
of the inhabitants were carried off, who were buried in
Sick Man's Lane, now Addison Street. I cannot, how-
ever, find any contemporary authority confirmative of
the statement.
6
for taxa-
In 1649 a warrant was served upon the town from A.D. 1649.
the commissioners of the army, requiring a return of Returns
the yearly value of every man's real and personal estate tion.
within the town.' This is the earliest employment of
schedules for income-tax which I have met with, and
it seems to have been anything but palatable to the
good burgesses, who came to the resolution following:
'It is considered very prejudicial and unreasonable, and
therefore resolved that Mr. Bailiff Storey shall attend the
commissioners and acquaint them that the best sort have
their estates in shipping, which is a daily adventure and
hazard, the rest are plundered and poor.' What result
attended this remonstrance we are not informed, but in
the monthly assessments for the support of the army
Liverpool is put down for 11. 11s. 1d.
In 1651 the last effort of the Royalists was made in A.D. 1651.
122
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1651.
Royalist
rising.
Battle of
Wigan
Lane.
Colonel
Lancashire under the Earl of Derby. Liverpool was
strongly garrisoned under the orders of Cromwell, now
supreme, who gave the command of the district to
Colonel Lilburne. Colonel Thomas Birch, governor of
Liverpool, having obtained early information of the
arrival of the Earl of Derby from the Isle of Man in
Wyre water, sent out ships from the Mersey into the
Wyre to intercept the arrival of supplies, and to cut off
the expected reinforcements.
He also communicated with Lilburne, who marched
upon Prescot, and thence followed the earl to Ormskirk.
Birch also brought together all the Parliamentary forces
he could draw from Chester and the neighbourhood, and
sent for his own regiment to Manchester. These move-
ments led to the battle of Wigan Lane, in which the
Royalists were utterly routed, and lost one of the best
and bravest of their party, the gallant Sir Thomas Tyl-
desley.
The Tyldesleys of Myerscough were an ancient and
Tyldesley. honourable Lancashire family, loyal to the heart's core,
always on the side of the king throughout the civil
war, and in none were the loyalty, bravery, and ability
of the race more distinguished than in the resolute
soldier of whom I am now speaking. Throughout
the contest he was the heart and soul of the party in
Lancashire, ready for every emergency, never despair-
ing in the most disastrous times. Generous and open-
hearted, he was beloved by his friends and respected by
his enemies. A monument was erected to his memory
on the spot where he fell, by Alexander Rigby, his
friend and fellow soldier, a distant relative of the Round-
head colonel of the same name. Colonel Tyldesley on
the Royalist side, and Colonel Assheton on the side of
the Parliament, present two noble specimens of the men
whom the unfortunate circumstances of the times arrayed
against each other.
Close of
civil war.
The action of Wigan Lane terminated the civil war
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
123
in Lancashire, and for the next nine years the party of
Cromwell was in the ascendant.
Liverpool enjoyed its privilege of exemption from the
fee-farm rent; the influence of the Stanleys and Moly-
neuxs being for the time completely overthrown.
6
CHAP.
II.
1651.
The town's records are very barren of interest during A.D. 1654.
Lighting
this period. In 1654 we find the first attempt at public t
streets.
lighting of the streets, which was in very primitive
fashion, it being ordered that two lanthorns with two
candles burning every night in the dark moon be set
out at the High Cross and at the White Cross; and
places prepared to set them in every night till past
eight of the clock, by the serjeant and water bailiffs.'
Colonel Birch was elected sole representative in the
parliaments summoned by Cromwell. He ceased to be
governor in 1655, for what reason is not stated.
A.D. 1655.
Ireland,
governor.
In that year the governorship was conferred on Colonel Sir Gilbert
Gilbert (afterwards Sir Gilbert) Ireland, the head of
the ancient family of the Irelands of the Hutte and Hale,
who had also inherited a portion of the estates of the
Butlers of Bewsey near Warrington. The Ireland family
were divided in their political allegiance, but Gilbert
adhered to the popular cause, and having commanded a
regiment in the civil war, did not hesitate, although a
moderate Presbyterian, to take office under the Protector.
On April 10, 1655, he writes to Cromwell: Yesterday
I received the government of Liverpool, wherein, as in
all other trusts, I shall diligently wait for, and observe
all your commands.'
6
In 1656 Ireland was returned for Lancashire.
In the same year in his place in Parliament he advo-
cated the cause of Charles, Earl of Derby, who had
petitioned the house to grant him some aid in his neces-
sities, and moved that 500l. per annum be allowed him.
A.D. 1656.
In Richard Cromwell's Parliament in 1658, he was A.d. 1658.
returned for Liverpool along with Thomas Blackmore, Election.
and again in the Convention Parliament of 1660 he was
124
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1658.
elected along with the Hon. William Stanley, brother of
the Earl of Derby, and assisted in the restoration of
Charles II., by whom he was knighted. He continued
to represent Liverpool until his decease in 1675, at which
time he was serving the office of mayor of the borough.
Dying without issue, his estates descended in the female
line to the Blackburnes of Hale and Orford, and the
Gascoynes of Childwall, the latter now represented by
the Marquis of Salisbury.¹ Blackmore, Ireland's colleague
in 1658, was an alderman of the borough belonging to
the popular party. He was furnished with a horse to
travel to London, and 10l. to pay his expenses, besides
sustenance during his attendance in Parliament, which
was provided by subscription. He was not returned in
1660.
6
On the enactment of the Test and Corporation Act in
A.D. 1662. 1662, we find the following entry in the town's books:
November 10, Thomas Blackmore, Thomas William-
son, Ralph Massam, Edward Williamson, Gilbert Formby,
and Rd. Percival ordered to be discharged from their
offices, as aldermen of the town, for refusing to subscribe
to the declaration contained in the Act 13 Charles II.
for the well governing of corporations.'
Act of Uni-
formity.
A.D. 1665.
6
Blackmore's name crops up again a few years after-
wards in the Moore Rental,' where he and one Ash-
brook, with whom the writer had some legal dispute,
are described as 'both notorious knaves.'
(
In the list of clergymen ejected under the Act of
Uniformity on black Bartholomew's day, 1662,' we find
the names of the Rev. John Fogg, Liverpool, Rev.
Thomas Crompton, M.A., Toxteth Park, Rev. Robert
Eaton, Walton, Rev. Nathaniel Heywood, Ormskirk.
In the year 1665, the scourge of the preceding cen-
1 The fine old moated mansion of the 'Hutte' in Hale, the residence of
the Irelands, has long been destroyed, with the exception of the gate-house,
some portion of the kitchen buildings and out offices. In its entirety it
must have been a noble specimen of the half-timbered mansions, of which
Speke Hall furnishes an example.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
125
II.
tury, the plague, having ravaged the metropolis and CHAP.
various parts of the country during this-happily its
last-visitation, it was resolved at a public meeting of 1665.
the burgesses on November 2, Michael Tarleton, gent., Plague.
mayor, that upon consideration and apprehension of
the spreading contagion of the plague in divers neigh-
bouring towns, in Cheshire and other parts, and of the
great concourse of people usually from these parts all
the time of the fairs kept in this town, it is generally
voted, agreed, thought fit, and so ordered, that the
keeping of the fair here on St. Martin's day next, the
eve, and other usual days after, here accustomably kept,
shall on this present exigent of danger for this year
be absolutely forborne and forbidden by open publica-
tion, and notice thereof in the open market the next
market day.' As we have no record of any attack of
the plague, it is to be presumed that this precautionary
isolation proved effectual.
The four centuries and a half which had now elapsed Summary.
since the foundation of the port and borough had hitherto
produced no remarkable degree of success or prosperity.
The little town slumbered on under the shadow of its
feudal castle, dominated by the neighbouring nobles and
gentry, kindled into raptures of ecstasy by a favourable
recognisance from my Lords Derby or Molyneux, and
quite contented with its petty trade with Ireland and
Wales. But a great change was at hand. The real rise Changes.
of the fortunes of Liverpool dates from the Restoration of
Charles II. From this time forward, the tide of pro-
sperity set in with a regular, steady current, which may
have differed in its rate of progression, but which has
hitherto known no ebb. The proximate causes of this
favourable change were, the rise of the manufactures of
Lancashire and Yorkshire, the increase of the foreign
trade of the kingdom, and the facilities offered by the
estuary of the Mersey. After the plague and the great
fire of London, 'several ingenious men settled in Liver Trade.
126
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
1665.
CHAP. pool, which originated the trade of the port to the planta-
tions and other places. This so enlarged the trade of the
port, that from scarcely paying the salaries of the officers
of customs, Liverpool before the close of the century
possessed the third part of the trade of the country, and
paid the king upwards of 50,000l. a year in customs.'
This statement, which is extracted from the case laid
before Parliament in 1699 on the application for an Act
to constitute Liverpool a separate parish, is no doubt
exaggerated, but it is an undoubted fact that a large
increase of trade did take place at this period.
A.D. 1667.
Moore
Rental.
Moore
family.
We possess very valuable evidence of the state of the
town at this juncture, in the 'Moore Rental,' an account
prepared in 1667 by Edward (afterwards Sir Edward)
Moore of Bank Hall, of his estates and rents in the town,
for the benefit of his son and heir.¹ I shall have oc-
casion hereafter to refer to this document somewhat in
detail in illustration of the various localities to which it
refers. At present I can only allude to it in general terms.
Edward Moore was the son of the regicide, John
Moore. Although brought up in the atmosphere of
Nonconformity and Puritanism, as is evident from his
scriptural quotations and pious ejaculations, he was a
thorough aristocrat at heart. Most of his property was
let on lease upon the old feudal tenure of lives, with a
small reserved rent in money, a fine for renewal when
a life dropped, and services in the form of boons or
labour in harvest time, and rent hens, with obligations to
grind at the lord's mill, &c. These conditions were
becoming obsolete, and to a great extent disregarded,
as being utterly unsuitable to the growing exigencies of
the times. Added to this, Moore was poor and loaded
with debt, and not able to maintain the position occupied
by his ancestors. He had twice stood as candidate to
represent the borough in Parliament, and also for the
1 This MS. has been published by the Chetham Society, and forms the
twelfth volume of their 'Transactions,' 1847.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
127
CHAP.
II.
Rental.
civic chair, and had been rejected. These various causes
soured his mind and embittered his opinions on men and
things in Liverpool. At the same time he had shrewd- 1667.
ness enough to appreciate the nascent progress of the Moore
town, and to estimate aright many of the advantages
which it offered. His remarks on many of the localities.
display considerable foresight, and anticipate by many
years improvements afterwards carried out.
•
His general opinion of the inhabitants of Liverpool is
expressed as follows: I know this by experience that
they are the most perfidious knaves to their landlords in
all England; therefore I charge you, in the name of God,
never to trust them. They have deceived me twice,
even to the ruin of my name and family, had not God in
mercy saved me; though there was none at the same
time could profess more kindness to me than they did,
and acknowledge in their very own memories what great
patrons my father and grandfather was to the town, and
them in particular. Yet when it came to that as with
but their vote would have done me five thousand pounds'
worth of good, and them no harm, they most inhumanly
denied me, and that two several times in a year's distance
betwixt them. . . . . Therefore since God hath by me.
forewarned you, have a care you never trust them, for
there is no such thing as truth or honesty in such mer-
cenary fellows, but what tends to their own ends. And
this observe as a general rule, civility will do no good,
but make them contemn you for a kind fool. And like-
wise observe for a certain rule, although you be never so
great enemies, yet, if you be but a justice, and have
power in the country, or once mayor of the town, they
will be like spaniels at your feet. In a word trust them
not, lest you may find by sad experience what I have
here forewarned you of, which God in mercy divert; for
such a nest of rogues were never educated in one town
of that bigness.'
The fact was, the burgesses had thrown off
any
alle-
128
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
1667.
Moore
Rental.
CHAP. giance they had formerly borne to the Moore family and
refused to admit Edward Moore to any official position in
the town, partly, perhaps, owing to his reduced circum-
stances, but more from his overbearing and grasping
temper. Hinc illa lachrymæ. His feeling towards the
town generally is not improved when he comes to speak
about individuals. Thomas Ayndoe, mayor in 1665,
lived at the Old Hall, which he had taken on lease from
Edward Moore. Of this gentleman he says: In the
name of God, be careful of him, for he is one of the
lurkingest knaves in all the town, he is worse than my
pen can express, and when he makes the greatest show
of friendship, then he hath the most deceit at heart.' The
reason for this foul-mouthed slander comes out thus:
This was one of the leading men underhand, against me,
in all votes, either for parliament man, or mayor.' This,
in the eyes of Moore, was the unpardonable sin. In
the same way we have sketches of the leading Liverpool
men of the day, Alderman Formby, mayor in 1656,
Alderman Peter Lurting, mayor in 1663, Henry Corless,
mayor in 1661, Baily' Johnson, afterwards mayor (1670),
and others, all of whom are sketched in the darkest
colours. They are all knaves, rogues, and base fellows,
their crying sin being their opposition to his election,
'when,' as he says, 'a vote might have been worth five
thousand pounds to him, and cost nothing.' He adds, in
the canting, hypocritical strain in which many of his
remarks are couched, The Lord Jesus forgive them!'
Apart from these prejudices, the views of Moore on the
prospects of the town and the best means of improving
its advantages manifest a considerable amount of shrewd-
ness and foresight. Building land was in demand, an
entirely new phase of things for Liverpool. Several new
streets had been laid out on the Moore estate and partly
built on, as Fenwick Street and Moore Street. Others
shortly after followed, and took their names from the
tenants quoted by Moore, such as Lancelot's Hey, Hackin's
Hey, James Street, Hockenhall Alley, &c.
6
6
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
129
II.
1667.
Settlers
from
In confirmation of what I have above stated respecting CHAP.
settlers from London, Moore records the sale of a piece
of land on the north side of Dale Street, between the
present Cheapside and Moorfields, to one Mr. Smith a
great sugar baker at London, a man as report says, London.
worth 40,000l.; and according to agreement, he is to
build all the front twenty-seven yards, a stately house of
good hewn stone four stories high, and then to go through
the same building with a large entry; and there on the
back side, to erect a house for boiling and drying sugar,
otherwise called a sugar baker's house. The pile of
building must be forty feet square and four stories high,
all of hewn stone. If this be once done,' he continues,
it will bring a trade of at least 40,000l. a year from
the Barbadoes, which formerly this town never knew.'
This statement is very significant. It marks the com-
mencement of the West India trade, which subsequently
became of such great importance to Liverpool, and which
superinduced another traffic not so creditable, to which
I shall hereafter refer.
The sugar-refining manufacture thus commenced has
continued on the same locality to the present time, the
streets leading out of Dale Street having always been the
principal seat of this branch of industry.
plans.
Several streets and thoroughfares were planned by Edward
Moore, afterwards to be carried out by other instrumen- Moore's
tality. He also suggested the extension and deepening
of the pool inwards so as to render it navigable along the
line of Paradise Street, with means for providing a supply
of water for flushing, so as to keep the channel clear.
Moore's relation to these improvements was something
like that of Moses to the promised land; he pointed out
and directed the road which was to be followed
up and
carried out by future and alien hands, after he and his
successors had ceased to have part or lot in the matter,
the lands passing away before many years had elapsed.
One source of revenue on which he set great value was
VOL. I.
K
130
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1667.
Corn-
mills.
6
the possession of two corn-mills, one driven by horse.
power, the other a windmill. His tenants were all bound
to grind at these mills, and he impresses on his son the
importance of rigidly insisting on these covenants being
fulfilled. Of the horse-mill he says: God bless it. A
thing of great concernment to your estate.
I have got,
when the trading to Lochaber, an island (sic) in Scotland
was used, twenty measures of toll a week, for two years
together, when malt sold for five shillings a Winchester
measure. This remember, you have a great eye how
custom rises or falls at this mill. Know every week
what tenants you have that grinds away and without
lawful cause; make them pay for it according to the
covenants in their leases. Know who they are that grind
at your
mill that are none of your tenants, that if there
fall an occasion in your power you may show them a
kindness. Know who they are, of any fashion, that doth
not grind at your mill, and if they be not obliged by
some especial obligation to them that owns the mill
where they grind, as by kindred or the like, I charge you
never trust them, neither do them a courtesy if it lie in
your power, for by that small thing you may see they
will never do you any; and when all the town knows you
take notice of your customers, and accordingly remember
them in your civilities or disrespects, either by fair means
or foul, fear or hope of reward, you will oblige most to
you.. Observe the rule above said exactly, and if
ever you be mayor and a justice of the peace in the
country, you may very easily make this mill worth
twenty measures a week, which at a crown a measure is
five pounds a week, many of your tenants brewing thirty
measures a week. Mark well the covenant
in your
leases for grinding at your mills; let your penalty be as
high as you can agree with them.' There is much more
in the same strain. Machiavelli himself could hardly
have improved on the hard, astute, cunning selfishness
here displayed.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
131
Lord Molyneux was the owner of a water-mill in
Toxteth Park, which was supplied by the drainage from
the Moss Lake running southward.
In another part of the document Moore advises his
son how he might divert this drainage so as to deprive
the water-mills of their water, and thus carry the custom
to his own mills, when he might build another windmill,
which would then be worth 271. to 40l. per annum.
In Moore's case, as in many others, selfish craft out-
witted itself. His paltry schemes of aggrandisement
were detected and thwarted, and his unpopularity pre-
vented him attaining those official positions which he so
candidly expresses his intention of prostituting for his
own purposes.
In August 1667 we have an entry in the town's re-
cords, which, though comparatively trifling in itself, is
very significative, taken in connection with other circum-
stances, of the new impulse given to trade.
6
CHAP.
II.
1667.
The coal from the collieries at Whiston, near Prescot,
and the rude pottery made at the latter place, at this
time constituted an important part of the exports from
Liverpool. The increase of traffic began to tell on the
badly paved streets of the town, whereupon an order
was issued as follows: Forasmuch as the streets within Coal for
the town are much decayed and abused by the fre- shipment.
quent driving of carts laden with coals and mugs to the
waterside through the same, to be transported and
carried away, when carts so laden may, with equal con
veniency, pass over the pool bridge to the waterside, or
the Water Street end; for redress of which abuse it is
ordered, that no person, after notice hereof given in open
market, do presume to pass through any of the streets of
this town with his cart so laden as aforesaid unto the
waterside upon the penalty of 12d. for every time such
person shall so offend.'
We have now arrived at the period of a transaction
which has exercised a very important influence on the
K 2
132
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1667.
Dispute
fortunes of the municipality and the property of the
corporation, in all subsequent times.
It will be remembered that the lordship of Liverpool,
with Lord carrying with it all the manorial rights, petty customs,
Molyneux. and fee-farm rents, was disposed of by Charles I. to the
merchants of London, and by them reconveyed to Lord
Molyneux. After the defeat of the Royalist party, the
Parliament confiscated these dues and rents, and granted
A.D. 1668. them to the corporation. At the Restoration Lord Moly-
neux re-entered into possession of the property.
The domination of a feudal seignor and consequent
control over the trade of the town, was felt to be an
intolerable grievance, especially when the commerce of
the port was giving signs of bursting the narrow limits
within which it had been hitherto confined; and an op-
portunity was anxiously looked for to shake off the
fetters. An occasion was not long in presenting itself.
Lord Molyneux was the owner of a field extending
from the castle ditch to the edge of the pool stream-
forming the site of Lord Street and the buildings on
each side. Through this field extended a foot-path,
leading to the water's edge. Whether the stream had
been previously crossed by a wooden foot-bridge, or
only by a ferry, is uncertain, but the probability is that
no bridge existed. As we see from the Moore Rental,
there seems to have been at this time a great penchant
for laying out land for building, and Caryl Lord Moly-
neux designed a street (the present Lord Street, at first
Lord Molyneux Street) to extend down the middle of
his field. To this no objection could be offered; but in
carrying out his design he prepared to throw a bridge
over the stream to carry the street across to the common
lands beyond, called the Great Heath. These lands were
claimed as the property of the corporation, partly by
ancient grants from the earls and dukes of Lancaster,
and the sovereigns who succeeded to the duchy, and
partly by prescriptive occupation. The erection of the
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
133
6
-
II.
1668.
with Lord
bridge without leave was looked upon as an infringement CHAP.
of the town's rights, and was eagerly seized upon as an
opportunity for trying conclusions with Lord Molyneux,
as to his position with regard to Liverpool. It has been Dispute
generally supposed that he laid claim to the lands be- Molyneux.
yond the pool, and that by the settlement of the dif
ference the mayor and burgesses, that is, the inhabitants,
became the undisputed possessors of upwards of 1,000
acres of building land within the borough." This is
altogether a mistake. There is no evidence on the face
of the documents to show that Lord Molyneux ever laid
claim to a foot of land beyond the pool. The recital in
the deed by which the dispute was ultimately settled,
states that divers variances, suits, controversies, and
debates had of then late been between the said Caryl
Lord Viscount Molyneux, and the said mayor, bailiffs,
and burgesses concerning several claims and demands by
the said lord, within, out of, or from the said town and
borough of Liverpool, or near the same.' These terms
would be strangely limited if intended to apply to a
claim for 1,000 acres of land near a thriving town, but
are perfectly intelligible and consistent if simply alluding
to an assertion of a right of way by building a bridge.
I shall hereafter endeavour to show that the lands
beyond the pool formed no part of the original lordship
or borough of Liverpool, but were included in the
hamlet of Esmedune and the royal park of Toxteth down
to the fourteenth century.
6
ance from
The conveyance from Charles I. to the merchants of Convey-
London, which is the basis of all subsequent deeds, and Charles I.
by which alone Lord Molyneux held, describes the
property as all that our town and lordship of Lither-
pooll, parcel of the honour of Lancaster in the aforesaid
county of Lancaster, with every of their rights, members,
and appurtenances. And all that boat and passage over
the water of Mersey there, and the butchers' shambles in
1 Baines's 'History of the Commerce and Town of Liverpool,' p. 333.
134
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1668.
with Lord
C
the said town of Litherpooll. And also all stallage and
tolls of the markets and fairs, with the perquisites of courts
in Litherpooll aforesaid. And all customs, anchorage,
Dispute and
key-toll of the water of Mersey aforesaid, and within
Molyneux. the aforesaid town or lordship,' &c. The additional
verbiage of all and singular farms, messuages, cottages,
mills, houses, edifices,' &c., are mere words of course
without any specific application. The deed also ex-
pressly reserves to the crown all forests and chaces,
and parks then used and filled with deer, and all knights'
fees,' &c. The idea that 1,000 acres of land would
silently pass under this deed without specific mention is
Resolution
absurd.
6
On March 23, 1668, the following resolution was
of Council. passed by the council: 'It is ordered, that information
is given to the assembly that the Lord Molyneux is
intending to erect a new bridge over some part of the
pool or current from the pool bridge¹ upon the waste or
common of Liverpool, without the leave and consent of
the mayor and burgesses of the town, they and their
predecessors having been time out of memory reputed
and taken to have the rightful seignory of the same
common or waste under his sacred majesty, and accord-
ingly have enjoyed the royalties and privileges inviolate.
to this time; and that, forasmuch as the making of a
bridge upon the town waste, without license of, or com-
position with, the mayor of this town for the time being,
may seem to invade or break in upon the ancient
privileges of this town, it is hereby ordered unanimously,
that if any such attempt shall hereafter be made to lay
any foundation, or to build any part of the same bridge,
the same shall be forthwith obstructed, pulled down, and
laid waste.'
We have no record of any conference or attempt at
conciliation arising out of this order. The next occur-
1 The pool bridge crossed the stream much lower down, about the end of
the present King Street.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
135
rence was an attempt on Lord Molyneux's behalf to
commence the erection of the bridge by laying down 70
yards of planking, probably for the centering of the
stone arch.
CHAP.
II.
1668.
Dispute
with Lord
As soon as they touched ground on the side of the Molyneux.
heath they were repelled vi et armis by the corporation
forces stationed there for the purpose. Recourse was
next had to the law, and on October 9, 1668, a writ was
served upon the corporation. At the spring assizes in
1669, the cause was tried at Lancaster, when Lord A.D. 1669.
Molyneux, failing to set up even a prima facie title, was
nonsuited, and had to pay the costs of the action.
After a little time had elapsed wiser counsels prevailed.
It was so plainly the interest of both parties to come to
an understanding, that we may feel some surprise at the
difference ever existing. There were doubtless deeper
motives than those which appeared on the surface.
A generation of Liverpool merchants was now rising
up, possessed of far more foresight, enterprise, and saga-
city than any who had preceded them, at least since the
time of Ralph Sekerston and Robert Corbett. They
saw their advantage, and eagerly pressed it home. My
Lord Molyneux at the same time no doubt anticipated
considerable difficulty in contending for his seignorial
dues and customs with an united body of traders, whose
shrewdness in the eyes of Edward Moore seemed very
closely allied to knavery and cunning. The burgesses
would give no consent to the building of the bridge,
except on the condition of Lord Molyneux selling them
the lordship with its appendages. It does not appear
that they drove a very hard bargain with him. He had
paid 450l. to the London merchants for the manor, and
was also subject to the fee-farm rent to the Crown of
141. 6s. 8d. per annum.
On April 26, 1671, the town council adopted the A.D. 1671.
following resolution: Whereas suits and controversies
have been stirred up, and some of them yet depending,
136
CHAP.
II.
1671.
Treaty
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
;
on behalf of the corporation of Liverpool of the one part,
and the Lord Molyneux on the other; and whereas of
late it hath been signified to the mayor by some from
with Lord Lord Molyneux, that he is willing to have a treaty with
Molyneux. the said mayor, in order to the accommodation of the said
differences; it is hereby concluded by this assembly that
the said mayor take him to his assistance, Mr. Percival
(the town clerk) to treat with the Lord Molyneux, and
if occasion be, to proceed in order to an accommodation
and conclusion of the said differences, or any of them
and whatever may be done to be binding.' On May 1,
in the same year, further instructions were given to
authorise the mayor, Thomas Johnson (Moore's 'Baly
Johnson'), and Mr. Corless (mayor in 1661) in behalf of
the corporation, to treat with Mr. Fazakerley and Mr. J.
Tatlock on behalf of Lord Molyneux; what they might
agree upon to be binding, as if done by the privity and
consent of the whole assembly; the aforesaid treaty to
be at this town to-morrow at the house of Mrs. Margery
Formby.'
Settlement
of dispute.
6
This important meeting accordingly took place, and
resulted in an agreement, which was reported to the
council on May 15, and ratified by a deed in the follow-
ing year 1672.
The terms were as follows: Lord Molyneux was al-
lowed to proceed with his bridge on payment of a nominal
acknowledgment of twopence per annum.
The corporation to take the lordship with all dues and
customs on a lease for 1,000 years, at the annual rent of
301., relieving Lord Molyneux from the payment to the
Crown of the yearly rent of 14l. 6s. 8d. The burgage
rents and the ferry were not comprised in the lease.
Both parties seem to have been satisfied with their
bargain. Lord Molyneux obtained the privilege of the
bridge, on which he appears to have set his heart, and
got a fair return for his outlay in the purchase of the
manor. To the burgesses it was emancipation from a
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
137
galling yoke and inquisitorial interference. To neither
party was vouchsafed a vision of the splendid future.
The tolls and dues which were leased in 1672 for 301.
per annum were sold in 1856, under parliamentary
sanction, for the sum of 1,500,000l., and produced in
1871 a revenue of above 200,000l. a year.
CHAP.
II.
1672.
box.
Mr. Baines¹ says: 'On the occasion of this treaty, Mrs. Silver
Margery Formby presented the corporation with a silver tobacco-
tobacco-box, which has since been turned into a gigantic
snuff-box, and is still handed round after dinner at the
mayor's banquets at the town-hall.'
I am sorry to spoil so interesting a legend, but truth
compels me to remark that, inasmuch as the treaty took
place in 1671, whilst the tobacco-box bears the following
inscription, evidently original,
THE CORPORATION OF LEVERPOOLE'S BOX, 1690,
without any reference to Mrs. Margery, it is difficult to
discover any connection between the two, more espe-
cially as we find an order in the council proceedings in
the year 1690 for the manufacture of the box in ques-
tion, as under: The two bellied silver cups, weight
11 oz. 15 dr. each, ordered to be made a tobacco-box and
stopper for the town's use, and so to go from mayor to
mayor.'
of rever-
sion.
In order to complete the history of the town dues, Purchase
I may here anticipate by a century in stating that in 1777
the rent and reversion of the lease were purchased for
2,2501. which included the burgage rents and the ferry
previously reserved, thus placing the corporation in the
position of the original grantees of the Crown.
In 1670, the Honourable William Stanley, one of the A.D. 1670.
members of the borough, died. There was considerable Election.
competition as to the election of his successor. A few
years before, Alderman Blackmore had to be paid his
(
1 History of the Town and Commerce of Liverpool,' p. 334.
138
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1670.
Election.
Humphrey
Wharton.
expenses to induce him to serve, but the progress of
the town and the political influences at work, rendered
the seat for Liverpool now an object worth contending
for.
A collection of original documents relating to this
election has been preserved amongst the muniments at
Hale Hall, the ancient seat of the Irelands. They are
such interesting illustrations of the manners and ideas.
of the period, that I make no apology for extracting such
portions as may present to us a faithful picture of a
Liverpool election two hundred years ago.¹
A letter from Mr. Humphrey Wharton, dated Yellow
Ball, Lincoln's Inn Fields, October 25, 1670, addressed to
Sir Gilbert Ireland, Hale, announces that
Yor brother Burgesse for Leverpoole dyed Tuesday last, my
earnest request is yt you will please to lay out yo" interest for
my eldest son-Robert Wharton-in Leverpoole. It is not
proper for mee to recommend him, onely acquaint you yt he
has a general acquaintance of the nobility under 40 years of
age. A great respect at the Middle Temple where has been
neare 4 yeares especially amongst the Benchers, and whilst
continued at Merton Coll. amongst the fellowes where he was
4 yeares, ffor since his age of 14 yeares alwaise frequented
Men's comp and noe way debauched, nor suearer.
I have endeauoured to give him an inspeccon in trade, and
therein has improued very much these 12 mo: last past. You
have heard I presume yt I am a great trader, very few in
England trade more, and I thinke in the best comodity of
England in wch I consume of my own grouth at least 10,000¹i
p' an" for keepe 1,000 men at worke every day.² What you
lay out in treats to yr towne shall bee thankfully repayed,
either by returne, or if you charge a bill on mee
.. &c.
Sir Gilbert, however, did not respond to these ad-
1 The documents are printed at length in the Appendix to the sixth
volume of the Historical Society's Transactions,' in illustration of an in-
teresting paper by the Rev. A. Hume, D.C.L., &c.
2 He does not state what the commodity is; probably he was a large
woollen manufacturer.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
139
vances, and young Wharton was subsequently with-
drawn.
His
CHAP.
Lane.
II.
The candidate favoured by the baronet was Sir George 1670.
Lane of Tulske, county Roscommon, who had filled the Sir George
office of Secretary of State for Ireland, and had distin-
guished himself as a loyalist in the civil wars.
pretensions were endorsed by the Earl of Ancram,
Colonel Alexander Rigby, Sir Geoffery Shakerley, Sir
Roger Bradshaigh, member for the county, who all send
letters in his favour.
A court candidate presented himself in the person of
Mr. Ross, a Scotchman, secretary to the Duke of Mon- Ross.
mouth, who brought credentials from the Countess of
Southampton, and was introduced by the following letter
from the duke, addressed to Sir Gilbert Ireland, dated
October 27 :
mouth's
Sr,-I writt by the last Post to my Lord of Derby on behalfe Duke of
of my Secretary (Mr. Ross) whom I have recommended to bee Mon-
Burgess for Leverpoole, lately vacant by the death of my letter.
cornet Mr. William Stanley, and vnderstanding yt you are the
other Burgess for the Corporacon, I doe very heartily recom-
mend this Person to You, as one of whom I have had long Ex-
perience for his Integrity and capacity to serve yem in Court or
Parlement, in any their Concernes, to wch if they shall thinke
fit to gratify Mee in this particular, I shall contribute my en-
deavours, and on all occasions shall readily shew my acknow-
ledgement in being
Sir, yr affectionate friend,
MONMOUTH.
William
A formidable candidate now came forward, recom- Sir
mended by Colonel John Birch, mentioned in the pre- Bucknell.
ceding pages, and at this time M.P. for Weobley, who
addressed a letter to the mayor (Mr. Thomas Johnson),
from which the following is an extract, October 29,
1670:
As yo business now stands, I have thought of a person,
who if any in England is able to serve you, and beare upp
140
CHAP.
II.
1670.
Letter
from
Colonel
Birch.
Earl of
Derby.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
against opposers; It is Sr William Bucknell. Hee is farmer
of all the Customs and Excise in Ireland, with his partners, but
hee is cheife; likewise farmer of much in England; one who
hath a grate Interest wth ye Kinge, by lending him above one
hundred Thousand pounds (and soe able to serve you) and
give Check-mate to yor Opposers. And yett a true Lover of
Sober Interests wch all Sober men wish well to; And if you be
disappoynted herein, blame mee, and though hee cannot come
and drinke as some others, yett hee shall present you for the
poore with what I shall judge convenient, who you know am
yor owne.
I pray returne mee yor thoughts of this matter as soone as
may bee; wth ye king; as to yor trade wth Ireland, and as to
your present contention about your priviledges, and for yr
future Advancement in all yor Desires, as well as his affection
to a true Sober Interest, none in my oppinnion can bee pitcht
on like him, wherein if hee faile Blame yo' servt
JOHN BIRCH.
The corporation had not yet shaken off their allegiance
to the House of Stanley, for on October 30, we find, from
a letter of Lord Derby to Sir Gilbert Ireland, that the
mayor and some of his brethren had been at Knowsley,
and were, as he says, very earnest with him to put off
anything of a result till they next came thither. He
mentioned to the deputation the Duke of Monmouth's
interest in the success of Mr. Ross, but he says, they
demurred and promised to communicate again. At this
time Colonel Birch's letter had not been received. Sir
Gilbert Ireland replies, November 1:
It seemes ye Liverpoldons attended you not to engage, but
to keepe you uningaged, I did thinke they would have desired
yor LrdPPS proposall of some fitt person for theire Burgesse
and from thence have derived to ymselves a prosperous eleccon,
but I perceive demur is their petition and wt may be yr in-
tention I cannot guesse.
On November 3 a letter comes from Mr. Henry
Ashurst, citizen of London, to the mayor, offering him-
self a candidate. He was of the family of the Lancashire
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
141
Ashursts, nephew of Colonel Ashurst, governor of Liver-
pool under the Parliament in 1646.
A Mr. Dobson of Gray's Inn, a Lancashire man, settled
in London, now comes upon the scene, and thus ex-
presses his indignation:
I cannot but apprehend it to bee an apprt abuse to ye Town
and County yt they should bee soe und valued as to bee thought
unworthy, as yt none of them should bee so able to serve
Burges of Liverpoole as a Brewer in London, who hath not
been thought fitt to bee a Burges where he lives. I'll spare
neither paynes nor purse to prevent this affront intended uppon
our countrey; I have writt to Raphael Hollinshead to goe
speedily to Liverpoole and to take upp all Inns and lodgeings
for out burges and to provide provisions and sufficiency of good
liquor for all.
CHAP.
II
1670.
Dobson.
William
Another candidate was the celebrated Sir William Sir
Temple, who had just returned from his embassy to Temple.
Holland, and had come to a rupture with the court.
His application does not appear to have been received
with much favour. One cause for this may be that he
was supported by Lord Molyneux, whose litigation with
the corporation was then at its height.
The contest evidently lay between Sir George Lane
and Sir William Bucknell. The mayor and council had
been captivated by the golden promises of the London
brewer, but Lord Derby's influence was of great im-
portance.
On November 6 a deputation went over to Knowsley
by appointment, when the matter was arranged, for
in a letter from the town clerk to Sir Gilbert Ire-
land, the writer says, the Lord of Darby useth much
meanes for ST Bucknell and hee himself leaves noe
stone unturned.’
On November 16 Lord Derby formally declares for
'Sir Bucknell' in the following letter addressed to the
corporation :
142
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1670.
Letter
from
Lord
Derby.
Sir John
Langham.
Gentlemen,-Because I ought to seeke ye accomplishment
of his Ma. Seruise & yn the good of your Towne I must make
you this adress Concerninge ye Ensuinge Ellection for a Bur-
gesse to Succeed my dear deceased Bro: theise two last
post I am assured ye Duke of Monmouth hath comanded Mr.
Rosse to desist, and in his roome by his Ma: ord" is now for
Sr William Bucknell. I must bee for ye same person both by
duty and inclination, in ye place of Mr. Rosse, & therefore I
doe recomend Sr William Bucknell to you as a person very
fitt to serue the Corporation both by his interest at Court and
his owne Abilitys, & soe I bid you very heartily farewell.
Yr lou. freind
<
Knowsley, 16 No. 1670.
DERBY.
On
The chancellor of the duchy also sent a recommen-
dation in favour of the London knight, on the plea that
his predecessors in office had interfered in like manner,
'which, if not true,' says Mr. Dobson, he may hear of
from some members of the House of Commons.'
November 24, it is announced in a letter from London,
that Sir John Langham, Bart., a friend of Bucknell's, had
set out for Liverpool with a coach and six, resolved to
spend 5001. before his return,' whereupon the writer
slyly adds, 'You may doe well to hint it to the mayor
that it may availe much for the benefit of the towne to
put off their eleccon for some tyme, for I doubt not but
he and the presbyter (Mr. Ashurst) will both of them
prove very generous in their treates before the elecon.'
Sir John was not long in opening the campaign, for
on December 3, Sir Gilbert Ireland writes: "I sent Tom
Cooke this morning early to Leverpoole, to understand
how affaires stood theare as to yº eleccon; who brings
me word that S Buck is att Liverpoole with his retinue
very sumptuously and generously feasting and treating
all ye inhabitants yt please to accept it, having for yt
purpose taken up several Inns for their wellcom.
r
Sir Gilbert Ireland, finding his friend Sir George Lane
rather thrown into the shade by the brilliant promises
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
143
II.
of the London brewer and his friends, became rather CHAP.
annoyed, and addressed the following letter to the mayor
and aldermen :
1670.
Gilbert
Gentlemen, I pray goe imediately with this Letter to the Sir
Mayor. Itt is from his Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke, Ireland's
Lord High Admirall of England, who well knoweing you to bee letter.
a Maritime Towne has Comanded this Letter to bee delivered
you, tho itt come late to my hands this afternoon I durst not
but cause itt to be conveyed to you with all hast possable; you
may see my former earnestnes for ye Gent. moved to you has
not beene without an vnderstanding of his Highnesses pleasure
therein. And tho my success for that has been very Bad, yet
I pray Gent. make me not wholely an insignificant fellow wth
you in being made a perpetuall Slave to ye Insolent Impositions
of ye Burches, and alsoe very Rediculous to all persons els yt
know mee who (not wth standing my former expences of so
much tyme and moneys) shall now behold me stand affronted
by ye towne, both in my first and second propositions to you
on this election. I thinke it may not bee amiss that Mr.
Mayor acquant my Lord of Darby wth the inclosed att their
meeting wch by my present weaknes I doubt I shall not be
able to attend.
In the mean tyme I rest
Your loving friend and servant
G. I.
Whatever chances Sir George Lane might have pre- Election.
viously had, they were destroyed by this letter. The
election did not turn on party politics, for both Lane
and Bucknell were supported by Cavalier and Roundhead
indiscriminately, Rigby and Bradshaigh supporting the
former, and Lord Derby and Colonel Birch the latter;
but the open attempt at interference by the Duke of
York, an avowed Papist, viewed with suspicion and
dislike by the nation, put the coup de grâce to Lane's
pretensions.
We naturally enquire, in the midst of all this bustle Edward
and contention, where was Edward Moore, the great Moore.
144
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1670.
Notice of
election.
Freemen
or bur-
gesses.
landholder in the borough, who, as he himself tells us in
his Rental,' was burning to represent the town in
Parliament as his father had done before him? The
fact was, his greed and litigiousness had made him very
unpopular. The mean opinion he has privately recorded
of Baly' Johnson and the other dignitaries of the town
could not but exhibit itself in his intercouse with them.
and would have rendered any attempt on his part to
offer himself perfectly futile.
The only reference to Moore is in a letter from Per-
civall, the town clerk, to Sir Gilbert Ireland, dated Novem-
ber 4, 1670, where he says, 'they report here that the
Lord of Colchester came to Sir Bucknell to Bank Hall,
or met him there and ofred him the lord Mulinex Helpe
or Interest.' From this it would seem that Sir Buck-
nell' was Moore's guest at Bank Hall.
C
The following was the notice issued previous to the
election :
Notice to all freemen to appeare at ye Election at Li'poole.
This is to give notice yt ye Elecon of a Burgess for parlia-
ment is to bee at Liverpoole uppon ffryday next by 9 of ye Clock
forenoone, being ye ninth day of this month (December 1670)
wheare all ye freemen of ye sayd Corporacon are desired to
give their presence for ye good of their countrie if they please.
Such as come are desired to repayre unto y House of
Margery forneby's, widow, Watergate Street, or att Elizabeth
Ryding's Widdow in Dale Street.
Amongst the names on the list of freemen we find
that of Colonel Thomas Birch, the veteran Parliamentary
governor of Liverpool in 1644, and its representative in
three parliaments.
It will be seen that the term 'burgess' has been
dropped in the notice as applicable to the electors. This
is very significant, indicating that the old franchise by
burgage tenure had now become obsolete, the place of
the burgesses being supplied by the 'freemen,' who were
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
145
II.
admitted to the privilege of freedom from tolls, by birth, CHAP.
servitude, or payment of a fine.
Whether a poll took place we are not informed, but
Sir William Bucknell was elected, and continued to serve
until his decease in 1676.
1670.
Bucknell
returned.
house.
Amongst the papers thus brought to light there is a Light-
correspondence respecting the erection of lighthouses on
the neighbouring coast, which exhibits, in a strong point
of view, the prejudices of the period. The subject was
then new to the public, and notwithstanding the dan-
gerous nature of the coasts, scarcely any attempts had
been made in England to provide for the safety of the
mariner by the erection of beacons.
One of the earliest erections was a lighthouse at Ply-
mouth in 1665. At this period almost every proposal
was made the subject of royal grants and monopolies.
In the year 1670 a Mr. Reading had applied for a patent
to empower him to erect lighthouses on the western
coast-where, it is not stated-and of course to levy a
toll for their maintenance. The mayor and corporation of
Liverpool took the alarm and addressed a letter to their
representative, Sir Gilbert Ireland, which runs as follows:
from cor-
poration.
Sir,-Yesterday we received a copie of the Ordr inclosed, Letter
wherein you will understand what day the Committee for
Grievances will meet to Consider of Reading's Pattent for Light
Houses. Therefore wee make it our humble request to you, That
on behalf of this Burrough you will be pleased to appeare on
Parliamt at or before that tyme. In regard those light houses
will be no benefit to our Mariners, but a hurt, & Expose them
to more danger, if trust to them and also to be a very great
& unnecessary burden & charge to them. Wee ar Sr,
Yor most humble servants,
Liverpoole, 5th Jan. 1670.
VOL. I.
THO. JOHNSON (Mayor),
THOS. AYNDOE (Mayor in 1655),
HENRY CORLESS (Mayor in 1661),
JOHN STURZAKER,
THOMAS BICKERSTETH (Mayor in 1669).
L
146
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1670.
Order of
Parlia-
ment.
River
Weaver.
The order of Parliament enclosed was the following:
Lune 19° die Decembris, 1670.
Ordered, That the Committee of Grievances doe sitt vpon
Wednesday moneth next, and doe examine the matter of
Grievance formerly Complayned of against Mr. Reading and
others by peticon referred to the said Committee. And that
Mr. Readinge doe cause notice to be sent to the Parties con-
cerned.
WILLIAM GOLDSBorough,
Cler. Dom. Com.
This is A true Coppy of ye oridginall order.
As we hear no more of this scheme it would appear
that the opposition to it proved effectual.
It was not until nearly a century after that the mer-
chants of Liverpool were sufficiently alive to their own
interests to promote an Act (7 Geo. III. c. 86, 1762),
under which the lighthouses on the Cheshire coast were
erected.
We find in the same correspondence, under date of
December 28, 1670, the first intimation of a proposition
to improve the navigation of the River Weaver, which is
very remarkable as indicating the rapid growth of the
trade of Liverpool, so recent in its revival. It is con-
tained in a letter from Mr. R. Legh of Lyme, member for
Cheshire, to Sir Gilbert Ireland:
S",-By the last post from London I recd seuerall letters
that doe acquaint me, The Earle Riuers, the La Gerard, &
Sr Foulk Lucy (being all vndertakers) have brought in a Bill
into the house to make Weeuor nauigable; I doe not heare itt
goes further than soe, & Tom Cholmondeley is a straunger
to itt; & I doe assure you soe am I too, being resolu'd to
keepe my engagement to you; & therefore I thought good
to give you this account, not knowing how farr that act does
reach, nor whether it concerne you.
Whether the Act was passed I do not know, but
nothing was done for the next fifty years, when the
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
147
scheme was carried out under the 7 Geo. I. c. 10, 1721,
supplemented by subsequent legislation.
CHAP.
II.
1669.
George
Under the date of 1669, the founder of Quakerism,
George Fox, has an entry in his journal: 'We landed at F
Liverpool, and went to the mayor's house, it being an
inn.' This has been assumed to be a mistake, as during
the year mentioned the civic chair was filled in the early
part by William, Lord Strange, and in the latter part by
Mr. Thomas Bicksteth, or Bickersteth, a great merchant.
The old Quaker, however, was perfectly correct. There
stood in Dale Street at the corner of Hale Street a
venerable-looking hostelry, rejoicing in the sign of the
Hammer and Anvil, which went by the name of The
Mayor's House' from a tradition that in the primitive
times a quondam chief magistrate had resided there, who
paved the street in front with his own hands.
6
6
account,
In 1673, Richard Blome published his 'Magna Britan- A.D. 1673.
nia,' containing a description of the principal towns in Blome's
the kingdom. After the usual account of the port and
harbour, and of the municipality, he mentions the thriv-
ing and prosperous condition of the town: It is of late, at
the great charge and industry of the family of the Mores
of Bank Hall, beautified with many goodly buildings,
all of hewn stone, much to the honour and advancement
of the said town; which family of the Mores, for some
hundred of years, have had a large propriety therein, and
at present continue chief lords and owners of the greatest
share thereof, having divers streets that bear their name,
intirely of their inheritance; which hath so enlarged the
town, that its church is not enough to hold its inhabitants,
which are many; amongst which are divers eminent mer-
chants and tradesmen, whose trade and traffick, espe-
cially into the West Indies, makes it famous; its scituation
affording in greater plenty, and at reasonable rates, than
most parts of England, such exported commodities proper
for the West Indies; as likewise a quicker return for such
imported commodities, by reason of the sugar bakers, and
L 2
148
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1673.
Blome's
descrip-
tion.
A.D. 1675.
Election.
6
great manufactures of cottens¹ in the adjacent parts, and
the rather for that it is found to be the convenientest
passage to Ireland, and divers considerable counties in
England with which they have intercourse of traffick.
Here is now erecting at the publick charge of the mayor,
aldermen, &c., a famous town house, placed on pillars
and arches of hewen stone, and underneath is the publick
exchange for the merchants. It hath a very considerable
market on Saturdays for all sorts of provisions, and
divers commodities which are bought by the merchants,
and thence transported as aforesaid.' After describing
the castle, the tower, and the old hall, he mentions
that on the east side is an ancient mansion house, called
Cross-hall, where divers worthy gentlemen of that name
have lived for many generations. Here is also a great
piece of antiquity formerly a chapel, now a free school;
at the west end whereof next the river, stood the statue
of St. Nicholas, long since defaced and gone, to whom
the mariners offered when they went to sea. And to add
to the honour of the town there hath been several mayors
of the greatest families of this country; amongst which
were divers of the earls of Derby, whereof one was
high constable of England, one lieutenant deputy of Ire-
land, four privy counsellors, and several of them knights
of the garter; and since his majesties restauration for
three years together a nobleman hath been mayor, viz.
Charles, Earl of Derby, Lord Viscount Colchester,² and
William Lord Strange of Knocking.'
In 1675 died Sir Gilbert Ireland, who had represented
the borough from the time of Richard Cromwell's Parlia-
ment in 1658. The constituency elected in his stead
William Bankes, Esq., of Winstanley Hall, for no reason,
as it would seem, except that he had married the aunt of
1 The Lancashire 'cottens' here mentioned were in reality coarse woollen
fabrics, the word being probably a corruption of 'coatings'; the real cotton
manufacture scarcely existed until the close of the century.
2 Thomas, Lord Colchester, married Lady Charlotte, daughter of Charles,
eighth Earl of Derby.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
149
the late member. He was ninety-one years of age at the
time of his election, and he died the following year. Sir
William Bucknell died about the same time. Two writs
were issued on February 16, 1676, but no record is extant
of the names of the members returned.
CHAP.
II.
1675.
The next transaction which comes under our notice is Charter of
Charles II.
enveloped in considerable mystery, all the documents
connected with it having disappeared. Those of my
readers who may take an interest in municipal history
will have remarked that in none of the charters hitherto
granted is any provision made for the election of a town
council. The style of the corporation was the 'mayor,
bailiffs, and burgesses,' the governing power residing in
the whole body, who could of course make any subordi-
nate arrangements they pleased as to the administration.
I have already mentioned the attempt in the reign of
Elizabeth (1584) to appoint a council of twenty-four
members, with power to fill up vacancies in their own
body, so as to secure a perpetual succession. This was
altogether illegal, and could not bind those burgesses who
had been no parties to the scheme.
6
In the charter of Charles I. (1626), as has been stated
above, a common council is never once alluded to; all
the powers, jurisdictions, and franchises are to be exer-
cised by the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the
town aforesaid, for the time being, or the greater part of
them (of whom the said mayor, and one of the bailiffs of
the town aforesaid for the time being, we will to be two),
who upon public notice thereof given for that purpose,
assembled, may and shall have power and authority of
granting, constituting, ordaining, and making, from time
to time, any reasonable laws, statutes, constitutions, de-
crees, and ordinances, in writing, which to them, or the
greater part of them, shall seem to be good, wholesome,
useful, honest, and necessary, according to their sound
judgment, for the good rule and government of the town
aforesaid."
150
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1677.
Charles II.
From the subsequent proceedings there can be no
doubt that in spite of the liberal provisions of this charter,
the exclusive system which had surreptitiously crept in
Charter of still continued to be practised.
When the Test and
Corporation Act was passed, after the Restoration, and
when six of the aldermen were excluded from office in
1662 for refusing to subscribe to the declaration under
the Act, very naturally discontent, especially amongst
the Puritan and Nonconformist party, would widely pre-
vail. The party in power, therefore, secretly concocted
a plan to obtain a charter from the Crown, changing the
constitution of the corporation, and legalising the usurped
power of the self-elected council. This was in 1677,
when in the words of the charter of 1695, in which the
facts are recited a few of the burgesses of the town
aforesaid, by a combination among themselves, without
the assent of the greater part of the burgesses of the
same town, and without a surrender of the before-
recited charter, or any judgment of quo warranto, or
otherwise, given against the same, have procured a new
charter, under the seal of the County Palatine of Lan-
caster, to be granted to the town aforesaid, bearing date
the eighth day of July, in the 29th year of the reign of
the late King Charles II., in which sundry material
changes were designed to be made in the government of
the said town; which said alterations have caused many
differences and doubts concerning the liberties, franchises,
and customs of the town aforesaid; and also concerning
the election and appointment of the mayor, and divers
other officers of the same town.' A new charter was
thus obtained, which superseded the liberal constitution.
of the previous one, appointing a council of sixty mem-
bers, who were to elect their successors, to choose the
mayor and bailiffs, and to have the sole power of admit-
ting to the freedom of the town. The new council even
went further than this, and assumed the power of taxing
the inhabitants at their will and pleasure.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
151
When the success of this manoeuvre became known,
great discontent was expressed in the town. The bur-
gesses at large protested against it, and many of the coun-
cillors appointed under the charter refused to serve.
During the corrupt and disastrous closing years of Charles
II. redress was very difficult to obtain, and the new
charter maintained its authority until superseded by the
proceedings in the next reign.
CHAP.
II.
1677.
In 1678 died Edward Moore, of Bank Hall, who had A.D. 1678.
been made a baronet three years previously. He was
succeeded by his son, Sir Cleave Moore, to whom I shall
have occasion again to refer.
On January 24, 1679, the Long Parliament of Charles A.D. 1679.
II., which had existed for sixteen years, was dissolved Election.
by proclamation, and a new Parliament immediately
convened. Party spirit ran high. The court candidates
were Sir Ralph Assheton, Bart., of Whalley, of a col-
lateral branch of the great house of the Asshetons of
Middleton, and Richard Atherton, a Liverpool merchant,
afterwards knighted, who filled the civic chair in 1684,
and who gave his name to Atherton Street.
The Whig candidates were Richard Wentworth, a con-
nection of the Earl of Derby-William Wentworth, se-
cond Earl of Strafford, having married Lord Derby's aunt
Henriette Marie-and John Dubois, who stood for sheriff
of London in 1682. The court candidates were returned,
but a petition was presented against the return by Edward Petition.
Moore, when the election was declared null and void, Members
and the opposition candidates pronounced duly elected. unseated.
There was at this time much contention for the su-
premacy in the town's affairs, which had an important
bearing on the state of political parties. Lord Derby, to
maintain his influence, had to court favour with the
usurping council, who obtained their power under the
charter then just obtained. He filled the civic chair in
the year 1677-8.
152
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1682.
Duke of
Mon-
mouth.
A.D. 1683.
Address to
To the Parliament summoned in 1681 Wentworth
and Dubois were again elected.
In 1682, the Duke of Monmouth visited Liverpool,
when he attended the races held on Wallasey Leasowe,
then belonging to the Earl of Derby, and it is said was
himself a rider and won one of the stakes. There can
be no doubt that his visit had a political object. The
Lancashire Roman Catholics, on the one hand, were con-
sidered dangerous, and the support of the Presbyterians,
who mustered strong in this part of the country, was
eagerly sought on behalf of the Protestant succession.
In 1683, after the discovery of the Rye House Plot,
and the execution of Sidney and Russell, the corporation
of Liverpool, or rather the party which had illegally
usurped its functions, presented a loyal address to the
king, of which the following is a copy :
The humble addresse of the mayor, aldermen, and common
Charles II. council of your majestie's ancient borrough and port of Lever-
poole, in the countie of Lancaster.
Dread soveraigne,-Altho' wee live in one of those remote
counties wch enioye not the happinesse of your maties presence,
yet are wee not deprived of the benigne influence of that
gentle and auspicious government, wh at once shows your
matie to bee the best of princes, and of men. And therefore,
wee cannot but expresse our early and just abhorrence of those
trayterous and unparallelled designes wth were intended at the
same time to destroy your maties royal person and your dearest
brother, and carried on by a factious and restless sort of men,
who cannot endure prerogative, because it secures the propertie
of your maties good subjects, over whom they would tyrannize
as formerly they have done. A sort of men whose infectious
anti-monarchical principles are enough to empoyson all that
are not sufficiently prepared with the infallible antidote of
loyaltie. But wee hope that this repeated instance of God's
signal providence will convince us all that your matie is re-
served to bee the scourge of rebells & traytors, & that the
councells of your faithful Hushais shall ever prevail agst the
united force of all aspiringe Absoloms & the desperate advise
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
153
СНАР.
II.
1683.
of all pestilent Achitophells. And now, great sir, what more
remaines but that wee render our unfeined thanckes to Al-
mightie God for his gratious and wonderfull deliverance of
your maties sacred person & your royall brother from the Address to
sonnes of violence. And to assure your matie that wee shall Charles II.
be alwaies readie to defend your maties royal person, your
heires, and successors in the right line, the present established
government, both in church & state, with the utmost of our
fortunes and the extremitie of our lives against all plotts,
associations, and conspiracies whatsoever.
12th July, 1683.
6
EDWARD TARLETON, Mayor.
Perhaps the simulated form of adulation was never
carried further than in this precious document, eulo-
gising the gentle and auspicious government' which
had just immolated two of England's noblest sons, and
characterising the profligate debauchee, Charles II., as
the best of princes and of men.' The allusions to
Hushai, Absolom, and Achitophel indicate the popu-
larity of Dryden's famous poem, which had been pub-
lished about eighteen months previously.
James II. succeeded to the throne on February 6, A.D. 1685.
1685; not long afterwards a demand was made by
Judge Jeffries for the surrender of the charter granted
by Charles II. Richard Atherton who had been elected
member on the court interest in 1678, but unseated on
petition, had been knighted by the king and was now
mayor of Liverpool, having his residence at Bewsey
Hall, Warrington, where Jeffries was his guest. A de- Charter
putation of sixteen members of the council including the surren-
town clerk attended at Bewsey and delivered up the to Judge
charter to the judge. On April 8, they were ordered
again to attend, when they were hospitably entertained
by the mayor, and graciously received by Jeffries, who
presented them with a new charter. This was distasteful
to the council on two grounds. In the first place it
restored all the privileges of the burgesses, which had
dered
Jeffries
154
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1685.
Election.
Penal laws
James II.
been handed over to the self-elected council by the
charter of Charles II.; and, in the second place, it made
all the corporate officers removable at the will and plea-
sure of the Crown. The council took no steps to put
the new charter in force, and so far as they were con-
cerned it remained a dead letter.
In the election of burgesses to the new Parliament
convoked in 1685, the influence of the Crown so far pre-
vailed as to secure the return of two members of the
court party, Sir Richard Atherton, Knt., recently mayor,
and Thomas Legh, one of the Leghs of Haydock and
Lyme, whose name is attached to the fulsome address to
Charles II. in 1683.
The conduct of James II. in relaxing the penal laws
against the Roman Catholics under pretence of sanction-
ing religious liberty to all parties, was not looked upon
with favour by the Nonconformists, who were disposed
to say with the Trojan Laocoon
Quicquid est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.
The newly-assumed liberality of the king was dis-
relaxed by trusted and his indulgences rejected. An instance of this
dispensing power occurred in Liverpool in 1686. Mr.
Richard Lathom was a surgeon in the town, and a board-
ing-school was kept by his wife. At this time it was a
penal offence for a school to be openly kept by a Roman
Catholic. Mrs. Lathom appears to have been persecuted
by the local authorities, whereupon the following writ
was issued under the sign manual, addressed—
Letter
from
James II.
To all the archbishops and bishops, "and to their chancellors
and commissaries, and to all other persons exercising eccle-
siastical jurisdiction, and to the custos rotulorum, judges of
assize and gaol delivery, justices of the peace for our county
of Lancaster, and to all other officers and persons whom it
may concern.
James Rex, 15th March. Whereas we are informed that
Richard Lathom, of Leverpoole, in our countie of Lancaster,
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
155
II.
1686.
James II.
chirurgeon, and Judith his wife, who keepes alsoe a boarding CHAP.
schoole for the education of youth, at Leverpoole aforesaid,
have latelie been molested or prosecuted or threatened to be soe
for or in respect of their exercising the said severall vocations Letter
without license, or by reason of their religion, being Roman from
Catholics. Now wee being assured of the loialtie of the said
Rd. Lathom & Judith his wife, & of their abilitie to exer-
cise their respective vocations, we doe hereby authorize and
license them to use and exercise the same respectively; and
our pleasure is, and we doe hereby direct you, and everie
of you respectively, to supersead and forbeare ali prosecution
against the said Rd. Lathom and Judith his wife, for or
by reason of his exercising the art of chirurgerie, or of his or
their keepinge a boarding schoole, or socouring, teaching, or
educatinge youth; and if anie sentence is or hath bene given
or pronounced, or penalty recovered against, or fine sett upon
him or her, for, or touching the premises, our pleasure is,
that the same be discharged, and that you permit and suffer
ye sd Richard Lathom and Judith his wife, and each of them
quietlie to exercise the said severall vocations without anie
molestation or disturbance whatsoever, and for soe doing this,
or the entire or inrolment thereof, wth or before you respec-
tivelie shall bee unto you and everie of you respectivelie a
sufficient warrant. Given att our Court at Whitehall ye fifteenth
day of March in the second yeare of our raigne. By his maties
command,
SUNDERLAND.
The Liverpool corporation, notwithstanding their adu-
latory worship of royalty, proved somewhat refractory,
for we find that the power reserved by the Crown under
the recent charter of removing the corporate officers at
pleasure, was now put into operation, as appears by the
following minute:
At a court held at Windsor the 14th Aug. 1687, the A.D. 1687.
king's most excellent majesty present in council. Whereas Ejection of
by the charter granted to the town of Leverpoole, a mayor and
deputy
power is reserved to his majesty by his order in council others.
to remove from their employments any officers in the
town; and his majesty having received information of
156
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1687.
the misbehaviour of Oliver Lyme, deputy mayor of Liver-
pool, and Sylvester Richmond, justice of the peace there,
hath thought fit this day in council to declare his plea-
Ejection of sure and doth accordingly that the said Oliver Lyme
mayor and and Sylvester Richmond be, and they are hereby re-
moved and displaced from their respective offices in the
town of Liverpool.'
deputy
others.
Order
from
James II.
Oliver Lyme was mayor in 1685, but nothing further
is known of his history. Sylvester Richmond was a
member of an old Liverpool family. He filled the civic
chair in 1672. In 1692 he contributed 100l. to the
erection of almshouses in Shaws-Brow. His descendants
have been connected with the town down to a recent
period.
The particular offence which had excited the anger of
the king is not stated. It was probably resistance to the
dispensing power assumed by the Crown.
In the same year, soon after the removal from office
of the obnoxious members of the council, the king, in
view of summoning another Parliament, issued the follow-
lowing order to the Lord Lieutenant of the county of
Lancaster:
A true coppie of his maiestie's order 2nd Novemb³, 1687.
That the lord-lievetenant of the countie of Lancaster call
before him all deputie-lievetenants and justices of the peace
within his lievetenancie, either ioyntlie or separatelie as hee
shall thinke fitt, and aske them one by one the following
questions:
1. If in case hee shall bee chosen knight of the shire or
burgesse of a towne, when the king shall thinke fitt to call a
parliament, whether hee will bee for taking off the penall
lawes and the tests?
2. Whether hee will assist and contribute to the election
of such members as shalbee for taking off the penall lawes
and test?
3. Whether hee will support the king's declaration for
libertie of conscience, by living friendlie with those of all
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
157
perswasions, as subiects of the same prince and good Christians
ought to do?
That as hee shall aske theise questions of all deputie-
lievetenants and justices of the peace, soe hee shall perticulerlie
write downe whatsoevre ones answer is, whether he consents,
refuseth, or is doubtfull.
That hee likewise doe bring the king as good account as
hee can of all the several corporations within his lievetenancie,
what persons (of such as are willing to complie with these
measures) have credit enough of their owne to bee chosen
parliament men, or may bee chosen if assisted by their friends.
And lastlie, what Catholicks, and what dissentrs are fitt to
be added either to the list of deputie-lievetenants, or to the
commission of the peace throughout the said lievetenancie.
These enquiries were forwarded to Liverpool as well as
the other towns in the county. The reply of the mayor,
Mr. Peter Bold, was guarded and judicious. It ran as
follows:
CHAP.
II.
1687.
Mr. Maior's answer to the second question (wch was only Mayor's
insisted on) is, that what is required by his maiestie is, as hee reply.
humblie conceaves, a verie weightie and new thing, and that
hee is not provided to give any other answer but this: When
it shall please the king to call a parliament, hee purposes to
vote for such persons as hee hopes will serve the iust interests
bothe of his maiestie and the nation.
Next came the momentous events of 1688, the decla- A.D. 1688.
ration of indulgence, the trial of the bishops, the pre-
parations of the Prince of Orange to invade England.
The common council, not knowing what event might next
turn up, like prudent citizens passed the following reso-
lution :
council.
Att a comon councell assembled 12th September it Resolu
was ordered nemine contradicente, with all submission tion of
and humble deference to the power of removing anie
officer in this corporation, that James Prescott, esquire,
maior for the time being, shall safely keepe the wand,
mace, and sword, with all other the reall and personall
158
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1688.
Circular of
William
III.
Election.
estate of this corporation, and all that concerns the same
for the defence of its rights, wherewith hee is now en-
trusted, but iff a successor bee legally elected and sworne
according to our present charter, and the auncient
customs of this corporation.'
The subsequent flight of King James and the con-
sequent interregnum justified the prudential conduct of
the corporation on this occasion.
On December 29, 1688, the circular of the Prince of
Orange was received by the corporation, requiring them
to send two members to the convention parliament sum-
moned to meet at Westminster on January 22, 1689.
• The election to be made by such persons onely as
according to the auncient laws and customes of right,
ought to choose members for parliament.' The revul-
sion of feeling in the nation was too great to afford any
chance of re-election to such hangers-on of the court as
Sir Richard Atherton and Thomas Legh.
6
The return to the writ is as follows:
Wee, the maior, baylives and burgesses of ye burrough
of Leverpoole, in the countie palatine of Lancaster, doe
humblie certifie, that pursuant to his highnesses letter
hereunto annexed, wee have this day unanimouslie
elected the honble Richard lord Colchester and Thomas
Norris of Speake, esquire, representatives for the said
burrough of Leverpoole, to sitt in the convention wch God
willing, will begin at Westminster the two and twentieth
day of Januarie instant for the good ends and purposes
in the said letter contained. In testimonie whereof wee
have hereunto affixed the common seale of the said
burrough and subscribed our hands, the eleventh day of
Januarie in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six
hundred eighty eight ¹ (1689).'
1
Although the election was uncontested, it was not
altogether a 'dry' one. The system of treating, for which
Liverpool afterwards became so notorious, had already
1 It must be remembered that the civil year began on March 25.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
159
CHAP.
II.
been initiated, although on a comparatively modest scale.
I have before me the bill of expenses incurred by the
candidates. It consists partly of donations: 10l. to the 1689.
poor and 271. to various persons principally described Election
as widows. The bill for refreshment is as follows:
29 ordinaries
Dineing Room
Rose and Crown 24
In the Rose
13
In the Mermaide 18
In the Unicorne 10
In the Parlour
12
In the Kitchin
23
In the Boxes
17
In the Crowne
15
In the Bell
11
دو
وو
وو
وو
دو
وو
وو
وو
وو
F
S. d.
0
19
1 4 0
0 7 6
090
050
06 0
0 13 6
0 7 6
expenses.
In Claret, Sack, Ale, Tobacco, &c.
Since the Bill was made .
The Ostler's Bill
To the Servants
0 7
6
0 5
6
24 2
10
£29 17 4
0
15 10
0
15 10
0 7 0
£31 16 0
Richard, Lord Colchester, was the surviving brother of Lord Col-
Thomas, Lord Colchester, who had filled the civic chair chester,
in 1667 and married a daughter of Lord Derby. Richard
succeeded his father as Earl Rivers in 1694. He was a
friend of Swift, a soldier by profession, and a handsome
rake. He died in 1712.
Norris.
Thomas Norris, the other member, was the repre- Thomas
sentative of the ancient family of Norris or Norreys of
Speke, where they settled at a very early period. There
is no mention of their name in connection with Liverpool
during the medieval times; but at the latter end of the
seventeenth and commencement of the eighteenth cen-
tury, several members of the family were very intimately
connected with the town's affairs, and will come under
160
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1690.
Election.
William
III. visits
our notice in the subsequent pages. Both the new
members were Whigs, and Norris seems to have taken an
active part in the parliamentary proceedings.
The convention parliament was dissolved in January,
1690, and in March a new parliament was elected, to
which Lord Colchester and Thomas Norris were again
returned.
In 1690 Liverpool had the honour of a royal visit.
Liverpool. King William III., attended by Prince George of Den-
mark, the Duke of Ormond, and others of the nobility,
left London on June 4th, arrived at Liverpool on the
11th. His
His army destined for Ireland was already en-
camped on Wallasey Leasowe, whence it was embarked
at Hoylake, the king accompanying. He landed at
Carrickfergus on the 14th, and fought the battle of the
Boyne four weeks afterwards.
Levy.
Proclama-
tion.
In June 1690 a levy was made of men and horses
towards recruiting the army, when the following pro-
clamation was issued in Liverpool. It should be ex-
plained that William, ninth Earl of Derby, was dismissed
from his office as Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire in 1687,
and Lord Molyneux appointed in his place. After the
revolution the latter was in his turn dismissed both from
the lord lieutenancy and from the constableship of the
castle of Liverpool, which had been hereditary in the
Molyneux family for many generations. To these offices,
passing over Lord Derby, the Government appointed
Lord Gerard of Brandon, son to the Earl of Macclesfield,
whom he soon after succeeded.
Liverpolle in 1
}
By Command of the Right Honourable
Count: Lancae Charles, Lord Brandon Gerard, Lord Lieutt
of the said County, We require you to warn all the persons
mentioned in a List hereunto annexed to appear with a very
strong Man and Horse of about Thirteen pounds price, with a
good case of Pistolls (all other things being provided for them)
att Ormskirk the fifteenth day of this instant June, at eleaven
of the clocke the same day. And every of them is to bring
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
161
fower days' pay, and a proportion of ammcon as the Law
directs; and you the said Constable are to be then and there
present to make appear what you have done in Execucion
hereof. No person concerned herein is to faile att his pill.
Given under our Hands and seales the third day of June
Anno Regni Gulielmi et Mariæ Angl. Rex et Regina [sic]
tertio, annoque Domini 1691.
To the Constable.
CHAP.
II.
1691.
mayor.
One of the first acts of the council after the accession Restora-
of William III. was to restore Oliver Lyme and Silvester tion of
Richmond to the offices from which they had been ille-
gally dismissed in 1687.
revolution.
The revolution of 1688 gave an entire new turn to Effects of
the principles on which the country was henceforth to be
governed. The Stuarts had treated the kingly office as
a nobleman would his estate, to be managed for his own
exclusive benefit; the axiom was now established that
the Crown was a trust to be administered in the interest
of the nation at large. The Habeas Corpus Act and the
Bill of Rights, the two pillars on which the fabric of our
Constitution mainly reposes, securing personal liberty on
the one hand, and the rights of property on the other,
were the work of this period.
Although the first of these measures was passed in the
reign of Charles II., yet it was under the same influences
and principally the act of the same men by whom the
revolution was subsequently carried out, and was the
result of the conclusions at which all reasonable men had
arrived after the turbulent contentions between Charles I.
and the Parliament. The same principles of responsi-
bility were now sought to be applied to the municipa-
lities, and a struggle ensued in Liverpool as elsewhere to
carry them into practice. The charter of Charles II.
which constituted the council an exclusive self-elected
body had been a source of discontent from the time of its
surreptitious grant; that of James II. had been cast
aside by common consent.
VOL. I.
M
..
162
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1694.
Political
parties.
Election.
Mis-
conduct
of the
mayor.
The Jacobites, who were as far as possible supported
by Lord Molyneux, naturally upheld the existing charter,
whilst the majority of the burgesses were anxious to
obtain a new one on broader and more liberal principles.
The first trial of strength took place in December 1694,
upon the election of a member to succeed Lord Col-
chester, who had been called to the upper house on the
death of his father, Earl Rivers. There were two can-
didates, Jasper Maudit on the liberal interest, and Thomas
Bretherton on the Jacobite side.
Maudit had been an attorney in the town and appears
to have taken an active part in local affairs and to have
acquired considerable influence. He was elected mayor
in 1693, and had just completed his term of office.
Bretherton was possessed of landed property at Winwick
near Newton. He was a determined Jacobite and an
active man in county affairs. He was returned for the
borough of Newton in 1695, and is mentioned as taking
an interest in the scheme for improving the navigation
of the Upper Mersey and Irwell in 1697. The election
came off on December 4, when Maudit polled 400 votes
and Bretherton 15.
The mayor, Alexander Norris,¹ perversely, as the
record says, 'to gratifie some persone,' returned Bre-
therton as duly elected, who thereupon took his seat.
Maudit petitioned against the return, and was heard at
the bar of the House on January 11, 1695, when it was
unanimously resolved that Bretherton's election was null
and void, and Maudit was voted in his place. The
record goes on to say that 'the said Alexand' Norres, for
his false returne was, by the parliamt comitted to the
custodie of ye Sargeant-at-arms, where hee lay about
seaven weeks, and afterwards, upon ye intercession of
manie friends to the house, hee was brought to ye barr
1 Who Alexander Norris was is not known. He could not have belonged
to the Speke family, as he is not mentioned either in the pedigree or cor-
respondence.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
163
II.
1695.
of the said house, where upon his knees hee confessing CHAP.
his ffact, and begging pardon, hee was severely repri-
manded and ordered to be discharged paying his ffees; and
a new charter being obtained the said Alexandr Norres The mayor
punished.
was turned out of his majoralty, and Thomas Johnson
Sen' was nominated by his majestie to be maj" in his
room, and upon the third day of Octob" 1695 hee was
sworne by Thomas Norres and Jasper Maudit Esq' and
took the office upon him accordingly.'
charter.
The object now was to obtain a new charter from the New
Crown, placing the rights of the burgesses upon a broad
and intelligible basis. Mr. Thomas Norris was an intel-
ligent and active representative and worked hard to get
the matter completed. On April 2, 1695, he writes to
his brother Richard Norris:
I yesterday received several letters giving me the same
account with yours, by which I find your Mayor and Aldermen
mistake their case. The point is not whether a charter is
valid in Lancashire that passes the Duchy Seal (for no doubt it
is), but your question is, whether the surrender of the charter
granted by King Charles the First be enrolled? I am told
it is not.
Now the advice I sent my friends was, that
no succeeding charter can be valid if the surrender of your
former charter be not enrolled.
I am sure the law is true, and believe the fact to be as
them I employed to search the Rolls told me, and if so, you
have an undoubted right to your old charter, and it may be
your interest to stick to that.
On April 20, he writes:
You may believe that the opposers of your new Charter for
the Confirmation of your ould one, have but small hopes,
since their whole endeavor is to delay the Attorney Generall
from making his report as ordered by the Privy Council, but
Wednesday next is to be the day if no new tricks be played.
The opposition to the new charter came principally
from the exclusive party in the council, whose tactics
were vexatious delays, but a formidable opponent ap-
M 2
164
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
1695.
CHAP. peared in the cheesemongers of London, who took the
same ground as the manufacturers of Manchester a
century and a half later in petitioning to be relieved from.
the exactions of the Liverpool corporation, who claimed
4d. and 12d. per ton port or town dues for cheese put on
board any ship anchoring in the river Mersey. This
appears to have been considered irrelevant to the ques-
tion of the charter, but it led to a protracted litigation
not terminated until 1700, when the corporation had
to repay 681. 5s. 6d. for dues illegally exacted, with
1767. 10s. taxed costs. The corporation of that day car-
ried things with rather a high hand. When the Lord
Mayor of London wrote to enquire by what authority
the dues were levied, the reply was, 'They had a thou-
sand pounds to spend, and the cheesemongers might take
their course at law.' When process was attempted to be
served on them they resisted by threatening the process
server, and when an attorney of the town at length suc-
ceeded in serving the writ, they suspended him from
practice in their court, and compelled him to sue for a
mandamus to be restored.
Charter.
On June 8, 1695, Thomas Norris being at Speke,
his brother William writes from London: 'I suppose you
have been joyfully received att Leverpoole before this, I
meane by those you have been assistant to in acquiring
their libertys.' On July 29 he gives the last informa-
tion: Mr. Braddon has been with me this morning,
who came directly from the secretary's office, and told me
he expected to have the charter returned from Flanders ¹
on Tuesday next, and then doubts not to dispatch it in
a fortnight, if the petition of the cheesemongers proves
no obstruction. I fancy he is in some want of supplies
in carrying the business on, for he borrowed 301. of me
last week.'
The charter was not finally sealed until September 26,
after the king's return from the Continent. The charter
1 King William was then besieging Namur.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
165
so obtained continued to be the governing one down
to the passing of the Municipal Reform Act in 1835.
It commences by reciting in full the charter of Charles I.
It then refers to the charter of Charles II. which it sets
aside altogether. The charter of James II. is entirely
ignored. It then proceeds to enact the future arrange-
ments. A common council is for the first time legally
recognised. It was to consist of 'forty and one honest
and discreet men of the burgesses of the town aforesaid,'
of whom the mayor and two bailiffs were to form a part.
The first mayor, aldermen, bailiffs, recorder, town clerk
and councillors are named in the charter. The mayor,
Thomas Johnson the elder, nominated on September 26,
only held office until St. Luke's Day, October 18, when
he was succeeded by his son, Thomas Johnson, junior,
(afterwards Sir Thomas Johnson).
<
The regulation for the election of councillors is ex-
tremely vague in its phraseology. The members were
to remain in office during good behaviour, unless removed
for a reasonable cause by the mayor, bailiffs, and common
council. When any vacancy occurred by death or any
other cause, it was to be filled up by such persons in
such manner, time, and form, as in that particular was
used and accustomed before the making of a certain
charter . . . bearing date the 18th day of July in the
twenty-ninth year of the reign of the late King Charles
the Second.' This was a settlement which really settled
nothing. The complaint had been that the council had
usurped the rights of the burgesses by filling up the
vacancies in their own body, and they expected that
under the new charter the election would revert to the
general body. The council, on the other hand, con-
tended that inasmuch as the practice of self-election had
been the rule with few exceptions from the reign of
Elizabeth, this was really the mode of election sanctioned
by the charter. Practically things remained in statu quo
notwithstanding all the contention between the new and
CHAP
II.
1695.
166
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. old-charter-men.
II.
1695.
Election.
Norris's
letters.
We shall notice hereafter the futile
efforts which were made from time to time to alter the
system.
In November 1695, a new Parliament was elected.
Thomas Norris now retired from public life, having
married Magdalen, second daughter of Sir Willoughby
Aston, and settled down at his fine old hall at Speke.
In 1696 he was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire.
He died at Harrogate in June 1700; his body was
brought to Childwall for interment. The account of the
funeral is a curious illustration of the manners of the
time. There was a large concourse of people, all of
whom appear to have been treated with liquor, for there
is a charge for 899 quarts of ale at 44d. and 11l. 4s. 1d.
for wine, tobacco, and broken glasses at Childwall. A
burial tax was paid, and a fine for burying in linen.
The two members returned were William Norris, the
brother of the late member, and Jasper Maudit, who was
re-elected.
There is extant a collection of letters written to and
from various members of the Norris family, between
1695 and 1707, which lift up the veil which time and
obscurity have drawn, and exhibit in a curious light the
inner life of Liverpool at this period.¹ The Norrises at
this time exercised considerable influence in Liverpool.
Richard, the youngest brother, was a merchant; he
filled the civic chair in 1700, represented the borough
from 1708 to 1710, and was appointed high sheriff of
the county in 1718. The increasing trade of the port
required better facilities for intercourse with the interior.
For a long time yet to come there was no carriage road
passable nearer Liverpool than Warrington. The Mersey
was made navigable to Warrington in 1694, principally
through the exertions of Mr. Patten of Bank Hall, War-
A.D. 1697. rington. On January 8, 1697, Thomas Patten writes to
1 This correspondence has been printed, and forms the ninth volume of
the publications of the Chetham Society.
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
167
•
CHAP.
II.
1697.
wears.
Richard Norris on the subject of suppressing fish wears
in the Mersey, and of making the river navigable to
Manchester.¹ The account of the fish in the Mersey will
astonish those who only know the river in its present
state. He says: "I am informed that there is a design
to bring a bill into the House of Commons against fish Fish
wears that hinder navigation in navigable rivers and that
take and destroy fish. You very well know the mischief
that is done in the river Mersey, or at least have fre-
quently heard what vast numbers of Salmon Trout are
taken so as to supply all the country and market towns
20 miles round, and when the country is cloyed or when
they cannot get sale for them, they give them to their
swine. Your brother did formerly take three or four
salmon a week at a fishing in or near Speake, but of late
hath taken very few or none; and he imputes this loss to
the destruction of the fry; and besides the fry they
take all summer long great numbers of kippers, which
have come up the river to spawn, and come down in the
summer poor, lean, and unwholesome; but our Mercy River
fishermen have mercy on none they can catch, for all are
fish that come to their net, and none safe they can lay
their hands on. Then again these wears are as mis-
chievous another way, by hindering the passage of ships,
boats, and barges, as for example, in the same river
Mercy what a vast advantage would it be to Liverpool, if
the river were made navigable to Manchester and Stock-
port. Since I made it navigable to Warrington (only
three years before) there have been sent to Liverpool and
from Liverpool 2000 tons of goods a year, and I believe
as much by land, which if the river were cleared of
wears, would all go by water; for the river to Man-
chester is very capable of being made navigable at a
very small charge.'
Mersey.
In July 1698, in consequence of a protest against a A.D. 1698.
1 This was afterwards carried out under the Act 7 Geo. I. c. 15
(1721).
168
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
II.
1698.
Election.
William
Clayton.
William
Norris
goes to
India.
CHAP. standing
standing army, King William dissolved Parliament,
and summoned a new one to meet in August. Jasper
Maudit retired from the representation, and his place was
supplied by William Clayton, one of the most eminent
of the enterprising race of merchants who were now
pushing forward the rising fortunes of the town with a
vigour and energy which have produced such splendid
results. William Clayton came of a good family settled
at Fulwood near Preston. One of the race was Bishop
of Clogher in the reign of Elizabeth. His father, Robert
Clayton, settled in Liverpool about the time of the Re-
storation, and lies buried in St. Nicholas's Church. His
mother was the sister of Sir Richard Atherton of Bewsey.
His brother Thomas was mayor in 1680, and William
himself filled the civic chair in 1689. He was now
elected along with William Norris on the Whig interest.
William Norris equally with his brother Thomas was
much esteemed in Parliament. At this time there were
two rival companies trading to the East Indies, each
struggling to elbow their rival out of the field. The new
company, incorporated under the title of 'The English
Company trading to the East Indies,' proposed sending an
embassy to the court of Aurungzebe, 'the Great Mogul,'
and immediately after the election pitched upon William
Norris to act as their ambassador. Before setting out,
in order to give greater dignity to the office, he was
created a baronet of the United Kingdom. In a letter to
his brother Thomas, dated November 29, 1698, he says:
'It was in my thoughts forthwith to have named you and
your heirs (for the succession), but I durst not venter on
my own head without further consultation with brother
Henry and brother Doctor, by whom I was resolved to
be concluded in this point to act most suitable to your
inclinations; and upon weighinge circumstances they were
of opinion you might thinke it a load on your posterity,
as what would occasion greater retinue and expence, and
soe forbore to have you incerted.'
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
169
II.
1699.
Norris's
His brother Edward, who had been a physician in prac- CHAP.
tice at Chester, accompanied him as secretary to the
embassy. They landed at Masulipatam on September 19,
1699, whence they made their way through much oppo- embassy.
sition both from their own countrymen and the native.
powers to the court at Delhi, or rather Parnella, where
the great potentate was encamped. The procession which
the embassy formed in approaching the imperial throne
is described as very splendid. The sword of state which
was borne before the ambassador is now deposited
amongst the regalia at the Liverpool Townhall. The
embassy was not successful as to its immediate object,
but no blame was attached to Sir William, who appears
to have comported himself with all due dignity and pru-
dence. Commercially his expedition was a success. The
Doctor brought home in his ship, the China Merchant,'
freight belonging to the company of the value of 60,000
rupees, and of property belonging to Sir William, 87,000
rupees. In April, 1702, they set sail for England, and
rendezvoused at the Mauritius, whence Sir William sailed
for home on September 7, and died at sea on October 10.
6
On February 2, 1699, died the stout old Cavalier, Death of
Caryl, Lord Molyneux, in the seventy-eighth year of his Lord
Caryl,
age. His lot had been cast in one of the stormiest Molyneux.
periods of English history, and his career had partaken of
the same character. In his youth he had been a trusted
follower of the fiery Rupert, and led the forlorn hope at
the siege of Liverpool in 1644, where he burst in at the
end of Oldhall Street, putting all to the sword for many
hours, giving no quarter,' and according to Moore's
account killing seven or eight men with his own hand.
Outlawed by the Parliament and part of his property
confiscated, he was always ready to fight for the Crown
or the Catholic cause, of which he was a devoted adherent.
In his middle life he devoted himself to the improvement
of his property, in which, as we have seen, he came into
collision with the corporation, and came off but second
170
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
II.
1699.
Liverpool
made a
parish.
Act for
forming
parish.
best.
In his old age, at the time of the Revolution, he
took up arms on behalf of King James.
He kept up his establishment at Croxteth with con-
siderable splendour, and interchanged hospitalities with
the corporation, though he was disqualified from accept-
ing municipal honours on account of his religion. The
improvements he planned in the formation of Lord Street
in 1668 he survived to see fully carried out, and enjoyed
the first-fruits of the harvest of wealth which his descend-
ants have subsequently gathered from the progress of the
town.
The last public act of the century connected with
Liverpool was the constitution of the borough into a
separate parish. The parish of Walton was one of the
extensive ecclesiastical divisions formed when the county
was thinly peopled, comprising ten townships extending
over an area of about forty square miles. Liverpool had
now attained a degree of importance which, in the opinion
of the inhabitants, entitled it to separate from the mother
church and set up an establishment of its own, particularly
as the erection of a new church was in contemplation. A
Bill was brought into Parliament with this view, and the
following document was put forward as exhibiting the
reasons for the proposed change.
The case of the Corporation of Liverpool in relation
to a Bill for making a new church there.
6
It was formerly a small fishing town, but many people
coming from London in time of the sickness and after the
fire, several ingenious men settled in Liverpool, which
caused them to trade to the plantations and other places,
which occasioned sundry other tradesmen to come and
settle there, which hath so enlarged their trade, that
from scarce paying the salary of the officers of the
customs, it is now the third port of the trade of
England, and pays upwards of 50,000l. per annum to the
king; and by reason of such increase many new streets
are built, and still in building; and many gentlemen's sons
171
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
of the counties of Lancaster, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staf-
fordshire, Cheshire, and North Wales, are put apprentices
in the town. And there being but one chapel, which
doth not contain one-half of our inhabitants, in the
summer, upon pretence of going to the parish church,
which is two long miles, and there being a village in the
way, they drink in the said village, by which and other-
wise many youth and sundry families are ruined; there-
fore it is hoped the bill may pass, being to promote the
service of God.
"The objections are, that we, being the sixth part of
the parish of Walton, the patronage of Walton doth belong
to the Lord Mullineux, who is a Roman Catholic; and it
is hard that his estate should be taken away. That the
town have agreed with the present rector and vicar for
their purchase money, therefore there is no present wrong;
and Liverpool takes away but a sixth part, and at the
same time taketh off the charge of more souls than is in
the whole parish besides. Moreover, they are willing to
give for the perpetual advowson that which shall be a
reasonable price, considering there is a life upon it, having
already offered his solicitor to refer it to two indifferent
men, they to choose one and the town another. And it
is hoped that so good a work as this bill desires shall not
be obstructed by so inconsiderable a claim.'
The Bill, 10 & 11 William III. chap. 36, was carried
without difficulty. A new church being projected-the
present St. Peter's—it was determined to have two rectors,
one for each church, the living to be divided into medie-
ties. Towards the stipends the corporation and the
parish mutually agreed to contribute.¹ The first rectors
appointed were the Rev. Robert Stythe and the Rev. W.
Atherton.
We have now arrived at the close of the seventeenth
1 By an Act 1 & 2 Vict. c. 98, this arrangement has been altered,
and, since the decease of Archdeacon Brooks in 1856, there has been only
one rector of the parish.
CHAP.
II.
1699.
172
CHAP.
II.
1699.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
century, a very important period in the history of Liver
pool. The commencement of the century found it a
quiet mediæval appendage to the duchy and the neigh
Summary. bouring lords, not only not progressive but decayed and de-
caying. The close of the century left it a thriving, busy,
prosperous town, with all the elements of business and
commerce in full activity and progress. Half a millennium
had passed since the charter of John, but it might be
truly said that the last forty years had made more pro-
gress than the preceding four centuries and a half. The
document just quoted gives a very fair statement of the
causes of this rapid prosperity. The population had now
reached 5,145; the number of vessels in the year 102,
with a tonnage of 8619. Building was in full activity,
new streets being erected between Castle Street and the
river. Lord Molyneux's new street (now Lord Street)
had been completed, and ground had been broken and
buildings commenced on the great heath across the pool
stream. Everything about the place showed signs of
vigorous life and energy. Liverpool was fortunate at this
time in the men who took the lead in the town's affairs.
The Norrises, Johnsons, Claytons, Clevelands, Houghtons
of that day were no common men; they were shrewd,
intelligent, far-seeing, sagacious individuals, who identi-
fied their own interest with that of the town, and could
see 'coming events cast their shadows before.' The
future history of the town is that of constant ever-accele-
rating progress.
173
CHAPTER III.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
III.
IN December, 1700, Parliament was dissolved, and the CHAP.
new Parliament was called together on February 6, 1701.
Sir William Norris was absent in India, but was brought 1701.
forward by his friends. The state of parties at this time
was rather singular. The Whigs for a time were alien- Election.
ated from their idol, William III., which strengthened
the hands of the Tory or Jacobite party. William Clay-
ton, the former member, and Thomas (afterwards Sir
Thomas) Johnson, both aldermen, stood upon the Whig
interest. Sir Cleave Moore, the grandson of the regicide
John Moore, was brought forward by the Tories, aided
by any family influence he could muster, but was de-
feated—Clayton and Johnson being returned.
Thomas Johnson was a very remarkable man, and
played a very important part in the town's affairs in the
early part of the eighteenth century. His father, Thomas
Johnson, senior, came from Bedford Leigh (Lancashire).
In 1655 he took up his freedom by servitude to Thomas
Hodgson (mayor in 1649). In 1659 he was elected
councillor-bailiff in 1663. In this capacity he is noticed
by Edward Moore in his 'Rental,' where he is described
as one of the hardest men in the town.' In 1670 he
was elected mayor. In 1677, when the surreptitious
charter of Charles II. was obtained, he retired from the
council, and so remained in exclusion until the charter of
William III. was granted in 1695, in which he was nomi-
•
Thomas
Johnson.
174
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1701.
Petition.
Disaffec-
tion.
nated mayor pro. tem., in place of Alexander Norris,
cashiered. From all this it may be gathered that he was
a staunch Whig. He seems to have been very successful
in business, having left at his decease in 1700 a consider-
able property behind him. The younger Johnson was
elected on the council during his father's exclusion, and
served the office of bailiff in 1689; he was the first mayor
appointed under the new charter after his father's tem-
porary occupancy of the chair. Being of an active and
enterprising turn of mind, he was very closely mixed up
with the town's affairs at a period of transition, when the
latent capabilities of the port were just being discovered,
and to no one was the town more indebted for their early
development.
Sir Clease Moore petitioned against the return of Clay-
ton and Johnson, but was unsuccessful. Indeed before
the petition could come to a hearing Parliament was
again dissolved in November 1701.
6
Political affairs in Lancashire were at this time in a
very disturbed state, great apprehensions being enter-
tained of a rising of the Roman Catholics on behalf of
the exiled monarch-who died in September 1701-or
of his son. On April 8, 1701, the mayor of Liverpool
receives a letter from the High Sheriff, that the justices
in each hundred should meet at the respective places
agreed on, to receive an account of the Papists and other
disaffected persons in each township, and to send out
particular summonses to all so presented to us, for their
appearance at the Quarter Sessions to take the oaths.'
Johnson was now a justice of the peace. On April 12,
1701, Mr. Secretary Hodges writes to the mayor of
Liverpool acknowledging the care and zeal of his wor-
ship and Mr. Justice Johnson in denouncing the disaffec-
tion of two Catholic gentlemen-Harrington of Huyton,
and Blundell of Ince Blundell. On the 30th of the same
month another Catholic gentleman, Mr. Scarisbrick of
Scarisbrick, writes to the mayor in a very humble strain
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
175
CHAP.
III.
1701.
Warrant
to procure his intercession in obtaining the supersedeas
of a warrant which had been issued for his appearance at
the next sessions. On May 13, Clayton writes to the
mayor: 'I received yours, and am glad that you so pro- against
ceeded at the Quarter Sessions, and hope we shall never Catholics.
be afraid to put the laws in execution against the Papists.'
On March 7, 1702, Johnson writes to the mayor, that it
may be convenient to double the guard in the castle for
some time; we do not know what people may carrie on;
we have but little guard in England at this time save our
fleet.' In January 1703 Mrs. Norris writes from Speke: A.D. 1703.
I believe mischief is in hand; for our Gentles meet more
than ordinary, and are very well mounted; if they have
any ill designs I pray God defeat them, for I fear we are
not like to do much towards it.' This feverish state of
things continued to prevail in Lancashire down to the
outbreak in 1715.
A.D. 1701.
about
In 1701, the Earl of Macclesfield, who had superseded
Lord Molyneux as constable of Liverpool Castle, and the
Earl of Derby as lord lieutenant of the county, died. The
constableship was given to Earl Rivers, and the lord
lieutenancy was restored to the existing Earl of Derby.
Lord Molyneux, who claimed the constableship as an Disputes
hereditary office, put in a caveat against the appointment, castle.
and not content with this, he took possession of the castle
vi et armis. On November 15, Mr. Morris, Lord Mac-
clesfield's agent, writes to the mayor, 'to get affidavits
taken before Mr. Mayor or Mr. Mauditt of the manner of
the Lord Molyneux's seizing the castle, and to send them
next post to London.' On February 10, 1702, Morris
again writes: My Lord Mullineux put in a caveatt against
the passing of my Lord Rivers's Patent for the constable-
ship of the castle, and there hath been a hearing before
my Lord Stamford, Chancellor of the Duchy, and the
Attorney General, who have given their opinion my Lord
Mullineux's pretensions are all void in law by several
Acts of Parliament.' Within twenty years from this time.
6
176
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. the castle was razed to the ground, and all questions
about its custody were set at rest.
III.
1701.
Election.
Tobacco
trade.
The new Parliament was elected in December 1701,
when Clayton and Johnson were again returned, appa-
rently without opposition. The state of parties was at
this time extremely fickle and changeable. Both the
Liverpool members were returned on the Whig interest;
yet we find Johnson, who was the more decided of the
two, voting, in December 1702, against the grant of
50007. per annum to the Duke of Marlborough. He
soon, however, returned to his allegiance, from which he
never afterwards swerved. Clayton, whose connection
with the Athertons of Bewsey brought him into close
contact with the Tories, eventually went over to that
party.
Whilst attending to his duties in Parliament, Johnson
ever had a watchful eye to the affairs of his native town.
Under date of December 30, 1701, he writes to his con-
fidant, Richard Norris, 'My humble service to Mr. Mayor
and Bailiffs, my brethren the Aldermen, and all good
friends. Good sir, forward the raising money for the
church (St. Peter's) in time; its a shame, and pray attend
often the service of the Corporation, whose concerns does,
for want of a little care, bleed.'
Along with the West India commerce, the tobacco
trade with Virginia began to take root in Liverpool,
where the article has ever since been a staple. Johnson
was largely engaged in this branch of commerce. At
this period the collection of the customs duties was loose
and irregular, and transactions continually took place
which would now be branded with the harsh names of
fraud and bribery. Johnson was far from scrupulous in
these matters. He seems to have adopted the principles
of the Jesuit father recorded by Pascal: Les hommes
sont aujourd'hui tellement corrompus, que ne pouvant
les faire venir à nous, il faut bien que nous allions à eux.'
His correspondence brings to light many of the schemes
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
177
III.
1701.
Customs
adopted to outwit the customs authorities. One principal CHAP.
means was by the allowances for tobacco opened and
repacked, where, by collusion on the part of the officers,
the merchant could be greatly benefited. His colleague, frauds.
Mr. Clayton, an honourable and upright man, wished
these practices to be put a stop to; and desired a clause
to be adopted that the tobacco should be exported as
imported without alteration, in the same cask, mark, and
number. This Johnson vehemently opposed. He writes:
I told him all our allowances were at an end, if such
practice was on foot, and then where was our trade?
And then adieu to half of our ships in Leverpole.
6
On October 20, 1702, Johnson's brother-in-law, Peter A.D. 1702.
Hall, writes: Since my last, we have had two surveyors Customs
come down from London; one Mr. Walker, the other inspection.
Mr. Manly; no one had any notice of them till they
came into the custom-house yard on Saturday morning,
who immediately joined themselves to our surveyors to
view tobacco, and asking whether they had viewed any.
They said one, which Mr. Manly desired to see again,
which was showed him, and had 130 lb. allowed in,
but he said it was too much, and reduced it to 50 lb.,
and put all the Pilgarlicks into a cold sweat.' These
London surveyors at first carried things with a high
hand, securing the officers' books, weighing the hogs-
heads over again, and disputing sharply on every point;
but, says Hall significantly, with much ado we have
brought them tolerably to stand on their legs, and hope
in a few days to learn them to go.' What were the per-
suasive arguments which convinced the London officials
we are not informed, but like Balaam of old, when sent
for to curse they ended by pronouncing a blessing. A
week after, Peter Hall writes again: We have now
clearly gained our point with Messrs. Manly and Walker,
who are honest, rational, and ingenious men, and big
with expectation at first, and treated us as they believed
us to be, robbers; but our light now shines in darkness,
VOL. I.
N
178
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1704.
Scar-
borough
prose-
cuted.
Municipal
affairs.
and there is not one word to be believed that was spoken
against us by the poor devils; they declare that they
find us to be an honest industrious people, and that we
deserved encouragement.'
In 1704, Mr. Scarborough, collector of customs at
Liverpool, was prosecuted for defrauding the government,
at which the tobacco importers felt very uneasy. In
the midst of the proceedings the delinquent died, but
the commissioners in London were slow to believe in
his decease, and sent an officer to ascertain the fact.
Johnson writes on January 26, 1705: This day we
have been at the funeral of Mr. Scarborough. I know
you will have a great deal of talk about it, and therefore
I will give you exactly what passed. As we were
invited, Mr. Clayton and I went, and there we met Mr.
Morris, who came with a power from the Comms of the
Customs to see the corpse. A hole at the top of the
coffin was open, and truly at the first sight I was startled,
and did not know what to think, and it proved we all
three were so. Mr. Morris desired to have it opened,
which was done, and we viewed the corpse again, and
some others that came in, and then everybody was
satisfied. You will say why all this scruple? The
manner of his death caused it, for the men said on
Monday night he was pretty well, and went from them
on Tuesday morning. To hear the alderman talk you
would never forget, and there is a mighty intimacy
between him and the custom house in the matter.'
During the whole of Johnson's parliamentary career
he kept up a close connection with local politics, and
maintained his position in the municipality. Party
politics ran high in the council. The agitation conse-
quent on the granting of the charter in 1695 had not
yet subsided, a party called the 'old charter men'not
having yet abandoned the idea of obtaining its repeal.
The following gives a photographic glimpse of the pro-
ceedings of the day in reference to the election of mayor.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
179
CHAP.
III.
1702.
mayor.
Johnson writes to Richard Norris October 9, 1702: 'I
think the town not like itself, we being at such a loss
for a man as I never knew. Mr. Benn and Mr. Sweet-
ing¹ will inform you the Sunday before they left Liver- Election of
pool, Mr. Cleaveland having positively denied us, we
concluded to put up Mr. Josh Prior, with which I must
own I was not well pleased; I complied with the rest;
Mr. Mayor some days after spoke to him, but Joseph
confessing truly that he had a distemper in his head, he
could by no means that year serve. Then we were
again to seek. Last Monday we again (mayor and 3
ald™) could think of no other but Mr. Briggs; he was
sent for, and readily accepted of the offer, but being too
much elevated with the thoughts of it, was not able to
govern himself, but after his usual manner, himself to
make the thing public, was drunk two nights together.
This made an end for him, and to be plain with him and
short with you, I desired he would wait on Mr. Mayor
and desire to be excused for reasons he might give him,
for we found he was not able to govern himself. This
he took in the wrong sense; however I told him I
would be of my promise, and the next day being the
council, I found gentlemen willing to be the same, and
we all agreed to choose our friend Jo. Cockshut.'
St. Luke's Day (October 18, 1702) happened on Sun-
day. Peter Hall, writing to Richard Norris, thus describes
the election: On Sunday (to give you a journal of our
proceedings) after divine service we went to the Ex-
change to elect a new mayor, and the old mayor (Thos.
Bicksteth) immediately proposed as a very suitable person
Mr. Jos. Briggs, for whom he gave his vote, on which
Mr. Johnson demanded a poll for Mr. Cockshutt, which
was granted, and then began old Jasper (Maudit), Mr.
Sharples, and most of the council for the first, who went
on very briskly, insomuch I was astonished, and saw it
¹ Benn was mayor in 1697 and Sweeting in 1698.
Their names are
respectively recorded in 'Benn's Garden' and 'Sweeting Street,'
N 2
180
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
was a trick of the old-charter men, there being Ald.
Tyrer, Ald. Windle, Mr. Hurst, and many others to back
1702. them, who at first seemed mightily pleased to see the
poll on their side; but Mr. Johnson began to labour
very hard, and when once the townsmen, no way biassed,
perceived the matter, they came in whole droves for
J. C., who quickly ran ahead the first, which put the
gentlemen into mighty trouble, seeing their plot blasted,
and to our credit we set J. C. on the seat.'
Council
proceed-
ings.
Municipal honours, however, were not always so
A.D. 1703. strenuously contended for. On October 15, 1703, John-
son writes to Richard Norris: I observe you approve of
our choice of council men, which is well, since which we
have gone further, and are resolved to try what we can
do. Mr. Earle¹ refusing put me a little upon the
thoughts, so we resolved to advise with counsel if we
could fine any persons that was elected council men and
refused to serve, or could we choose these mayor or
bailiffs, though they were not actually sworn; to these
we have received a satisfactory answer, that they may
be indicted and after fined, or a mandamus brought
against them to show cause; upon that Mr. Mayor called
a council, and voted Mr. Cleveland, Mr. Hurst, and
Mr. Earle councilmen, and served them with the election
under our corporation seal, and this day they appeared,
but all refused to be sworn. Now we do resolve to
elect Mr. Cleveland mayor, Mr. Earle one bailiff, and
if they refuse us we believe they will have one man-
damus for all; if we now look back we are shamed.'
On the 19th Johnson again writes: 'I can now advise
you our friend Mr. John Cleveland was sworn this day
mayor. He was carried off by some persons yesterday,
and would not come in, but went direct out of town;
great threats and endeavours have been used, but now
1 The Earles, after the lapse of 170 years, are still flourishing merchants
in Liverpool. The present head of the family is Sir Hardman Earle, Bart.,
of Allerton Towers.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
181
vanished, all people generally well pleased to see some
people disappointed.' Although Mr. Cleveland consented
thus unwillingly to serve, Mr. Earle continued recusant,
though two years afterwards we find him acting as
bailiff, and in 1709 filling the civic chair.
It will be observed that, notwithstanding Johnson's
sneers at the old-charter men,' the vicious system of
self-election still continued, precisely as in the obnoxious
charter of Charles II.
6
CHAP.
III.
1703.
On April 5, 1705, Parliament was dissolved, and a åd. 1705.
new one elected in May. The election in Liverpool was Election.
a contested one. Clayton had gone over to the Tories,
and Richard Norris, Johnson's dear friend, was put for-
ward as a candidate. A London correspondent writes
to Norris: Our friend T. Johnson is too easie and un-
willing to displease his present colleague, and very
unwilling to stand himself; why cannot you fix on some
person to stand with you that might carry it, and so lay
the two old ones aside, the one with his will, the other
whether he will or not. Pray think of this.' Another
correspondent also writes: 'I am heartily concerned you
stand in opposition to Alderman Clayton, who is a very
necessary man in Parliament, and therefore I shall long
to hear some means may be found for you to set your
horses together and not to oppose the one the other;
pray endeavour, if it be possible, for, as I said before,
the alderman is both useful and necessary in the House
of Commons.'
Norris did not succeed on this occasion, the old
members Clayton and Johnson being returned.
For some cause not explained, Norris was struck off Norris
the Commission of the Peace. On September 11, 1705, super
his brother-in-law, Wm. Squire, writes to him:
6
Madam Scarborough came to me late last night to
tell me she was informed you were struck out of the
Commission of Peace, which I did not at first believe,
but inquiring into it, found it to be true.
One may
182
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1705.
CHAP. easily guess from whence it came; therefore I think it
might do well to acquaint my Lord Derby of it, and if
possible endeavour to be restored, that our enemies may
not have the satisfaction to triumph at it, which I am
told they do, therefore do not neglect it.'
Daniel
Defoe.
6
On
In the year 1705 we catch a passing glimpse of a man
whose fame will probably survive as long as the English
language exists--the author of Robinson Crusoe.'
September 25, Johnson writes to Norris: We have had
Mr. Defoe here. I did not see him. Mr. Done was very
busy, and invited him to his house, which in my opinion
had been better let alone.' Again, on September 28,
Hall writes to Norris: Mr. Dan¹ Defoe hath been for
some days in town, which hath been the great subject
talked of, and been great matter of speculation to some.
persons.'
It may seem strange that Johnson, a strong Whig par-
tisan, should have been so cool in his reception of the
great Whig champion; but the circumstances of the time
may explain it. An election had just taken place in which
each party had put forth its utmost powers, and the
practices and manoeuvres adopted would not always bear
too close observation. Defoe went down occasionally
into the provinces to observe the state of political parties.
In the early part of the year 1705 he had advertised a
book entitled 'A new test of the efficacy and extent of
English Acts of Parliament, being a collection of the
briberies, feastings, drunkenness, caballings, treatings,
corruptions, making of freemen, and horrid practices
now in their full and free exercise in this miserable
nation, for debauching the electors in the choice of a
new Parliament before the present house is dissolved.'
He afterwards abandoned this intention, and in his
'Weekly Review' the same year thus states his reasons:
"When I came to enter into the vast field, I found such
an ocean of villany, such a depth of corruption, that it
was endless to finish it, having no leisure to write large
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
183
III.
1705.
volumes in folio on so unpleasant a subject.' Holding CHAP.
such views, it cannot be surprising that his presence at
Liverpool immediately after the publication of his opinions,
and after a general election, should be distasteful to John-
son, of whom-whatever virtues he might possess-it
could not be said that scrupulousness was one of them.
The outward form and presentment of a celebrated
man is always interesting. About two years previously
Defoe had been prosecuted for his work entitled 'The
shortest way with the Dissenters,' and in the 'London
Gazette,' No. 3879 (January 10, 1703), an advertisement
was inserted for his apprehension, in which his personnel
is thus described: He is a middle-sized spare man,
about forty years old, of a brown complexion, and dark-
brown coloured hair, but wears a wig; a hooked nose, a
sharp chin, grey eyes, and a large mole near his mouth.'
up.
The relations of the town with the Stanley family con- Stanley
tinued on the most friendly footing, James, tenth Earl of family.
Derby, being elected mayor in 1707. With the Moly-
neuxs causes of disagreement were continually cropping
At this time the corporation were in treaty with
the Crown for a grant of the site of the castle, to which
I shall have hereafter to refer. Lord Molyneux set
up a counter claim to the site, arising out of some
supposed rights as hereditary constable. The cause
was tried at the assizes, and resulted in the discom- Dispute
fiture of his lordship. Johnson writes to Norris, April 5, about
1707: 'I have yours of the 7th curnt from Preston,
and am very glad you got the cause against Lord
Mullineux; no doubt it is a great mortification. Now
the subject of the discourse will be how to improve
this ground, and that in my poor opinion will require
some consideration and is not to be determined hastily.
I think a handsome square might be made very well, but
then you should let it to people that would build good
houses, and make them uniform; and as the custom is
here not to let to any that opens shop, I do hope it may
castle.
184
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1707.
be built by merchants or such private families; this would
be a mighty ornament to the town.' It is interesting to
see in Johnson's correspondence, whatever he may be
engaged in, how his heart always warms towards his
native town, and how his thoughts are constantly directed
to some projected improvement.
The system of trafficking for parliamentary support
was carried with a high hand in these days. In January
A.D. 1708. 1708, the collector of customs at Liverpool had made
himself very obnoxious to the merchants and traders.
Harley-then Secretary of State-actually offered to in-
duce the collector to resign by giving him a sum of
money, and to place the office at the disposal of the
members and of Lord Derby, at that time mayor.
Pretender.
Johnson
knighted.
In March of the same year, on the announcement of a
threatened invasion by the Pretender, the corporation
presented through the members a loyal and dutiful
address to the queen, on which occasion Johnson received
the honour of knighthood. There seems to have been
some suspicion that the astute Johnson had rather over-
reached his straightforward and upright colleague by
presenting the address in his absence. It is only fair to
give Johnson's own account of the transaction. Writing
as usual to his friend Norris under date March 10, 1708,
he says:
This day, about half an hour past twelve, or near one, I
went to the House of Lords to know when the Lord Derby
would please to present the Corporation address, upon which
my lord told me when the Queen came to the house, in the
Princess Chamber, and desired I would stay, upon which Mr.
Poole with me, I did stay the Queen's coming, and after the
Queen returned from the House, the Lord Derby carrying the
sword, he presented the address; and I being there, the Lord
Derby against my knowledge spoke to the Queen to confer the
honour of knighthood. God knows I kneeled to kiss the
Queen's hand, and to my great surprise the other followed. I
am under great concern about it, knowing I no way desired
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
185
III.
1708.
that I had, and must undergo a great many censures; but the CHAP.
Lord forgive them as I do. I had not mentioned this thing,
but I knew it will be said, this address was presented without
giving notice to Mr. Clayton-he was this morning at my
lodging, and said he was going to Wapping-I told him I
was to go to the Custom House, after to the House, and in-
tended to wait on the Lord Derby to know when his Lordship
would present the address, and promised to give him notice,
not thinking but there would be time to do so; but I leave
you to judge if it was possible in less than an hour I could do
this. . . . I am sure the surprise has put me more out of
order than I have been since I came to London.
In April Parliament was dissolved. In the election
for Liverpool Clayton was thrown out, and Richard
Norris and Sir Thomas Johnson were returned.
water.
The year 1709 was memorable for the commencement A.D. 1709.
of the system of floating docks in which Liverpool stands Docks.
unrivalled as a port. The Blue Coat Hospital was also Blue
erected in this year. To both of these I shall have again School.
to refer in future chapters. In the same year an attempt
was made to utilize for the benefit of the town of Liver-
pool the copious springs of water at Bootle. An Act was
obtained (8 Anne, chap. 25) to enable the corporation to
make a grant to Sir Cleave Moore to bring water into
Liverpool from Bootle springs. The scheme was an ex- Bootle
cellent one, but it was in advance of the
and re-
age,
mained a dead letter until revived and carried out nearly
a century later. Soon after this the connection which
had existed between Liverpool and the Moore family for
four centuries and a half was dissolved. The estates,
which extended into thirteen townships, were heavily
incumbered, and Sir Cleave having obtained by marriage
another property in the south, agreed to their sale by the
mortgagee, Sir John Moore, alderman of London. Sir
Cleave Moore sat as member for Bramber in Sussex, and
died on March 29, 1730.
186
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
Election.
In 1710 another election took place.
Party spirit ran very high at this time. The old mem-
1710. ber, William Clayton, again tried his chance. Richard
Norris stood along with his friend and colleague Johnson;
but a new candidate in the person of John Cleveland
carried all before him and stood at the head of the poll,
the numbers being: Cleveland, 542; Johnson, 492;
Norris, 447; Clayton, 439.
Cleveland
family.
A.D. 1713.
Election.
A.D. 1714.
The family of the Clevelands were originally from
York, and settled at Loughborough in the early part of
the seventeenth century. One of the family, John Cleve-
land (born in 1613, died in 1659), was no mean poet. In
his own day he enjoyed a reputation equal to that of
Milton. The last edition of his works was printed in
1687, since which they have gradually dropped out of
sight.¹ John, the subject of our present notice, was born
at Hinckley in 1661, and at an early age settled in Liver-
pool, where he engaged in commercial pursuits with
great success. In 1691 he served the office of bailiff, and
that of mayor in 1703 with considerable reluctance, as
mentioned above. John Cleveland sat in Parliament
three years. He died in 1716. About the year 1700
he purchased from the Powells the manor and priory of
Birkenhead, which by marriage with his daughter passed
to Francis Price of Bryn y Pys, Esquire, in whose family
it remained until laid out for building within the last few
years.
In 1713 William Clayton was elected along with the
irrepressible Johnson. The Parliament lasted only a
year, at the expiration of which a new Parliament was
called, to which the same members were returned.
At the decease of Queen Anne, William Clayton retired.
from the representation, and soon after died. He was
1 Cleveland was the author of an epigram which was very popular at one
period:
'Had Cain been a Scot, God had changed his doom-
Not forced him to wander, but confined him at home.'
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
187
buried in St. Nicholas's Church, where a monument was
erected bearing the following inscription
To the Memory
Of William Clayton
Of Fulwood, in the County Palatine
Of Lancaster, Esq.,
Who being a great Incourager
Of Trade,
And having good judgment in it,
Represented this borough
In Six distinct
Parliaments.
He died the 8th July,
1715.
Erected by Elizabeth his relict,
Daughter of George Leigh
Of Oughtrington in the
County Pal" of
Chester, Gent.
Mrs. Clayton survived her husband thirty years, dying
in 1745. In 1741 she presented 1,000l. to the Blue-
coat Hospital.
To the Parliament of 1714, elected on the accession of
George I., Liverpool returned Dr. Edward Norris, who
had accompanied his brother Sir William, in 1701, in his
embassy to the Great Mogul, and who had succeeded to
the Speke estate, along with Sir Thomas Johnson. Edward
Norris's granddaughter became the wife of Richard Pen-
nant (afterwards Lord Penrhyn), who represented Liver-
pool in 1762, and in several subsequent Parliaments.
CHAP.
III.
1714.
Clayton's
monu-
ment.
Election.
A.D.
In 1715, the county of Lancaster was thrown into con- a.d. 1715.
fusion by the rising on behalf of the Pretender, the soi- Rebellion.
disant James III. On June 10 in that year, the birthday
of the prince, a great commotion took place in several of
the towns in South Lancashire. At Warrington the bells war-
of the parish church rang a merry peal, most of the in- rington.
habitants turned out in their Sunday attire, and a riotous
mob collected in the streets, crying, 'The Church in
danger!' 'Down with the Dissenters!' 'God save King
James the Third!' At Manchester, the mob was called
188
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
CHAP. together by the beating of drums, and formed a sort of
military procession through the principal streets, denounc-
ing the Dissenters, proclaiming King James, and damag-
Rebellion. ing the houses of the loyal portion of the community.
1715.
Man-
chester.
6
The magistrates, probably themselves disaffected, took no
steps to put down the rioters, who had the town at their
mercy for several days. Led by a barber named Syd-
dall, who afterwards suffered death for the cause, they
attacked and destroyed several meeting-houses in Man-
chester and the neighbouring villages. Encouraged by
their impunity they increased to a formidable array, and
sent detachments into Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Shrop-
shire, to incite to similar outrages. In Shrewsbury they
issued a proclamation as follows: We gentlemen of
the loyal mob do issue this proclamation to all Dissenters
of what kind soever, whether Independents, Baptists, or
Quakers. If you, or any of you, do encourage or suffer
any of that damnable faction called Presbyterians to
assemble themselves in any of your conventicles at the
time of Divine worship, you may expect to meet with the
same that they have been treated with. Given under our
hands and seals on the eleventh day of July, 1715. God
save the King!'
The affair had now assumed so serious an aspect that
it could no longer be neglected. The House of Com-
mons stimulated the Government by an address to the
Crown, praying for the suppression of the riots, and that
the penal laws against Papists and Nonjurors might be
rigorously enforced. A proclamation was issued that any
person convicted of demolishing a meeting-house would
incur the punishment of death without benefit of clergy.
Troops were sent to Manchester, by whom the rioting
was suppressed before the end of July. Syddall, the
ringleader, was tried at Lancaster, and sentenced to stand
in the pillory; but so popular was the cause for which
he suffered that bouquets of flowers were substituted for
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
189
the rotten eggs and filth with which such culprits were CHAP.
usually saluted.
III.
Such was the feverish state of things in South Lanca- 1715.
shire when the little army of the Pretender's adherents Hostilities.
burst over the border, and on November 7 entered the
town of Lancaster, and with colours flying, claymores
drawn, and bagpipes playing, proclaimed King James the
eighth of Scotland and third of England.
Alarmed by this intelligence, the inhabitants of Liver- Proceed-
ings in
pool, who were loyal to the core, took the best means in Liverpool.
their power towards the impromptu defence of the town
and port. The water of the brook flowing into the pool
was dammed up so as to protect the eastern margin. An
intrenchment was thrown up on the north side, probably
a rehabilitation of that existing at the time of the siege
seventy years before, and seventy pieces of ordnance
were mounted. The ships in the harbour were so ar-
ranged as to avoid danger and aid in the defence, and
the seamen organised to act in case of need. Fortunately Defeat of
these precautions were rendered unnecessary by the rebels.
defeat and surrender of the rebel army at Preston, on
Sunday, November 13. Amongst the prisoners were
the unfortunate Earl of Derwentwater and Lord Ken-
mure, who were beheaded on Tower Hill, and the Earls
of Nithsdale and Wintown, who succeeded in effecting
their escape.
The Government, which had been culpably remiss in
taking measures to suppress the rebellion, made amends
for its fault by barbarous severity. A judicial commis-
sion was sent down to try the prisoners, and Liverpool,
as the most loyal and Hanoverian town in the county,
was fixed on as the place. Baron Montague, Baron Trial of
Bury, and Mr. Justice Eyre, were the judges selected, and rebels.
most thoroughly did they carry out their instructions to
strike and spare not. Accounts differ as to the numbers
put upon their trial, one statement making them as high
as 161, and another as low as seventy. However this
190
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1716.
Execu-
tions.
Popula-
tion.
Charters.
may be, no less than thirty-four persons were executed
for high treason, twelve at Preston, four at Garstang, five
at Wigan, five at Manchester, four at Lancaster, and four
at Liverpool. The Liverpool place of execution was a
field on the north side of London Road, a little to the
east of Stafford Street. Two windmills which stood near
the spot hence acquired the name of the Gallows Mills,
which they retained till their demolition. The usual
barbarities of quartering the bodies and setting up the
heads were rigidly carried out. Several of the prisoners
were persons of considerable distinction, amongst others,
Richard Chorley, Esq., of Chorley, the head of a family
settled there since the Conquest, and Collingwood, of
Northumberland, possessed of a landed estate of 2,000l.
per annum.
Besides the prisoners thus tried in Liverpool, there
were others sent from various parts of the country to be
transported to the plantations. A contract was entered
into with one Sir Thomas Johns to convey a hundred and
thirty for the sum of 1,000l. Another batch of thirty
was shipped for the West Indies; but before they had
been many days out of Liverpool they rose upon the
master and crew, and having overpowered them, carried
the ship into a French port, where they disposed of both
ship and cargo.
At this time the population of the town was about
10,000; the number of streets thirty-seven. In 1707 a
rate of 3d. in the pound on houses, lands, and stock, pro-
duced the sum of 2921. 13s. 4d.
It will be remembered that in some of the earlier char-
ters power was given to form a guild, and to prevent any
traders not belonging to the guild transacting any business
within the borough. The charter of Philip and Mary
struck out this clause and threw the trade open, and so it
continued down to the charter of Charles I. (1626).
This charter did not in terms re-enact the obnoxious pro-
hibition, but it did what was tantamount thereto, by
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
191
giving power to frame by-laws ad libitum, with power to
enforce such enactments by fine or imprisonment. Armed
with this authority, the corporation were not slow to
exercise their protective power, and it was not long
before a by-law was framed that no person should exer-
cise his trade within the borough unless he was free of
the guild by birth, servitude, or purchase. Practically
the only effect of this was to open up a source of revenue
to the municipality, for the privilege was freely sold to
all who would buy. In this way the amount of the fines
received becomes a valuable test of the influx of strangers.
into the town, for it was they alone who contributed to
this branch of the revenue. We find that in 1667 the
fines for freedom amounted to 431. 13s. 4d.; in 1694
they produced 134l. 14s. 2d.; in 1701, 2087. 14s. 8d;
and in 1707-8 they had reached the sum of 352l. 18s. 6d.
The actual increase from this source, and still more the
progressive ratio in which it advanced, are striking indi-
cations of the prosperity of the town, and the immigration
which had set in.
CHAP.
III.
1716.
Fines for
freedom.
After the rebellion of 1715, the oaths of supremacy
and allegiance were strongly enforced on all suspected
persons; and an Act of Parliament was passed requiring
that all Roman Catholics, Nonjurors, and others, who Roman
refused to take the oaths, should transmit to commis- Catholics.
sioners appointed for the purpose, a register of their
estates, with full particulars of their situation, occupation,
and value. From the returns made by the commission-
ers, it appears that the estates of the recusants in the
county of Lancaster were of the yearly value of 13,1587.,
of which no less than 5,901.-not far short of one half-
lay in the hundred of West Derby, constituting the dis-
trict adjacent to Liverpool. When we consider the rude
state of agriculture, and the undeveloped condition of the
county, it is evident that the estates held by the disaf-
fected part of the community must have constituted a very
large proportion of the landed property of the district.
192
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1716.
Inland
naviga-
tion.
A.D. 1723.
Retire-
ment of
Johnson,
In the midst of these political contentions, the means
for commercial progress were not neglected. Inland
navigation, the great feature in the material development
of the eighteenth century, had begun to attract attention.
I have already alluded to the improvement of the naviga-
tion of the Mersey to Warrington. In 1720, the river
Douglas, an affluent of the Ribble, was made navigable
to Wigan, giving access to the sea for the product of the
great Lancashire coal-field. In 1722 the Act was passed
for the improvement of the rivers Mersey and Irwell,
rendering them navigable as far as Hunt's Bank, Man-
chester; and about the same time powers were obtained
for making the river Weaver, which falls into the Mersey
near Runcorn, navigable to Winsford and Northwich,
opening up the interior of Cheshire, and bringing into easy
communication the extensive salt mines of the district.
In April 1722 a new Parliament was called, to which
Liverpool returned Sir Thomas Johnson and William
Cleveland, brother of John, the former member.
The year 1723 witnessed the termination of Sir Thomas
Johnson's connection with Liverpool. Probably no man,
except it may be Ralph Sekerston, in the reign of Eliza-
beth, ever laboured more assiduously for the welfare of
the town; and certainly to none is Liverpool so much
indebted for the development of its nascent energies. He
filled a prominent place in the town's affairs for more than
thirty years, having been elected bailiff in 1689, the first
mayor under the new charter in 1695, and having served
as member for the borough in seven Parliaments from
1701 to 1722. His associates in Liverpool affairs-the
Clevelands, Claytons, Cunliffes, Earles-accumulated for-
tunes which descended to future generations; but John-
son possessed that mercurial speculative temperament to
which gold seldom long adheres. What was the special
cause for his retirement we are not informed. In the
summer of 1722 he had been re-elected along with
William Cleveland. On January 23, 1723, a new writ
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
193
III.
1723.
was ordered for Liverpool on his acceptance of the CHAP.
office of collector of customs on the river Rappahan-
nock, in Virginia, where he must have deceased early
in 1729, for his place in the council was filled up in Johnson.
May of that year. Notwithstanding his eminent ser-
vices no monument exists to his memory, and but for
an occasional glance at the list of mayors and mem-
bers of Parliament his name would be utterly forgotten.
'Whilst Clayton and Cunliffe repose under their marble
monuments in the parish church, in all the odour of
municipal sanctity, Johnson, who was always poor, lies
probably in some obscure corner of Virginia. If, how-
ever, the separation of the parish from Walton-the
building of St. Peter's and St. George's churches- the
formation of the first dock-the creation of the corpora-
tion property-and the seeking out new sources of wealth
by distant and daring adventures, entitle the merchants
of Liverpool who lived in the reigns of William and
Anne to be considered as the founders of the town's
prosperity, of those traders Johnson was the acknow-
ledged head; and therefore to him more than to any one
else is the town indebted for its vigorous and well-omened
commencement.'1
The only memorial of Johnson is the street called Sir
Thomas's Buildings, leading from Dale Street to White-
chapel. It was commenced by his father, the hard-
headed baly,' and carried out by the knight. The site
of the 'Buildings' erected by him is very appropriately
-occupied by the municipal offices.
6
Johnson's career is a very striking illustration of
Luther's pithy macaronic distich:
Wer dient dem Pöbel, et similibus horum,
Der hat Undank, in fine laborum.
Who wastes his strength for the public and neighbours
Shall get no reward at the end of his labours
1 Mr. Thomas Heywood, F.S.A. Introduction to the Norris Papers,
Chetham Society's Pub., vol. ix.
VOL. I.
194
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1723.
Trade
with
West
Indies.
A.D. 1747,
About this time circumstances occurred which gave a
great impulse to the trade of the port.
The Manchester manufactures, which at first consisted
chiefly of checks, Osnaburghs, and coarse goods, from
their quality and cheapness began to compete advan-
tageously in the West India markets with the French
and German cloths. At that time a chartered company
had the exclusive right of exporting all goods from Old
Spain to her colonies. These were procured from Ger-
many and France, and the heavy export duties combined
with the monopoly, increased the price of the goods in
the colonies three hundred per cent. A contraband
trade, therefore, sprang up, by which Spanish West
India traders ran down in periaguas, schooners, and large
canoes from the Havanna, Portobello, Carthagena, and
other small ports and creeks on the Spanish main to
Jamaica, where they found the Manchester goods so
much superior and cheaper than they had been accus-
tomed to, that frequently there was not a piece of check
remaining in Kingston market. Payment was made in
specie and Spanish dollars, which were largely imported
into Liverpool between 1722 and 1740.
About that time the remonstrances of the Spanish
Court led to the interference at the British Government.
In 1747, a Bill was carried in Parliament by Mr.
Grenville's Grenville, which condemned all foreign vessels found in
the ports of the British West India islands. This drove
away the Spanish traders and annihilated the trade. It
is said that this contraband Spanish trade contributed at
least 1,000,000l. per annum to the town of Liverpool.
Act.
A.D. 1723.
In 1723, the year of Johnson's retirement, the civic
Bryan
chair was filled by another Liverpool worthy, Bryan
Blundell, Blundell. It cannot be maintained that his services in
their permanent influence on the community at all ap-
proached in usefulness those of his knightly predecessor,
but a work of charity, when its memorials are continually
before the eyes of posterity, naturally and deservedly
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
195
calls up the grateful memory of the founder. It is not
always true that
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones.
CHAP.
III.
1723.
Hospital.
As long as the Blue Coat Hospital continues its god- Blue Coat
like work of rescuing orphans from destitution and vice,
and educating them to be useful members of society, so
long will the name of Bryan Blundell be cherished and
honoured. He was born in 1674, descended from an
old Liverpool family settled in the town from the reign
of Elizabeth. Being brought up to the sea, he sailed as
captain from the port of Liverpool, and by industry and
integrity acquired means to purchase a vessel, which he
commanded himself. In the intervals of his voyages his
attention was called to the destitute and neglected con-
dition of many of the children, and in conjunction with
his friend the Rev. Robert Stythe, one of the first rectors,
he made an attempt to remedy the evil by establishing a
school-in the first instance a simple day school for fifty
boys, for which a small building was erected by sub-
scription in 1708, and a master engaged at a salary of
201. per annum. Between 1708 and 1713, Captain A.D. 1713.
Blundell had contributed out of his hard earnings the
sum of 250l. In that year Mr. Stythe died, and in the
absence of its benefactor at sea the school became
neglected. In a simple and modest memoir he says:
In a little time I saw some of the children begging
about the streets, their parents being so poor as not to
have bread for them, which gave me great concern, in-
somuch that I thought to use my best endeavours to
make provision for them, so as to take them wholly from
their parents, which I hoped might be promoted by a
subscription.' In order that the school might be better
attended to he gave up the sea, and settled in the town.
The subscription amounted to nearly 3,000l., 7501. of
which was given by Mr. Blundell, being the tenth part
<
0 2
196
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1718.
Blue Coat
Hospital.
A.D. 1723.
Boun-
daries of
port.
A.D. 1724.
Election.
of his property. He also formed a resolution to give a
tenth part of whatever it pleased God to bless him with
to the school. The school was built in 1718, but has
at various times been greatly enlarged. As a merchant.
he became very successful, and was greatly respected by
his townsmen, having been elected mayor in 1721 and
again in 1728. His liberality kept pace with his pro-
sperity, his contributions in the whole amounting to
3,000l. He says in the memoir: 'I may truly say
whilst I have been doing good for the children of this
school, the good providence of God hath been doing
good for mine, so that I hope they will be benefactors
to this school when I am in my grave.'
The subject of our notice lived to the year 1756,
dying at the age of eighty-two, having been treasurer to
the institution forty-two years. 'A good man leaveth
an inheritance to his children's children,' and it is plea-
sant to record that the descendants of Bryan Blundell
have been eminently prosperous, and are still connected
with the commerce and institutions of the town.
6
In 1723 the boundaries of the port, which had hither-
to been indefinite and sometimes in dispute, were defined
by commissioners appointed under the 10 Geo. I., and
set out as follows: From the Redstones in Hoylake on
the point of Wirral southerly to the foot of the river
called Ribblewater in a direct line northerly, and so upon
the south side of the said river to Hesketh Bank easterly,
and to the river Douglas there, and so all along the sea
coasts of Meols and Formby into the river Mersey, and
all over the rivers Mersey, Irwell, and Weaver.'
William Cleveland died early in 1724, and a new
writ was ordered for Liverpool on March 31. He was
succeeded by Mr. Langham Booth, of the family of
Dunham Massey, brother of the first Earl of Warring-
ton. This gentleman was groom of the bedchamber to
Frederick, Prince of Wales, and M.P. for the county of
Chester in the Parliaments of the 4 and 7 of Anne and
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
197
1
CHAP.
III.
the 1 George I.¹ He enjoyed his new dignity for a very
short period, having departed this life a few months after
his election. A new writ was ordered by the House on 1725.
November 12, 1724.
6
It First map
of Liver-
In 1725 the first map of Liverpool was issued.
bears the title as follows: The Mapp of all the Streets, pol.
Lanes, and Alleys within the town of Liverpool, with
one side of the River Mersey, layd down by a scale of
80 yds. in an inch, by J. Chadwick, 1725.' The streets
and enclosed lands seem accurately surveyed, but the
buildings are merely indicated by parallel lines of shad-
ing along the streets. The number of streets, alleys, and
places is fifty; the number of houses, as near as can be
ascertained, about 2,000; the number of inhabitants
about 11,000. Northwardly, Oldhall Street was built
on to Union Street, and on the south side, a little beyond;
Tithebarn Street was built as far as Key Street. Dale
Street being the great outlet from the town, was lined
with buildings on both sides as far as the present Fon-
tenoy Street; and Hackin's Hey, Moorfields, and Cheap-
side were built up between Dale Street and Tithebarn
Street. Sir Thomas's new Buildings occupy a portion
of the upper part of the street so called, but the rest is
marked as "The Rope yard.' The spaces behind the
buildings in Dale Street are open fields, forming on the
south side the Crosse Hall' estate.
(
The course of the brook along Whitechapel had not View of
long before been arched over and converted into a road, the tov II.
but building had scarcely commenced. Lord Molyneux's
new street, now called Lord Street, was nearly com-
pleted, and the streets between Pool Lane (now South
¹ His grandfather, Sir George Booth, was a conspicuous and active
partisan of the Parliament in the civil wars. He sat during the whole
period of the Long Parliament as representative of the County of Chester.
Towards the end of Cromwell's career he deserted his old allies, and joined
in the insurrection of 1659, in which he was defeated by General Lambert.
He took an active part in the Restoration of Charles II., by whom he was
created Baron Delamere of Dunham Massey. He died in 1684, aged 63.
198
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
.III.
1725.
Map.
CHAP. Castle Street) and Paradise Street, were built on to about
half their extent. Paradise Street was partially built on
at the south end. Across the pool St. Peter's Church is
conspicuous. Church Street is laid out, but only very
sparsely built on. The Blue Coat Hospital had just been
erected. Hanover Street is an old high road. It was at
the date of the map beginning to be occupied by the fine
old aristocratic mansions, of which some still remain, de-
voted to baser uses. Duke Street was a country lane.
The old dock is shown filled with shipping, with the
Custom-house at the east end standing near the site of the
present Sailors' Home. On the south side of the dock
Mersey Street is the only completed road. The salt works
are shown near the site of the present Salthouse Dock.
The site of the castle is built on, with a small square
called the New Market' left in the centre. The course of
the castle ditch is converted into an irregular street run-
ning round the site. Between Castle Street and the mar-
gin of the river the town is the most densely occupied, but
the streets are narrow and tortuous. The arrangement
of them differs considerably from that existing at present.
On the west side the buildings extend to the river beach.
The New Quay was an actual quay protected by a sea
wall and open to the river. West of Strand Street a
quantity of land had been gained from the river, which
was partly built on, and partly occupied by an octagonal
entrance basin and graving dock. At the entrance to
the basin a wooden pier projected into the river sup-
ported on piles.
Buildings.
6
The general character of the buildings was somewhat
mean; principally brick, with a few timber-framed
structures, and here and there a stone erection. Since
the commencement of the century the increased wealth
of the town had led to a craving for something better,
and some of the architecture at this time erected would
be no disgrace to any town. Old Drury Lane, Fenwick
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
199
6
III.
1725.
Street, Water Street, &c., presented fine specimens of CHAP.
1 The
doorways elaborately carved and ornamented.¹
old Custom-house was by no means devoid of taste, and
some of the rising mansions in Hanover Street, especially
one near Seel Street (afterwards occupied as the Branch
Bank of England), were worthy of a town whose mer-
chants are princes, and whose traffickers are the honour-
able of the earth.' The new church of St. Peter was
certainly not much to boast of in point of design, but Churches.
the proposed church of St. George, the plans of which
were at this time in preparation, was a very handsome
building with a tower and spire of rare beauty.2
The seats vacant by the resignation of Sir Thomas
Johnson and the decease of Mr. Langham Booth were Election.
filled by Thomas (afterwards Sir Thomas) Bootle and
Thomas Brereton. They were both Liverpool men
identified with the interests of the town. The family of
Bootle or Botyll in all probability take their name from
the township (now the borough) of Bootle adjoining
Liverpool on the north, but had settled at Melling from
the time of Henry V. Hugh Botyll of Liverpole suc-
ceeded to the estates 9 & 10 Henry VI. Thomas Bootle,
of whom I am now speaking, was a man of some note. Thomas
He was a counsel learned in the law, chancellor to
Frederick, Prince of Wales, king's counsel, and Attorney-
General for the County Palatine of Durham. He served
for Liverpool in two Parliaments, and afterwards sat for
Midhurst. In 1751 he purchased Lathom House and
estates, which had previously passed out of the possession
of the Stanleys. Dying without issue his brother suc-
ceeded; whose daughter and heiress married Richard
Wilbraham of Rode Hall, Cheshire. Their son, Edward
1 Specimens of these may be seen in the plates to Herdman's 'Ancient
Liverpool,' first and second series.
2 The present church is not a reproduction of its predecessor, and in point
of style is the Satyr to Hyperion.
Bootle.
200
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1724.
Thomas
Brereton.
Bootle Wilbraham, M.P. successively for Newcastle-
under-Line, Clithero, and Dover, was created Baron Skel-
mersdale in 1828.
The other member, Thomas Brereton, although he
married a Cheshire heiress, I cannot identify with any of
the Cheshire families of that name. He seems to have
been connected with Liverpool, as he filled the civic
chair in 1732-3. He married Catherine, only daughter
and heiress of Salusbury Lloyd, Esq., of Ledbroke and
Shotwick, who bequeathed his estates to him on con-
dition of his assuming the name and arms of Salusbury,
which he accordingly did on his father-in-law's decease.
He represented Liverpool in four Parliaments, with one
A.D. 1727. intermission, from 1727 to his decease in 1754.
Owen
Brereton.
His
only son (by a previous marriage) was Owen Brereton,
who on succeeding to the estates, added the name of
Salusbury to his patronymic.
Owen Salusbury Brereton was a person of considerable
eminence in his day. He was born in 1715, educated at
Westminster School, from whence he passed to Trinity
College, Cambridge. He took to the profession of the
law, became ultimately a Bencher and the Treasurer of
Lincoln's Inn, and Baron of the Exchequer of the County
Palatine of Chester; represented Пlchester in Parliament,
was Vice-President of the Society of Arts from 1765 to
his death, and a member of the Royal and Antiquarian
Societies. He was appointed Recorder of Liverpool in
1746, and held the appointment for the long period of
fifty-two years. So greatly was he esteemed in Liver-
pool, that when in 1796 from age and infirmity he
proposed to resign, the corporation pressed him to retain
the office, and appointed a deputy to relieve him of its
more onerous duties. He died in 1798 in the eighty-
fourth year of his age, and was interred in St. George's
Chapel, Windsor. He was a man of literary tastes and
acquirements, a writer in the Archæologia,' and in 1774
published A Tour through South Wales and Shropshire.'
<
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
201
III.
1727.
The election of these gentlemen must have been con- CHAP.
tested, for a petition against the return was presented by
William Cotesworth and Thomas Ashurst, Esqrs., but
unsuccessfully. They were again returned to the first
Parliament of George II. Mr. Bootle being mayor in the
year 1726-7 was obliged to resign his office on the eve
of the election to avoid the disqualification arising from
his being the returning officer.
In 1729 Mr. Brereton was appointed to a post under A.D. 1729.
Government; a Commissionership of the Victualling
Office. On presenting himself to his constituents for
re-election, he was rejected in favour of Sir Thomas
Aston, Bart., of Aston Hall, Cheshire, the last scion of
a long race. Brereton petitioned against the return, but
his rival was declared duly elected.
Earl of
On St. Luke's Day, October 18, 1734, James, tenth Earl A.D. 1734.
of Derby, was elected mayor, on which occasion he gave Derby
a grand entertainment at his ancient mansion, the Tower mayor.
in Water Street. He subsequently, with the concurrence
of the two bailiffs, held a Common Hall of the free
buresses, at which sundry by-laws were made. This
was in direct contravention of the exclusive system which
in spite of all charters the council of Liverpool persisted
in maintaining.
6
Party spirit ran very high at this time in municipal
affairs. In Easter term, 1730, a mandamus was issued
against William Pole, one of the bailiffs, and against
Richard Norris and others, being twenty-two of the
council, to show cause by what warrant they without
the mayor and not being twenty-five of the common
council, of the town claim to use and enjoy the liberty,
privilege, and franchise of electing, approving, and ad-
mitting persons to be burgesses of the town.' This rule
after several pleadings was made absolute. This liti-
gation was protracted for some years, and during this
time the Earl of Derby upheld the popular rights. He Death of
was unfortunately cut off by death on February 1, 1735, James.
Earl
202
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
Council.
CHAP. before the expiration of his term of office, when the
council resumed their power and carried things with a
1734. high hand, dismissing the two bailiffs from their office of
common councilmen, declaring in express terms that
' in holding the common hall they had acted manifestly
in breach of the trust reposed in them as common coun-
cilmen.'
Election.
Richard
Gildart.
With the death of James, Earl of Derby, the inti-
mate connection which had subsisted for more than
three hundred years between the house of Stanley and
the town of Liverpool almost entirely ceased. The old
race, the Stanleys of Lathom House, who seem to have
taken a pride in filling the municipal offices and in the
interchange of hospitalities, terminated with him. The
new line, the Stanleys of Bickerstaffe, did not preserve
the same traditions. Within two years after Earl James's
decease, the old tower was sold to the Clayton family,
let to the corporation, and converted into the borough
gaol, the chapel being used as a public assembly room.
In 1734 a new Parliament was summoned in which
Liverpool reinstated Mr. Brereton, but rejected Mr.
Bootle after a smart contest, in which the numbers polled
were as follows: Thomas Brereton, 1,074; Richard
Gildart, 1,030; Thomas Bootle, 990; Sir Ellis Cunliffe,
941. The other member, Mr. Richard Gildart, was of
an old Liverpool family. His father, also named Richard,
had in 1709 purchased a portion of the Moore estates
on the north side of the town near Bevington Hill where
he resided. The street called Gildart's Gardens' com-
memorates the site of the house and grounds. Richard
junior, who married the daughter of Sir Thomas John-
son, was elected mayor in 1731 and again in 1736.
Francis Gildart, brother of the member, filled the office
of town clerk of Liverpool for the period of thirty-eight
years from 1742 to 1780. The family continued in
Liverpool down to the commencement of the present
century. The last representative was the Rev. James
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
203
Gildart, curate of St. Nicholas's Church from 1808 to
1813, and subsequently rector of High Wycombe,
Bucks.
Messrs. Brereton and Gildart continued to represent
the borough in the Parliaments of 1741 and 1747.
The next few years down to the rebellion of 1745
are singularly barren of incident in the annals of the
town.
CHAP.
III.
1734.
Circumstances had greatly changed since the former
outbreak in 1715. No doubt the barbarous severities
with which the earlier insurrection had been crushed
had left strong and resentful feelings in the minds of the
Catholic population of Lancashire, but a new generation
had sprung up in the interval to whom nonjuring and
Jacobite principles were strange and repulsive. Liver-
pool was intensely loyal. When the first news was A.D. 1745.
brought of the landing of Prince Charles in the Isle of Rebellion.
Skye, by a Liverpool captain who had touched there on
his passage from the Baltic, immediate action was taken.
An express was forwarded to the Secretary of State; a
trusty emissary was sent to Scotland to watch and report
on the progress of the rebels. Vigorous preparations Liverpool
were made for the defence of the town. All the powder prepara-
was carried on board the ships in the harbour, and all
boats and small craft removed from the shore. The zeal
of the inhabitants was practically shown by a subscrip-
tion amounting to 6,000l., of which the corporation con-
tributed 2,000l., for arming and equipping a regiment of
foot 648 strong, to be placed at the disposal of Go-
vernment. The regiment was raised and called the
Liverpool Blues.' The Honourable Colonel (afterwards
Brigadier-General) Graham received the command, with
Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon and Major Bendish as his
subordinates. For home service a battalion of six com-
panies of volunteers of seventy men each was raised
officered by leading men of the town.
Whilst these loyal exertions were being made in Liver-
tions.
204
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1745.
Man-
chester.
CHAP. pool, a very different scene was being enacted in a neigh-
bouring town. Manchester was at this time the head
quarters of Lancashire disaffection. One Doctor Deacon,
a nonjuring clergyman, who had a chapel or conventicle
Rebellion. in Fennel Street, was the leader of the Jacobites. He
was said to be in the confidence of the clergy of the col-
legiate church (now the cathedral), who were undoubtedly
strongly suspected by their diocesan, Bishop Peploe, of
treasonable practices, and not without cause, as subse-
quently appeared. As a specimen of the party feeling of
the period, it may be mentioned that a clergyman named
Richard Assheton was about this time elected chaplain
by the fellows, but rejected by the warden on the ground
as admitted by himself that he would never enter a
tavern called the George,' and never baptize a child by
that hated Hanoverian name.¹
Convivial meetings of the adherents of the Stuarts,
at which many of the clergy attended, were regularly
held in different taverns in Manchester and the neigh-
bourhood, at which the health of the king ‘over the
water' was drunk in toasts pottle deep. The agent of
the Pretender was Colonel Townley of Townley, who,
though a Roman Catholic, was in intimate association
with the collegiate clergy. On November 28, 1745,
the vanguard of the rebel army entered Manchester, and
on the following morning, the main body joined them
and encamped in St. Ann's Square, then newly built.
Their friends collected in crowds and greeted them with
a hearty welcome. A regiment was raised in Manchester
as in Liverpool, but it was for the service of the opposite
side. Commissions were eagerly sought after, that of
a captain being sold for 50l. Three sons of Dr. Deacon
were officers in the corps. Thomas Syddall, son of the
barber who took so conspicuous a part in the rising of
1715, was adjutant, and made an active and able officer.
One of the first enrolled was Captain James Dawson, the
"
1 Nonconformity in Lancashire,' by R. Halley, D.D., vol. ii. p. 371.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
205
1
CHAP.
1745.
'Jemmy Dawson' of Shenstone's touching ballad. The III.
Rev. Thomas Coppock, of Brazenose College, Oxon, a
teacher in the grammar school, was appointed chaplain.
Dressed in full canonicals, he accompanied a drummer Rebellion.
through the town, and exhorted the townsmen in the
name of their God to enlist in the service of their rightful
sovereign. The regiment mustered about 500 strong.
On Saturday, November 29, the prince was pro-
claimed in St. Ann's Square amidst loud applause. The
Rev. Mr. Clayton, one of the chaplains of the collegiate
church, offered prayers for the new king in the public
street of Salford. The rejoicings and festivities of the
day were closed with fireworks in the evening. On
Sunday, November 30, a grand demonstration was made.
Being St. Andrew's Day, service was celebrated in the
collegiate church according to the liturgy of the Scottish
Episcopal Church. The new Manchester regiment mus-
tered in the churchyard with their flag inscribed · Church
and country.' The men mounted blue and white cockades,
and the officers wore waistcoats of Stuart tartan. Ladies
with tartan ribbons, plaids, and shawls, crowded the
church and paraded the streets. In the church, Prince
Charles occupied the warden's seat, and Mr. Coppock
preached a sermon from the text "The Lord is King, let
the earth be glad thereof.' Everything demonstrated an
amount of enthusiasm which entirely cowed the Hano-
verian adherents, who for the time withdrew from the
scene.
The Liverpool loyal regiment had marched on No- Liverpool
vember 15, directing its course to Warrington, breaking regiment.
down the bridges as it proceeded. At Warrington they
encountered a reconnoitring party of Highlanders whom
they took prisoners. The regiment was then ordered
1 Young Dawson was a gallant boy,
A brighter never trod the plain;
And well he loved one charming maid,
And dearly was he loved again, &c.
206
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1745.
Liverpool
Blues at
Carlisle.
One
to Liverpool to defend the town in case of attack.
of the most zealous volunteers in the regiment was Mr.
John Johnson, a relative of the former member, Sir
Thomas Johnson, who was the pastor of a Baptist con-
gregation at the foot of Stanley Street. The Manchester
Jacobite regiment in the beginning of December fol-
lowed Prince Charles in his advance to Derby beyond
Macclesfield; but their zeal soon began to flag. They
saw that a collapse was imminent, and seeing many of
their Scotch allies already turning their faces northward,
a sort of panic seized them, and in despite of the indig-
nant remonstrances of their chaplain, Coppock, and their
adjutant, Syddall, the most earnest and thorough of their
band, they made the best of their way homeward, and
dispersed for safety.¹
When the Duke of Cumberland advanced northward
in pursuit of the rebels, the Liverpool Blues were ordered
to join him and were present at the siege of Carlisle.
The Liverpool corporation, aware that the northern
counties had been plundered by the enemy and that
provisions would be scarce, transmitted thirteen tons of
biscuit to the army then before Carlisle, which were
received very graciously by the duke. After the sur-
render of Carlisle the Liverpool Blues were dismissed
from further service with very high compliments for their
conduct and bearing. In a letter written by an officer
of the staff, the writer says: No regiment in the cam-
paign made a better appearance than the Liverpool
Blues; their officers were a set of soldier-like gentlemen,
though they had not been bred in the military way;
being mostly gentlemen, tradesmen, &c., yet had a very
good discipline, having thrown off their trade and mer-
chandise for a time, and ventured their lives and fortunes
and everything dear to them in defence of their king and
6
1 For most of the particulars relating to Manchester at the rebellion I
am indebted to the Rev. Dr. Halley's Puritanism and Nonconformity in
Lancashire.'
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
207
III.
country. Such men ought to be had in the greatest CHAP.
esteem by all true lovers of our happy constitution.'
So ended the last passage of arms which it is to be hoped
Liverpool and Manchester will ever see.
1745.
sion of
tions.
The suppression of the rebellion produced the usual Suppres-
bloody harvest, though the executions were not quite so rebellion.
indiscriminate as in 1715. Coppock, the chaplain, was Execu-
executed at Carlisle in full canonicals and prayed on the
scaffold for his true and lawful superior, Prince Charles.
Adjutant Syddall and Lieutenant Deacon were sent to
London and executed on Kennington Common, dying
with wonderful calmness and heroism. Syddall spent an
hour in his private devotions. While he was so engaged
a pile of faggots, by which his heart was to be burned,
accidentally ignited. He calmly looked on the fire and
prayed 'Lord, help me!' He avowed his faith in the
true British Church, not the corrupt Church of the Pope,
nor the schismatical Church of the Hanoverians. He
prayed for James III. his rightful king, and for Charles
Edward and Henry Benedict, the true Prince of Wales
and Duke of York. He entreated God to forgive his
enemies, and protested that he had acted from a deep and
settled conviction of the justice of the cause for which he
was ready to die. Finally he prayed, May all my dear
children have grace to tread the dangerous steps which
have led me to this place, and may they also have the
courage and constancy to endure to the end, and to de-
spise power when it is opposed to duty." The heads of
Syddall and Deacon were sent to Manchester, and placed Man-
on poles on the Exchange. Dr. Deacon was among the chester.
first who went to look upon the head of his son and that
of his friend. He raised his hat, and uncovered thanked
God for their faith and constancy. His friends per-
formed the same act of reverence, and as long as the
heads remained upon the Exchange, the Jacobites never
passed without respectfully stopping and raising their
1
1 IIalley, 'Nonconformity in Lancashire,' vol. ii. p. 376.
208
CHAP.
III.
1745.
Riots.
Liverpool.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
hats. A reaction of course took place. A day of public
thanksgiving was observed, when the partisans of the
House of Brunswick, who had skulked in the shades when
danger threatened, now came out in all the exuberance
of demonstrative loyalty. St. Ann's church and Cross
Street meeting-house were as gay with Orange ribbons
as the collegiate church had been in November with the
Stuart tartan. Unfortunately, it did not end in mere
show. A Whig mob collected and attacked the house.
of Dr. Deacon, mourning for his son, and of widow
Syddall weeping for her husband with her four orphan
children, and in cruel mockery of their grief made them
contribute to the illumination by putting lights in their
windows.
In Liverpool, the same ungovernable excitement
arose, but with far less cause, since the town had been
A.D. 1746. thoroughly loyal throughout. On April 30, 1746, a mob
Riots in of ship carpenters, sailors, and others, attacked and set
fire to the Roman Catholic chapel of St. Mary, Edmond
Street, which they completely destroyed with four ad-
joining houses and all their contents. On Tuesday,
May 20, the riots were renewed when the mob attacked
the house of a widow lady, in which there was a private
Catholic chapel; the mayor and town clerk, with what
feeble police the town could muster, attended and read
the Riot Act, but all in vain; they were driven off by
the mob, who set fire to the house and carried off as
plunder whatever was rescued from the flames.
A.D. 1748.
A.D. 1751.
Court of
Requests.
In 1748 the first stone of the new town-hall was
laid, to which I shall have again to refer in a future.
chapter.
In 1751 an Act was obtained for the establishment of
a Court of Requests' for the recovery of debts under
forty shillings. The court was constituted of seventeen
commissioners, amongst whom were to be the recorder,
two aldermen, and four common councillors, and the
remaining ten, discreet and reputable inhabitants of the
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
209
CHAP.
III.
town. They were to sit every Wednesday. This court
continued with various modifications subsequently in-
troduced, until it was finally merged into the County 1751.
Court.
town.
We have now reached the middle of the eighteenth Survey of
century, and it may be well to pause and take a general
view of the progress made and of the position of the
town at this time. In this survey we are considerably
aided by a local publication¹ issued in 1753, eked out A.D. 1753.
from other sources.
From a little above 5,000 at the beginning of the
century the population now amounted to upwards of
22,000. The town had broken the natural barrier of
the stream by which it was limited, and had extended
into a new quarter southward and eastward, with more
spacious and regular streets. The style of building Buildings.
had greatly improved. Many of the more recent man-
sions would not have disgraced the metropolis. At the
beginning of the century Liverpool was a mere hamlet
in the parish of Walton, with a small chapel of ease.
Now she could boast of a separate parish, with two rec-
tors, and four churches with towers and spires, two of
them at least very handsome buildings, and seven Non-
conformist places of worship, of which none existed in
1700. Of other public buildings there existed the Ex-
change in course of erection, the Custom House, the
Infirmary and Seamen's Hospital at the top of Shaw's
Brow, and the Blue Coat Hospital.
In
The progress made during the half century is probably Shipping.
most clearly shown in the increase of its commerce.
1700 the number of vessels entering the port was 102,
with a tonnage of 8,619 tons. In 1751 the number of
ships was 543, with a tonnage of 31,731. In 1700 no
docks whatever existed for the accommodation of ships.
In 1750 the docks covered an area of eighteen acres,
¹ Williamson's 'Liverpool Memorandum Book' for the year 1753.
VOL. I.
Р
J
210
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1753.
Manufac-
tures.
with a length of quay frontage of more than a mile and
a half.
The number of ships belonging to the port was 347,
of which there were engaged in the West India and
North American trades, 106; in the African trade, 88;
in the trade with Europe, 28; and in the coasting and
Irish trades, 125; besides 80 river craft, of 40 to 70 tons
each, engaged in the coal and salt trades.
At this time the principal manufactures in the town
were blue and white earthenware and china-which has
entirely disappeared-and watches, a trade in which
Liverpool still successfully competes with London and
Coventry.
Markets. The markets of the town were in 1750 situated as
follows: the butchers in High Street on the site of the
present Exchange flags; the fish markets in Pool Lane
(South Castle Street) and Chapel Street; and the general
markets round St. George's Church, in Castle Ditch, and
at the White Cross-the intersection of Tithebarn and
Oldhall Streets.
Amuse-
ments.
Roads.
Public amusements were provided by the theatre in
Drury Lane, the tennis court in Dale Street, and two
bowling greens, bowling being at this time a very fashion-
able game. Balls and assemblies were accommodated in
the ancient chapel in the Tower.
It does not appear that at this time any newspaper
was published in Liverpool. Attempts had been made
some years previously, but without success. The first
number of Williamson's Advertiser' appeared on May
25, 1756.
Notwithstanding the commercial progress made by the
town during the previous fifty years, the facilities for
travelling remained in a very rude and primitive condition.
There was no highway into the town fit for carriages.
No stage coach or public conveyance approached nearer
than Warrington. The general mode of travelling was
on horseback.
It is advertised that every Friday morn-
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
211
ing, William Knowles, George Glover, or others started
from the 'Swan with Two Necks,' Lad Lane, London,
with a gang of horses for the conveyance of passengers
and light goods, and reached Liverpool on the Monday
evening following.
The London and foreign post came in every Sunday,
Tuesday, and Friday morning, and departed on the
evening of the same day it arrived.
CHAP.
III.
1753.
for charter.
Although repeated decisions by the courts of law had Municipal.
demonstrated the illegality of their proceedings, the com-
mon council continued their system of self-election, and
making by-laws without the consent of the burgesses.
In order to legalise these usurped powers, the exercise of
which led to continual litigation, the council in 1751 Petition
petitioned the Crown for an explanatory and confirmatory
charter. They allege in their petition that the governing
charter of William III., though it did not give the power
in express terms, was evidently intended to enable the
council to make by-laws, in the same manner as was
provided in the abrogated charter of Charles II.; and
they pray accordingly that this power may be given.
They also desire to increase the number of justices by
placing on the commission four additional aldermen next
to the senior alderman who already possessed the dig-
nity. The petition was referred to the Attorney and Charter
Solicitor-General, Sir Dudley Ryder, and Mr. (afterwards
Lord) Mansfield, who recommended that the petition
should be withdrawn excepting so far as it related to the
appointment of additional justices and other minor
matters. This was accordingly done, and a short charter
was granted which confirmed all former privileges, but
left the council as to their authority in the same situation
as they stood by the charter of William III. Notwith-
standing this rebuff the council still continued to make
by-laws as before, but they were rarely acted upon, and
in case of resistance were never enforced by legal pro-
ceedings.
refused.
j
P 2
212
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1754.
Election.
•
In the autumn of 1754 a new Parliament was elected,
to which Liverpool returned the old member Thomas
Brereton, who had now assumed the name of Salusbury,
and John Hardman. Mr. Hardman belonged to a family
Hardman. settled in Rochdale. About 1735, having married the
only daughter of Alderman Cockshutt,' he established
himself in Liverpool, and purchased from Mr. Percival
the Allerton Hall estate, where he resided. His parlia-
mentary career was cut short by death within a few
months after his election. His brother, Mr. James
Hardman, a wealthy Rochdale manufacturer, who had
married a Liverpool lady, came to reside at Allerton
Hall, which had been rebuilt by his brother. He died
in 1759. His widow was a lady of intelligence and
acquirements, and of great benevolence of character.
She lived to an advanced age, and died in 1799. Mr.
Roscoe, who was her intimate friend for many years,
wrote a tribute to her memory which thus concludes:
'A life of temperance and virtue secured to her an old
age of cheerfulness and respectability, and enabled her
to wait the close of her days with calmness and resigna-
tion.
Mrs.
Hardman.
'When Virtue nipt in early bloom
Untimely from the world retires,
With just regret we mourn the doom
That blasts the hope which youth inspires.
'But when to Virtue's arduous task
Extended length of days is given
The work complete, no more we ask
But yield the ripened fruit to Heaven.'
At her death Mr. Roscoe purchased the Hall and the
greater part of the estate, which was afterwards sold to
Mr. Pattinson Ellames, formerly an attorney in Liverpool.
For many years there was a protracted litigation respect-
ing this estate arising out of a disputed succession in the
1 John Cockshutt came from Stanton Harold, Leicestershire. He was
bailiff in 1698, mayor in 1702.
1
213
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
III.
Hardman family, which was not decided until a com- CHAP.
paratively recent period.
Mr. Brereton Salusbury, the other member, also died
during the year of his election. The vacant seats were
filled by Sir Ellis Cunliffe, Bart., and Mr. Charles Pole.
1754.
The family of the Cunliffes were settled from very Cunliffe.
early times at Cunliffe or Cunlive near Whalley, and
afterwards at Hollings near Haslingden and at Whycollar
near Colne. Foster Cunliffe came to Liverpool as a youth Foster
about the beginning of the century, and seems to have Cunliffe.
been connected with Richard Norris, the friend of Sir
Thomas Johnson and M.P. for Liverpool in 1708. In
1706, Henry Watts, landlord of the Axe Inn,' Alder-
manbury, London-a great resort of Liverpool travellers
-writes to Richard Norris: I thank
you for your kind
remembrance in recommending Mr. Cunliffe to my house,
and him for his good company; please to give my
service,' &c.
6
The young merchant was enterprising and successful,
and soon came into notice. In 1708, at the age of twenty-
three, he was made bailiff, and he filled the civic chair
in 1716, 1729, and 1735. He was an active, vigorous,
energetic man, a fitting successor in the town's affairs to
Sir Thomas Johnson, than whom, however, he was more
fortunate, having realised before his decease in 1758 a
very large fortune. He was one of the first to appreciate
and turn to account the incipient African trade in slaves.
'When he began work as a merchant, the traffic of
Liverpool was chiefly with Ireland and the English coast
towns, while the Virginian tobacco trade was just rising
into importance. At the time of his death, that trade,
though still vigorous, had become insignificant in com-
parison with the newer African trade.¹
Though somewhat stern and obstinate in character, he
was a liberal and benevolent man. He was successively
treasurer and president of the Infirmary, and was a liberał
1 English Merchants,' vol. ii. p. 58.
(
214
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
contributor both to that charity and the Blue School, to
which he gave 1000l. The idea of anything contrary to
1754. religion or morality in the slave trade never troubled the
consciences of the worthies of that period. A handsome
monument to the memory of Foster Cunliffe was erected
in the chancel of St. Peter's, in which he is described as
A merchant whose sagacity, honesty, and diligence pro-
cured wealth and credit to himself and his country; a
magistrate who administered justice with discernment,
candour, and impartiality; a Christian devout and ex-
emplary,' &c. His son Ellis Cunliffe represented Liver-
pool in Parliament from 1754 to the time of his death in
1767. He was appointed a Lord of Trade and Plantations
in 1762 and made a baronet, which distinction his descen-
dants continue to enjoy. He was succeeded in the title.
by his brother Robert, who purchased the estate of Acton
Park, Denbighshire, which is still the family residence.
His grandson, Foster Cunliffe, married the only daughter
of Lord Crewe, and represented Chester in Parliament.
He was prematurely cut off in the prime of life in the
year 1832.
Sir Ellis
Cunliffe.
Pole.
A.D. 1755.
Sankey
Canal.
The other member, Charles Pole, who succeeded Mr.
Brereton Salusbury, belonged to an old Liverpool family,
various members of which have at different times filled
the civic chair and other municipal offices. He was a
merchant, carrying on business both in Liverpool and
London, and had recently left Liverpool to reside in the
metropolis. He was maternal uncle to Sir Ellis Cunliffe.
In 1755 the Act was passed (28 George II. chap. 28)
for rendering navigable the Sankey Brook, connecting the
St. Helen's coal-field with the River Mersey. This was
really the first navigable canal constructed in England.
The navigations,' as they were called, hitherto con-
structed, had been merely the widening, deepening, and
straightening the course of existing rivers; but in this
instance the genius of Brindley struck out a bolder path
which has ever since been adopted. He found it easier
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
215
III.
1755.
Canal.
to construct an independent channel, avoiding altogether CHAP.
the sinuosities and irregularities of the natural stream,
but making use of it to feed the canal and take off its
superfluous waters when necessary. So fixed was this Sankey
idea in Brindley's mind, that when on a subsequent occa-
sion he was under examination before a committee of the
House of Commons on a canal bill, and very enthusiastic
in his preference for canals over river navigation, being
asked what he thought was the use of rivers, he promptly
replied, 'to feed canals.'
The Sankey navigation was opened in June 1759, and
very soon proved a mine of wealth to its fortunate pro-
prietors. There was a peculiarity about this canal which
is worthy of being put on record. When the Act was
obtained for its construction, the landowners on the line
were apprehensive that if teams of horses were permitted
along the towing path, injury would be caused by
trespassing; a clause was therefore inserted, that the
barges were not to be drawn by horses. Since the
wind was generally insufficient to impel them, it was
necessary that human aid should be brought in. Gangs
of men were therefore employed six or eight abreast
yoked to a common rope, who wearily tugged the barges
along the eight or ten miles of their course. This grew
up into a profession and a vested right, insomuch that
when an Act was applied for to do away with this de-
grading practice, there was a general rising against it
amongst those employed, which was with difficulty
suppressed.
France.
The seven years' war with France and Spain which AD. 1756.
broke out in 1756, and after very humiliating disasters War with
terminated so gloriously for England at the peace of
Paris in 1763, had a very important bearing on the
commerce of Liverpool.
The French commenced the war with considerable
spirit, and in addition to their regular navy, overran the
narrow seas with swift, well-armed privateers. The result
216
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP,
III.
1756.
French
was such an enormous increase in the premium for in-
surance against sea risks as almost to put an end to com-
mercial operations. From twelve to twenty-five guineas
privateers. per cent. were the ordinary rates of insurance. Restricted
in one direction, the Liverpool merchants took a lesson.
Liverpool from the enemy, and armed and sent out their merchant
ships as privateers, acting on the maxim of ancient Pistol :
privateers.
Why then the world's mine oyster
Which I with sword will open.
The first privateer sent out was the 'Anson,' of 150 tons
and 100 men, carrying sixteen guns and twenty-four
swivels. She soon returned with two French West India-
men as prizes worth 20,000l. The next, the 'Brave
Blakeney,' was equally successful. This naturally caused
great excitement in the port. The whole community
rushed into privateering, and shares in these expeditions
were as eagerly sought after as railway shares, in the
feverish period ninety years subsequently. Even the
ordinary trading ships partook of a quasi-naval character.
Advertisements like the following were common: With
or without convoy for Jamaica, and will sail in May
(1759) from Liverpool, the new ship "Nancy," Benjamin
Holland, commander; burthen 500 tons; carries 22 car-
riage-guns of 9 and 6 pounders, 10 swivels, and 70 men,
and will carry a Letter of Marque.'
6
6
The 'Nancy' was ultimately captured by the French on
her voyage from Liverpool to Jamaica. One of the most
noted of the Liverpool privateers was the Liverpool,'
which was launched and fitted out soon after the com-
A.D. 1758. mencement of the war. On September 8, 1758, the fol-
lowing advertisement appeared in Williamson's Adver-
tiser:"
6
6
For a third cruise against the enemies of Great Bri-
tain. The ship privateer "Liverpool," under the com-
mand of Captain John Ward, and will be ready for sea
as soon as possible. She carries 22 guns (18 of which
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
217
are 12-pounders) and 160 men. All gentlemen, seamen,
and others, who are willing to try their fortunes, may
apply to the commander, or Mr. Henry Hardware, mer-
chant.'
The promises of glory and prize-money thus held out
do not appear to have been sufficiently attractive, for on
September 15 we read in the same journal the following
statement:
CHAP.
III.
1758.
Privateers.
Mons.
On Saturday last Captain William Hutchinson, late
commander and part owner of the "Liverpool" privateer
(notwithstanding he had appointed his lieutenant to the
command of the ship, intending to stay at home, in order
to promote his scheme of supplying this market with live
fish), proposed to undertake the command of her once
more, and attempt to curb the insolence of Mons. Thurot,
of the "Marshal Belleisle" privateer, cruising in the north Thurot.
channel to interrupt the trade of this neighbourhood; upon
which the principal merchants generously opened a sub-
scription to indemnify the owners of the privateer, and to
advance each seaman five guineas in hand for one month's
cruise, exclusive of their right to the customary shares of
prize-money. Notwithstanding 207 seamen had signed
the articles, yet as soon as the ship was ready for sea on
Tuesday only 28 appeared, which obliged the subscribers
to drop the cruise, knowing that unless she got out im-
mediately, it would be impossible to execute the proposed
expedition in time.'
The cruise was accordingly abandoned, the ship was
sold by auction on April 12, 1759, and subsequently em-
ploped in trading between New York and Liverpool.
6
A circumstance occurred in 1756, related by Smollett A.D. 1756.
the historian, which exhibits in a striking point of view
the pluck and daring of the Liverpool privateers-men.
The St. George' of Liverpool, carrying twelve guns and
eighty men, commanded by Fortunatus Wright, was in Fortu-
the port of Leghorn, when a large French xebeque,
mounted with sixteen guns and about 160 men, fixed her
natus
Wright.
218
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
CHAP.
III.
station at the mouth of the harbour to intercept British
commerce. Wright could not brook this insult; he
1756. weighed anchor, hoisted sail, engaged the xebeque, and
after an obstinate action, in which the French captain,
lieutenant, and about sixty men were killed, he returned
to the harbour in triumph with the captured vessel. In
his voyage home to England, his vessel foundered, and
all on board perished.
M. Thurot.
About this time great alarm and consternation were
caused by the proceedings of Mons. Thurot, a daring
French adventurer, who had brought out of Dunkirk a
small squadron of privateers, and almost swept away the
commerce of the Irish Channel and the west of Scotland.
The state of feeling in Liverpool is displayed in the
following paragraph from Williamson's Advertiser,' of
A.D. 1759. November 9, 1759:
alarm.
'On Sunday evening the account of a French squadron
being sailed from Dunkirk, destined for the north chan-
nel, arrived here; upon which Lawrence Spencer, Esq.,
Mayor, convened the gentlemen merchants and trades-
men at the Exchange, to consider of putting the town
Liverpool immediately into a proper state of defence against any
sudden attempt of the enemy, when it was unanimously
resolved to "enter into an association and subscription
for defending the town in the best manner," and a com-
mittee of gentlemen was appointed to manage the whole.
Expresses were that night despatched to His Majesty
praying for a commission to be granted to the Mayor in
the same manner as was done in the year 1745, and as
soon as the commission comes down it is proposed to
raise at least 20 companies of 100 men each. At the
request of the committee a return of the muskets in the
hands of the merchants and dealers has been made, and
it is found that on an emergency upwards of 4,000 men
may be completely armed, exclusive of the arms in pri-
vate persons' hands; and it is expected that the gentlemen
of the field and saddle will form themselves into squadrons
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
219
CHAP.
III.
1759.
Prepara-
tions for
of light horse, being at least 500 strong. Pilot boats.
have been sent out and properly stationed to give the
earliest intelligence in case of the enemy's steering this
course, and regular measures concerted to destroy on
their approach all the buoys, and blow up the landmarks defence.
leading into the harbour. To-morrow being Saturday,
November 10th, the anniversary of the birth of our most
gracious Sovereign George II., the five new batteries
will be opened, and a royal salute given on the occasion.
They are deemed the completest of the kind in England,
and were erected at the private expense of the gentlemen
merchants and tradesmen, who voluntarily opened a sub-
scription for that purpose; and consist of two batteries
d'enfilade scouring the whole river; a battery en charpe,
which plays obliquely; a battery per camerade, so con-
trived as to fire at the same time upon one body; and a
battery in form zigzag, making several angles, completely
sheltering the garrison from being enfiladed or fired on
in a straight line. This week upwards of 70 heavy cannon
have been mounted on the platforms, and several hundred
men employed in completing them."1
Mons. Thurot continued his depredations for some
time with impunity. He is heard of occasionally pick-
ing up a great many of our merchantmen,' whilst the
British fleet was lying in harbour deliberating what course
to adopt. He lost by bad weather two of his ships and
half his men. About the middle of February 1760, he A.D. 1760.
put into the Isle of Islay, and procuring some provisions,
crossed the channel to Carrickfergus, which he took and
plundered after a short siege. On the approach of some
troops sent by the lord lieutenant, he took to his ships,
carrying off the mayor of the town and three of the prin-
cipal inhabitants. His career, however, was drawing to
a close. On March 4 he was attacked off the north-west Defeat of
coast of the Isle of Man by Captain Elliott, with a squadron Thurot.
1 One of these batteries was erected in St. Nicholas's Churchyard, on the
lower ground fronting the river.
220
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1760.
Volun-
teers.
Losses by
of three ships. Thurot and his men fought with desperate
valour, and he fell covered with wounds on his own deck.
His three ships were taken and carried as prizes to the
Isle of Man.
6
The efforts of the corporation and inhabitants to raise
a volunteer force for the defence of the town were
crowned with success; for we read on March 14, 1760,
On Tuesday last, Col. Spencer's (the Mayor), Capt.
William Ingram's, and Capt. John Tarleton's independent
companies of this town, were reviewed by the Right
Hon. the Earl of Scarborough, in Price's (now Cleveland)
Square, and went through the manual exercise, platoon
and street firing, &c. The companies were all clothed
in their new uniforms, at their own private expense; the
Colonel's company in blue, lapelled and faced with buff;
Capt. Ingram's in scarlet coats and breeches, lapelled and
faced with green; green waistcoats, gold laced hats and
queue wigs; and Capt. Tarleton's in blue, with gold
vellum button holes; Capt. Thomas Johnson's company
of the train of artillery wear the uniform of the navy,
blue and buff with gold laced hats.'
It has been sometimes asserted that the merchants of
privateers. Liverpool greatly enriched themselves in the last century
by the practice of privateering. At a subsequent period
there were a few exceptional instances of this, but during
the Seven Years' War the results to the Liverpool mer-
chants were most disastrous. From a list published in July
1760, it appears that in four years from the commence-
ment of the war there had been taken by the French, of
vessels belonging to Liverpool alone, the number of 143,
or 36 in each year. The tonnage is not given; but as
they were all sea-going vessels, principally in the West
India and American trades, the losses must have been
3
enormous.
The pursuits of the Liverpool merchants during a great
part of the eighteenth century will not bear very severe
scrutiny in a moral point of view, taking the standpoint
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY..
221
of the present day. The practice of privateering could
not but blunt the feelings of humanity of those engaged
in it, combining as it did the greed of the gambler with
the ferocity of the pirate. War is hateful in any form,
but undertaken by a nation with the discipline and cour-
tesies of a regular force, it assumes an amount of dignity
which hides to some extent its harsher features; whilst
marauding expeditions undertaken by private parties
combine all the evils without any of the heroism of war;
greed is the motive power, and robbery and murder the
means of its gratification. Its influence on the commu-
nity which encourages it cannot but be deleterious.
CHAP.
III.
1760.
trade.
Another pursuit which can hardly be held in higher Slave
estimation, morally, had now assumed in Liverpool a very
extensive and important character. I allude to the
African slave trade.
The early slave trade was conducted by an English
joint-stock undertaking, called the African Asiento¹ Čom-
pany, which in 1689 entered into a contract to supply
the Spanish West Indies with slaves. This Company
obtained a royal charter, which was abrogated by the
Bill of Rights (1 William & Mary c. 2), but the Company
continued to be masters of the situation, carrying things
with a high hand, and seizing the ships of private traders.
They had a depôt in Kingston, Jamaica, for the reception
of their human cargoes, called the Southsea House.
A.D. 1689.
Bristol was the first to interfere with the Company's Bristol.
monopoly, after it had been rendered illegal by the
Sections 1 & 2 of the Bill of Rights (1689), and carried
on the trade under considerable disadvantages, until the
Asiento Company was broken up in 1698, and the trade
thrown open. In the early part of the eighteenth century
the Bristol merchants exported slaves from Africa to the
Windward islands and Virginia, which gave them great
advantages in the return voyage with West India pro-
¹ Asiento in Spanish means a contract or undertaking.
222
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1689.
Slave
Trade.
duce.¹ Liverpool at that time being engaged in the
exportation of Manchester goods to Jamaica, to supply
the contraband trade with the Spanish main, had no
inducement to enter into the slave trade. In 1709, a
single barque of 30 tons burden from Liverpool made a
venture, and carried 15 slaves across the Atlantic. No-
A.D. 1730. thing more was done for the next 21 years, but in 1730,
15 vessels were despatched of the average burden of 75
tons each. The Liverpool trade was stimulated at this
time by the failure of the Asiento Company to fulfil their
engagements for the delivery of slaves to the Spaniards.
The commerce was contraband, but was carried on with
ease between the north coast of Jamaica and the south
A.D. 1733. coast of Cuba. In 1737, the number of slave ships from
Liverpool had increased to 33. The Grenville treaty of
1747, alluded to in the preceding pages, by cutting off
the legitimate trade in Manchester goods threw a great
temptation in the way of the Liverpool merchants to
AD. 1751 employ their ships in the African trade. In 1751, 53
ships sailed from Liverpool for Africa, of 5,334 tons in
the aggregate. From this time the trade set in with
such a steady current, that it soon became one of the
most lucrative branches of the commerce of the port.
The voyage was threefold. The ships sailed from Liver-
pool for the west coast of Africa, where they shipped
the slaves from depôts where their living freight had
been collected; thence to the West India islands, where
the slaves were sold, and the proceeds brought home in
cargoes of sugar and rum. Custom has a wonderful
effect in blinding the moral perceptions. Many of the
merchants engaged in the trade were honourable, kind-
hearted, benevolent men in their own sphere, and when
we remember that John Newton, subsequently the cele-
brated rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, was actually study-
ing for the ministry whilst in command of a slave ship,
John
Newton
1 From 1701 to 1709, fifty-seven ships per annum were employed in this
trade.
EIGHTEENTII CENTURY.
223
CHAP.
III.
1751.
Trade.
we must make large allowance for circumstances and
associations. At the same time no casuistry can convert
wrong into right; the perversion of the instincts of
humanity must, to some extent, undermine the foun- Slave
dation of all morals, and imperceptibly lower the tone
of the society in which it is allowed. It cannot be
denied that such was the result in Liverpool during the
last century.
The capture of the French West India islands gave a
great impulse to the trade, which was further stimulated
by the bounties and prohibitory duties in favour of West
Indian produce. Liverpool became the great emporium
of this traffic. The greatest number of slaves deported
in English bottoms was about 60,000 per annum, of
which Liverpool ships carried about one-half. From a
return in the year 1771, during that year 105 ships A.D. 1771.
sailed from Liverpool for Africa, and carried to the
West Indies 28,200 negroes. In 1788, when the ques-
tion of the suppression began to be agitated, it was
stated that the profit to Liverpool from the slave trade
amounted to 300,000l. per annum. At the period we
have now reached (1760) the trade was in the full tide A.D. 1760.
of prosperity, and no warning voice, except the feeble
wail of a few obscure Quakers, had as yet been raised
against its enormity.
lading.
A bill of lading of a cargo of slaves may now be Bill of
looked at with some curiosity. I give the following,
copied verbatim et literatim from the original:
Shipped by the grace of God in good order and well-con-
ditioned, by Irving and Fraser, in and upon the good snow
called the Byam, whereof is master under God for this present
voyage George Martin, and now riding at anchor in the Ris-
pongo, and by God's grace bound for the West Indies; to say
two hundred and eight slaves, being marked and numbered as
in the margin; and are to be delivered in the like good order
and well-conditioned at the aforesaid port of West Indies, the
danger of the sea, mortality and insurrection only excepted;
224
CHAP
III.
1760.
Slave
Trade.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
unto order or their assigns. Freight for the slaves paid,
vessel belonging to the owners, with primage and average
accustomed. In witness whereof the master and purser of the
said ship hath affirmed to three bills of lading, all of this tenor
and date; one of which bills being accomplished, the other
two to stand void; and so God send the good ship to her
desired port in safety. Amen. Dated in Kissing, 14th May,
1803.
In the margin:
Men
GEO. MARTIN.
A.D. 1765
Women
Boys
Girls
Died
Shipped.
97
39
44
25
205
3
208
It will be observed that in this precious document the
name of God is invoked four times for His blessing on
the transaction.
The traffic in human flesh and blood was not kept
altogether at a distance, but polluted our own country
by its hateful presence, until the noble stand made by
Granville Sharp in the case of the negro Somerset in 1772
led to the memorable decision by the twelve judges,
that 'slaves cannot breathe in England.' The following
advertisement appears in Williamson's 'Liverpool Ad-
vertiser' of September 8, 1758:
Run away from Dent, in Yorkshire, on Monday the 28th
August last, Thomas Anson, a negro man about 5 ft. 6 ins.
high, aged 20 years and upwards, and broadset. Whoever
will bring the said man back to Dent, or give any information
that he may be had again, shall receive a handsome reward,
from Mr. Edmund Sill, of Dent; or Mr. David Kenyon, mer-
chant in Liverpool.
The following appeared in 1765:
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
225
CHAP.
III.
1765.
To be sold by auction at George's Coffee-house, betwixt the
hours of six and eight o'clock, a very fine negro girl about
eight years of age, very healthy, and hath been some time
from the coast. Any person willing to purchase the same Sales of
may apply to Capt. Robert Syers, at Mr. Bartley Hodgett's, negroes.
Mercer and Draper near the Exchange, where she may be
seen till the time of sale.
(
In Williamson's Advertiser' of September 12, 1766,
the following advertisement appeared:
To be sold
At the Exchange Coffee House in Water Street, this day the
12th inst. September, at one o'clock precisely,
Eleven negroes
Imported per the Angola.
**
BROKER.
letters.
We have a glimpse of Liverpool in 1760 from the A.D. 1760.
pen of no less a personage than the Master of the
Ceremonies at Bath (Samuel Derrick), who published Derrick's
in 1767 a small volume entitled, 'Letters written from
Leverpoole, Chester, Corke, &c., by Samuel Derrick.'
After describing the river and the docks-then three in
number he states, that the docks are flanked with
broad commodious quays, surrounded by handsome
brick houses, inhabited for the most part by seafaring
people, and communicating with the town by draw-
bridges and floodgates, which a man must be wary in
crossing over, as they are pretty narrow.'
6
He gives a description of the Exchange (now the
Town-hall) as it existed in its original condition :
6
The Exchange is a handsome square structure of
grey stone supported by arches. Being blocked up on
two sides with old houses, it is so very dark that little
or no business can be transacted in it; but the merchants
assemble in the street opposite to it, as they used to do
before it was erected, and even a heavy shower can
scarcely drive them to a harbour.
In the upper part are
VOL. I.
?
Town-hall.
226
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1760.
CHAP. noble apartments wherein the corporation transact public
business. The court-room is remarkably handsome, large,
and commodious; here the mayor tries petty causes, and
Town-hall. has power to sentence for transportation. The assembly
room, which is also upstairs, is grand, spacious, and
finely illuminated; here is a meeting once a fortnight to
dance and play cards; where you will find some women
elegantly accomplished, and perfectly well dressed. The
proceedings are regulated by a lady styled "the Queen,"
and she rules with very absolute power.'
and
customs,
This, from the man who dictated the etiquette to the
beau monde of Bath, is no slight testimony to the deport-
ment of the Liverpool belles of the day. He also speaks
very highly of the mise en scène at the theatre (then in
Drury Lane).
6
The following is worth extracting for its raciness if not
for its truth: The great increase of commerce is owing
to the spirit and indefatigable industry of the inhabitants,
the majority of whom are either native Irish or of Irish
descent; a fresh proof, my lord, that the Hibernians
thrive best when transplanted. They engage in trade,
as in battle, with little or no spirit at home, but with
unparalleled gallantry abroad.'
6
Manners Though few of the merchants have had more edu-
cation than befits a counting-house, they are genteel in
their address. They are hospitable, nay friendly, even
to those of whom they have the least knowledge. Their
tables are plenteously furnished, and their viands well
served up; their rum is excellent, of which they consume
large quantities, made, when the West India fleets come
in, mostly with limes, which are very cooling, and afford
a delicious flavour. But they pique themselves greatly
upon their ale, of which almost every house brews a
sufficiency for its own use; and such is the unanimity
prevailing among them, that if by accident, one man's
stock runs short, he sends his pitcher to his neighbour to
be filled. Though I am not very fond of the beverage
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
227
III.
1760.
usually prepared under that name, I learnt from the CHAP.
peculiar excellency of this, to like it a little. I must add,
that I drank some of a superior quality with Mr. Mears,¹
a merchant in the Portuguese trade; his malt was bought
at Derby, his hops in Kent, and his water brought by
express order from Lisbon. It was, indeed, an excellent
liquor.'
"I need not inform your lordship, that the principal Trade.
exports of Leverpoole are all kinds of woollen and worsted
goods, with other manufactures of Manchester and York-
shire, Sheffield and Birmingham wares, &c. These they
barter on the coast of Guinea for slaves, gold dust, and
elephants' teeth. The slaves they dispose of at Jamaica,
Barbadoes, and the other West India islands for rum and
sugar, for which they are sure of a quick sale at home.
This port is admirably situated for trade, being almost
central in the channel; so that in war time, by coming
north about, their ships have a good chance for escaping
the many privateers belonging to the enemy, which
cruize to the southward. Thus, their insurance being
less, they are able to undersell their neighbours; and
since I have been here, I have seen enter the port in
one morning, seven West India ships, whereof five were
not insured.'
It is much to the honour of the inhabitants that all
party distinction seems at present to be banished from
among them; they agree perfectly well, and no man
repines at his neighbour's thriving more than himself.' 2
There are at Leverpoole three good inns. For ten- Inns.
pence a man dines elegantly at an ordinary, consisting of
ten or a dozen dishes. Indeed, it must be said both of
Cheshire and Lancashire, that they have plenty of the
best and most luxurious foods at a very cheap rate;
1 Mr. Thomas Mears resided in Paradise Street.
2 A few months after this, one of the severest contests for the Parlia-
mentary representation ever known in Liverpool took place, when party
spirit of the most intense character was displayed.
Q 2
228
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
their mutton is small and juicy; their fowl whether wild
or tame brought in fine order to market; and of fish
1760. they have great variety in the utmost perfection.'
George
III.
Election.
A.D. 1761.
Sir
William
Meredith.
Election
squibs.
George III. ascended the throne on the death of his
grandfather October 25, 1760. In March 1761 a new
Parliament was convened. The two old members, Sir
Ellis Cunliffe and Charles Pole, again presented them-
selves, but were met with a strong opposition. The
sitting members were closely connected with the com-
mon council and represented their interests; the dis-
content with the recent attempt to alter the charter, and
the continued exclusion of the freemen from all influence
in the corporation, tended to make them unpopular.
The agitation commenced immediately after the decease
of the old king. A meeting was called on October 31,
when the sitting members were invited to stand, and an
address was forthwith issued on their behalf. The Op-
position invited the Right Honourable Charles Townsend,
treasurer of the chamber and privy councillor, who, how-
ever declined the honour. On January 16, 1761, an
address was issued by Sir William Meredith, Baronet, of
Hanbury and Bowden in Cheshire; and at a public
meeting held at the Golden Lion on January 23, it was
unanimously agreed to adopt him as the popular can-
didate. Sir William belonged to the Tory or country
party as they were called, who had inveighed so ear-
nestly in the days of Walpole against standing arınies and
a national debt. He was educated at Westminster School
and Christ Church, Oxford. He had stood an unsuc-
cessful contest for the borough of Wigan, and possessed
some popular qualifications, which recommended him to
the Liverpool public.
Although the newspapers of the period are strangely
reticent, and scarcely allude to the election at all, yet
we have, preserved in a pamphlet of the day, a complete
collection of the squibs, addresses, songs, and epigrams
issued during the contest. For the most part they are
EIGHTEENTII CENTURY.
229
CHAP.
1761.
singularly destitute of wit or point, nor can they be III.
accused of much scurrility. The demon of dulness seems
to have presided over their composition; but they never-
theless afford an interesting picture of the popular feeling
of the time. Free trade to Africa, or in other words
non-interference with the slave trade, was the watchword,
the merit of which was claimed by both parties. The
usual charges of bribery and corruption were bandied
about. Sir William was accused of being a Jacobite, and
of having, at a dinner given to his tenants, many of whom
were Dissenters, insisted on. their drinking the toast of
'Down with the Rump.' The sitting members were
accused of betraying the interests of the freemen. The
style of the squibs may be judged of by the following
specimens:
Issued by the Cunliffe and Pole party, March 28, 1761.
All gentlemen volunteers that are willing to enter into the
regiment of true blues under the command of the Hon. Col.
R—C—d, now raising at Liverpool for present service,
and to be compleat by Monday night, may repair to Serjeant
R- K -y's quarters, at the bowling green, near the
Flashes;¹ where they shall receive a sufficient allowance of
bull seg² beef, one gallon of ale, with a proper quantity of aqua
fortis, sufficient to compose them until Tuesday noon; till
which time they shall be lodged in a barn with clean straw, or
in some other well-secured close quarters, until they shall pass
muster at the bar of the Exchange before their general; when
they shall be dismissed with a squeeze of the hand with-
out a penny in their pockets. And so, honest Tom, farewell
for seven years to come.
Beware of kidnappers, for that is the roasted seg scheme-
touch not-taste not-birds that scrap will be taken-the
pawnbroker is the decoy, and the jesuit is the kite-take this
hint in time from
Your friend,
MEG LONG-TONGUE.
1 The Flashes was a large pool of water, situated at the end of Tithe-
barn Street, near the top of Great Crosshall Street.
A bull seg is a provincial term for an ox of inferior quality.
Election
squibs.
230
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1761.
Election
song.
Note. It was intended to have covered you all to-day, but it
was thought you would not keep till Tuesday.
The allusion here is to an al fresco feast which Sir
William proposed giving to his followers. In a song
issued by his friends, the freemen are exhorted to
Regard not that impious defamer vile Meg,
A fine ox is roasted and not a bull seg.
This day, boys, the friends of Sir William appear
To lead you to English roast beef and good cheer;
To-morrow, my lads, they'll be ready, you'll see,
To lead you to dear, ever dear, Liberty.
Another effusion issued by Sir William's party indicates
the leading men of the town who were ranged on the
opposite side:
A NEW SONG.
To the tune of Poo Robin Poo, &c.
Sir Ellis has lately brought nuncle Pole down
To try their luck once more at Liverpool town;
Quoth Ellis, I've interest enough for us two,
The borough's my own, and I'll lend thee a poo.
Fol de rol, &c.
I've Blundells,¹ and Brooks's,² Knight,³ Tarleton,¹ and Pownal,5
Done,6 Rigby, James Gildart, and great lawyer Brownel,⁹
7
8
1 The Blundells were sons of Bryan Blundell, the founder of the Blue
Coat Hospital.
2 Joseph Brooks was an alderman, mayor in 1748, ancestor of Arch-
deacon Brooks.
• John Knight was a sugar refiner and glass manufacturer, residing in
Water Street.
▲ John Tarleton was mayor in 1764. He resided in Water Street.
5 William Pownall was mayor in 1767, and died during his mayoralty.
Pownall Street and Pownall Square are called after him.
• Robert Done was a brewer in Lord Street.
7 John and Peter Rigby were ironmongers, Old Dock. Peter was elected
mayor in 1774.
8 James Gildart, mayor in 1750, was brother of Richard Gildart, the
former member. He was a merchant and sugar-refiner, residing in Castle
Street.
• John Brownell was an attorney, residing in Water Street.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
231
John Howard,¹ the Traffords 2 and Crosbies 3 and Goore,¹
Little Ralph,5 Nicky Ashton, and twenty fools more.
6
Fol de rol, &c.
The knight and his nuncle in front did appear,
And these mighty gentlemen brought up the rear:
Your vote-was their cry-if you don't shall rue,
Some promised-but most men refused them a poo.
Fol de rol, &c.
you
Perceiving the freemen at length were grown wise,
And that thirty years' bondage had opened their eyes,
Ah! woe's me, quoth nuncle, O, what mun I do!
I find I'm i'th' dirt, prithee poo, Ellis, poo.
Fol de rol, &c.
It grieved the knight sorely to see the old squire
(And his good nuncle too) sticking fast in the mire;
Therefore to assist him he instantly flew—
So plumped in himself, and cry'd poo, my lads, poo.
Fol de rol, &c.
Huzza! they're both down boys, and there let 'em lie—
Now listen, O! listen to dear Liberty-
Sir William's her son, and her darling one too,
And offers his hand, boys, to lend you a poo.
Fol de rol, &c.
CHAP.
III.
1761.
At length after a paper war of three months the nomi-
nation took place on March 31st. The election lasted six
days, and terminated as follows: Sir E. Cunliffe, 1163; Poll.
Sir William Meredith, 1138; Charles Pole, Esq., 1039.
As Sir William stood alone, most of his votes-982 out of
1138-were plumpers.
1 John Howard was a brewer in Edmund Street.
2 Trafford and Crosbies were rope manufacturers and merchants in Park
Lane. Edward Trafford was mayor in 1742.
3 John Crosbie was mayor in 1765-6. He resided in Paradise Street.
• Charles Goore was a merchant residing in the Old Churchyard. He
was mayor in 1754–5.
5 Little Ralph was Ralph Peters, deputy-recorder. He resided in
John Street.
His
• Nicholas Ashton was a merchant residing in Paradise Street.
father invested largely in the Sankey Canal, which proved a source of great
wealth. He afterwards purchased Woolton Hall, where the family resided
until its sale to Mr. J. R. Jeffery in 1863.
232
CHAP.
III.
1761.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
Immediately after the election Sir William was chaired,
and carried from the hustings at the Exchange to the
house of his host, Mr. William Ingram, merchant, Pool
Chairing. Lane, amidst general acclamation. The account of the
day states, that the ship carpenters and seamen attended
and carried a flag before them elegantly painted on one
side with his majesty's arms, motto "God bless King
George;" on the reverse the carpenters' arms with a ship
and launch for a crest, motto "Friends to Liberty." A
greater concourse of people was never assembled together
before in Liverpool at any time. Neither of the other
candidates were chaired. In the evening several curious
pieces of fireworks were displayed, bonfires, ringing of
bells,' &c.
Number
of freemen.
A word may here be introduced as to the proportion
of the voters to the population. Under the original
burgage tenure every inhabitant householder had a vote,
but as the power of admitting freemen to the guild was
exercised, the household franchise gradually became obso-
lete. As for a long period no person could carry on business
without admission to the corporation and the franchise
was obtainable by birth, servitude, or purchase, a very
large proportion of the population must have been bur-
gesses or freemen. At the election of 1734, 2,064
persons recorded their votes. As the population was at
this time about 12,500, this would give at the usual
average of 5 persons to a dwelling one voter to every
household, making a small allowance for freemen who
did not vote. At the time of the election in 1761, the
population had more than doubled, but the number exer-
cising the franchise only amounted to 2,164, being one in
thirteen of the population.
The diminution arises from the fact that the illegal
prohibition against non-freemen exercising their trades
within the borough could no longer be maintained. The
inducement therefore to purchase the freedom being
taken away, the proportional number rapidly diminished.
233
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
III.
1761.
of freemen.
This change must have taken place before 1760, for CHAP.
Samuel Derrick, writing in that year, attributes the rapid
increase of population 'partly to its being free for any
body to settle in the town and follow business.' In 1812, Number
when the population had increased to about 100,000,
at the hotly contested election between Canning and
Brougham, the number polled was 2,762, being 1 in 36
of the inhabitants. At the last real contest under the
old franchise, between Ewart and Denison in November
1830, when every available voter was hunted up
from the ends of the earth regardless of expense, the
number of freemen polled was 4,319, which in a popula-
tion of nearly 200,000 is less than 1 in 46 of the inhabi-
At the general election in 1868, under the house-
hold suffrage there were on the register 39,645 voters in
a population of 500,000, being one in 12-6 of the inhabi-
tants. It would therefore appear that in 1734 under the
old system of freeman franchise the number of voters
was more than twice as great in proportion to the popu
lation than at the present day under the system of house-
hold suffrage.
tants.
In January 1763 Sir Ellis Cunliffe was appointed a
Lord of Trade and Plantations. It is to be supposed he
was re-elected on accepting the office, but there is no
record extant of the fact.
William
Meredith
Sir William Meredith occupied a position of considerable Sir
eminence in the House of Commons. In the stormy dis-
cussions which took place in 1764 on the legality of the
general warrant by which Wilkes was arrested and his
papers seized, Sir William came to the front by moving
on February 14 a resolution, That a general warrant for
apprehending and securing the authors, printers, and
publishers of a seditious libel, together with their papers,
is not warranted by law.' All the great leaders took
part in the discussion. Pitt (Lord Chatham) delivered
one of his grand orations in favour of the motion, which
was made the turning point of the Grenville ministry.
234
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
III.
1761.
On the last day of the debate, the lame, the sick, the
halt, and the blind were brought to vote by both parties.
Horace Walpole says, 'One would have thought that
they had sent a search warrant for members of Parlia-
ment into every hospital. Votes were brought down in
flannels and blankets till the floor of the House looked like
the pool of Bethesda.' After a most stormy discussion
the ministry carried a motion for postponement by a
majority of 14, 232 against 218.
Meredith's services were not forgotten; and on the
change of ministry in July 1765, which placed the Mar-
quis of Rockingham at the head of affairs, Sir William
Meredith was appointed a Lord of the Admiralty, and in
December he was re-elected without opposition.
6
On
Post
Travelling. In July 1760 the high road from Liverpool to War-
rington was first made practicable for carriages.
the fourth of the month we find it advertised:
chaises and able horses to be had to any part of England
by applying to Mrs. Rathbone, at the Golden Talbot Inn,
near the Exchange, Liverpool.'
In September, 1760, the first stage coach out of Liver
pool was thus advertised :
Manchester, Warrington, Prescot, and Liverpool Machine.
Sets out on Monday, September 1, 1760, and on every
Monday and Thursday morning at six o'clock, from Mr. Bud-
worth's, the Bull's Head Inn, in Manchester; will call at the
Red Lyon Inn, in Warrington, at Mr. Reynolds's, the old Legs
of Man, in Prescot; and lies at Mr. Banner's, the Golden
Fleece, in Liverpool; returns from thence every Tuesday and
Friday morning at six o'clock, and calls at the above places
on its way back to Manchester. Each Passenger to pay eight
shillings, and so in proportion for any part of the road. To be
allowed 14 lb. weight of luggage, and all above to pay per
pound.
Perform'd (if God permits) by
JOHN STONEHEWER.
JAMES FRANce.
•
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
235
The
III.
1761.
canal.
In 1761 the Duke of Bridgwater obtained the Act CHAP.
George III. chap. 11) by which the canal uniting
Manchester with the river Mersey at Runcorn was con-
structed. He had previously formed a canal from the Duke's
Worsley coal-field to Manchester, and had intended to
continue it to join the river at Hollins Ferry.
genius of Brindley, however, had expanded into the con-
ception of a grander plan, and the result was the con-
struction of the line of navigation which has conferred
such great benefits on the two districts which it unites,
as well as on the heirs of its founder. It was completed
in 1776.
In 1762 an Act was obtained for building two new A.D. 1762.
churches, St. Paul's and St. John's. To these I shall have New
occasion again to refer.
The peace of 1763 gave a great impulse to the trade
of the port. In 1765 the number of slave ships had
increased to 86, with a tonnage of 9,382, carrying 24,200
slaves.
churches,
Mount.
In the winter of 1767-8, the weather was severe, and A.D. 1767.
the poor suffered greatly. The corporation, under the St. James's
auspices of Mr. Thomas Johnson,¹ the mayor, employed a
great number of unoccupied hands in throwing up an
embankment from the débris of a stone quarry near the
top of Duke Street. This was at first called Mount Zion,
but it afterwards took the name of St. James's Mount,
which it has retained.
Sir Ellis Cunliffe died after a slow and lingering illness
on October 16, 1767. His place was filled without oppo-
sition by Mr. Richard Pennant of Penrhyn, near Bangor.
Mr. Pennant married the granddaughter of Edward Norris
of Speke, M.P. for Liverpool from 1714 to 1722.º
¹ This gentleman has been sometimes confounded with Sir Thomas
Johnson, who was no connexion, and who had been deceased nearly forty
years before.
2 Edward Norris married Anne, daughter of Peter Gerard of Crewood
(Cheshire). Their daughter, Susannah, married for her second husband,
Warburton of Penrhyn, whose sole daughter and heiress, Anne Susannah,
236
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1768.
Election.
A.D. 1769.
Extent of
town.
Popula-
tion.
Streets.
In April 1768 a new Parliament was convoked, to
which the sitting members, Meredith and Pennant, were
returned without opposition.
In 1769 Mr. George Perry published a map of Liver-
pool, which for accuracy and completeness has never been
excelled.
The town now extended its boundary northward to
the present canal basin; eastward, buildings had crept
up the hill to the old Infirmary (the site of St. George's
Hall), which was the limit in that direction; Shaw's
Brow (now William Brown Street) being the seat of an
active and prosperous colony of earthenware manufac-
turers. Church Street and Ranelagh Street were built
as far as Renshaw Street. Duke Street was carried up
to the Mount; the upper part was a fine avenue lined
with a double row of trees. Southward the district be-
tween Park Lane and the Salthouse Dock had begun to
assume a busy aspect. Within these limits the interior
had become filled with buildings placed with an unfor-
tunate disregard to the necessity for light, air, and open
spaces. This was of comparatively little importance when
a few minutes' walk could reach the green fields, or the
open expanse of the river beach; but in more modern
times, the legacy thus left has entailed serious conse-
quences both in a sanitary point of view and in the
enormous expense of widening and improving the
thoroughfares.
The population at this date had risen to about 34,000;
the number of inhabited houses was about 6,000. There
were now seven churches and six Nonconformist chapels,
a Quakers' meeting, a Jews' synagogue, and a Roman
Catholic chapel.
The principal streets, Castle Street, High Street, Dale
Street, Water Street, &c., were narrow, and for the most
meanly built, the old houses and modern erections being
became the wife of Richard Pennant. She was well known in Liverpool
as an active electioneering agent, and died June 1, 1816.
237
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
A view
mingled together in the most admired confusion.
taken from the river about this time with the three spires
of St. Nicholas, St. George, and St. Thomas, and the Old
Goree warehouses, which were much more ornate than the
present structure, in the foreground, presents a pleasing
picture.
The number of ships which cleared outwards during
this year was 985, with a tonnage of 73,828.
About this time the construction of ships began to form
6
СНАР.
III.
1769.
building.
a prominent feature of Liverpool industry. In 1773 the A.D. 1773.
ship Kent' of 1,100 tons burden was launched from Ship-
Mr. Baker's yard, the largest ship up to that date built
in the north of England. From this time to the end of
the century ship-building was a very flourishing trade in
Liverpool, many fine frigates for the royal navy having
been built in the Liverpool yards.
trade.
The cotton trade now showed signs of development Cotton
from a very small and feeble commencement. The first
indication I can find is an advertisement of November 3,
1758:
To be sold by auction at Forbes and Cambell's sale-room,
near the Exchange, this day at one o'clock, 25 bags of Jamaica
cotton, in five lots.
In 1770 the import into Liverpool had increased to
5,521 bags, all from the West Indies, principally Jamaica.
The American colonies only contributed three bales from
New York, four bags from Virginia and Maryland, and
three barrels from South Carolina.
An attempt was made in 1769 to establish an academy A.D. 1769.
of painting in Liverpool, and an observatory was erected Academy
about the same time on the east side of Hope Street near
the site of the Philharmonic Hall.
During the stormy debates in the House of Commons
on the Wilkes and Luttrell election, a petition was got up
in the town, signed by 1,000 inhabitants, praying his
majesty to dissolve Parliament. A counter demonstration
of paint-
ing.
238
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1770.
Leeds
canal.
A.D. 1773.
Academy
of art.
was prepared by the council in the form of a protest,
which, however, only obtained 450 signatures.
C
In 1770 the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Act (10
George III. chap. 114) was obtained for making and
maintaining a Canal from Leeds Bridge in Yorkshire to
the North Lady's walk in Liverpool, and from thence to the
river Mersey.' The first portion was opened in 1774,
but the entire undertaking was not completed until many
years afterwards.
In 1773 the names of the streets were first inscribed
on the walls and the houses numbered.
A
This is probably the most suitable place to notice a
vigorous attempt made about the middle of the century
to encourage the arts of design in Liverpool. The Royal
Academy was established by charter in 1768. In the
year following, a number of resident amateurs of art
formed a society for the establishment of an Academy of
Painting and Sculpture in Liverpool. The president
was Mr. P. P. Burdettt, an engraver of some eminence.
Amongst the members we find the names of Ottiwell
Worrall, portrait painter; William Everard, architect;
John Wyke, watchmaker; John and Charles Eyes, archi-
tects; Dr. Turner; Dr. Matthew Dobson; John Baines,
master of the Free Grammar School, and others.
room was taken in connection with the Liverpool
Library, then recently established in John Street, which
was furnished with prints and casts for the use of the pupils.
After a few months' trial the scheme was abandoned,
but was revived in 1773, when Mr. William Caddick,
portrait painter, was chosen president. Besides
Besides many of
the names mentioned above, we find those of William
Roscoe, Matthew Gregson (the antiquary), Egerton Smith
the elder, &c., in all 59 members. Courses of lectures
were delivered-on architecture, by Mr. Everard; on
anatomy, by Dr. Turner; on perspective, by Mr. Bur-
dett; and on chemistry, by Dr. Renwick. On December
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
239
CHAP.
III.
1773.
17, 1773, William Roscoe, then a young man in his
twentieth year, read before the society an ode on the
establishment of the Academy, which will be found in
his collected works. In August 1774, a public exhibition
was opened. The catalogue was headed 'Pictures, Draw- A.D. 1774.
ings, Prints, &c., exhibited by the Society of Artists in
Liverpool;' 84 pictures were hung, and such an interest
was created that the catalogue went through two editions.
Several of the exhibitors were amateurs. Amongst the
names we find P. P. Burdett, engravings; Daniel Daulby,
jun. (Roscoe's brother-in-law), landscapes and chalk
drawings; Matthew Gregson, designs for furniture; Wil-
liam Roscoe, mother and child, Indian ink; one of the
Rathbone family, landscapes.
The time, however, was unpropitious; the war with
America, with its derangement of trade and its privateer-
ing, engrossed public attention and the academy again
collapsed. As soon as peace again returned in 1783, an
attempt was made to resuscitate the academy. An ad- A.D. 1783.
dress was issued, and a society organised-Henry Blun-
dell, Esq., of Ince, president, and Mr. William Roscoe
vice-president. An exhibition took place in the same
year, to which Sir Joshua Reynolds, then president of the
Royal Academy, contributed his well-known portrait of
Colonel Tarleton. A Liverpool artist, John Deare, exhi-
bited a bas-relief of Adam and Eve from the fourth book
of Paradise Lost,' which had gained the gold medal at
the Royal Academy.
In 1786, another exhibition was held, in the catalogue
of which are found works by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Gains- A.D. 1786.
borough, Wright of Derby, Beechey (afterwards Sir Wil-
liam), Fuseli, Paul Sandby, &c.
On this occasion, William Roscoe, then just beginning
the career as a man of letters, in which he subsequently
became so distinguished, wrote the following lines:
240.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1786.
Mr.
Roscoe's
Ode.
A.D. 1774.
American
revolt.
•
In elder Greece when arms and science reigned
The finer arts an equal rank maintained;
High 'midst the rest the Muse of Painting shone,
And bade th' admiring world her wonders own;
To nature true the graceful outline flowed,
With more than life the vivid colours glowed;
Applauding nations saw with grateful joy,
And wealth and honours crowned the fair employ;
Yet whelmed amid the wreck of former days,
Lie the gay monuments of ancient praise;
And though revolving years have spared the name
Dimm'd is the radiance of the painter's fame.
Long droop'd the sacred art, but rose at length
With brighter lustre and redoubled strength;
When great Lorenzo 'midst his mild domain,
Led the gay muses and their kindred train;
Then as the bard th' imagined story drew,
The kindling artist bade it rise to view;
Till the strong comment shamed the sister art
And found a nearer passage to the heart.
The society continued until the outbreak of the French
revolutionary war, when the distracted state of the com-
mercial world led to its suspension from 1794 to 1810.
In September 1774, Parliament was dissolved, and
Meredith and Pennant were again elected without oppo-
sition. In January 1775, Sir William Meredith received
the appointment of Comptroller of His Majesty's House-
hold, and was re-elected on March 29.
Stirring times were now at hand. The revolt of the
North American colonies very seriously affected the com-
merce of Liverpool. The first symptom was manifested
by an Order in Council prohibiting the exportation of
gunpowder, which greatly affected the slave trade, a
large portion of the exports to Africa consisting of this
article. The unemployed sailors congregated in crowds,
and threatened destruction to the whole town. Cannon
were brought into Castle Street by the rioters and pointed
to the Exchange, and several shots were fired, inflicting
considerable damage. The riot was finally suppressed by
a troop of light horse sent from Manchester.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
241
СНАР.
III.
1775.
merchants
trade.
In January 1775, an influential meeting of merchants
from all parts of the kingdom trading with America, was
held at the King's Tavern, Cornhill, London, to remon-
strate against the violent proceedings of the Government Meeting of
towards the colonists, and to petition for the repeal of all
Acts which interfered with their friendly relations towards
the mother country. The West India merchants from
Liverpool and other towns, also assembled at the London
Tavern for the same purpose, when strong resolutions
were carried by a large majority. These remonstrances
proved all in vain. Within a month afterwards, 8,000 Loss of
tons of shipping had to return from America without
cargoes, the blockade not allowing them to land. In
November of the same year it was stated that 600 ships,
previously engaged in the American trade, were lying
idle in the Thames. Liverpool suffered in like propor-
tion. In Gore's Advertiser' of September 29, it is
alleged, 'Our once extensive trade to Africa is at a stand;
all commerce with America is at an end. Peace, har-
mony, and mutual confidence must constitute the balm
that can again restore to health the body politic. Survey
our docks; count there the gallant ships laid up and use-
less. When will they be again refitted? What will
become of the sailor, the tradesman, the poor labourer,
during the approaching winter?'
war.
But however dissatisfied the people of Liverpool might
be with this state of things, they did not lose one jot of
heart or hope,' nor allow a stain upon their loyalty. The American
Americans had begun to fit out privateers in the autumn.
of 1775, and very soon they swarmed about the West
India islands, and crossing the Atlantic intercepted British
commerce in the narrow seas. The Liverpool merchants,
as their predecessors had done twenty years before,
turned their attention to privateering, and for some time
met with considerable success. In 1777, it is recorded A.D. 1777.
that thirteen seamen received each 1,828l. 2s. 9d. as Privateers.
hare of prize money, their proportion being only one-
VOL. I.
R
242
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1777.
third of the value of the prizes taken. In the following
year, the richest prize ever taken by a Liverpool adven-
turer, fell into the hands of Captain John Baker, of the
'Mentor,' in the Carnatic,' French East Indiaman, of the
value of 135,000l. This was a lucky hit. Fortune
War with favours the brave. War with France had commenced in
April; but Admiral Keppel only put to sea to look for
the French fleet on June 17. Captain Baker boldly
sailed southwards to intercept the East Indiamen which
had sailed before the declaration of war, and his sagacity
was richly rewarded. The mutual destruction caused by
A.D. 1778. this fratricidal war was enormous. In February 1778, an
France.
Loss of
shipping.
Privateers.
enquiry took place before the House of Lords as to the
amount of injury done to British commerce from the
beginning of the war, in which it was stated that the
number of vessels destroyed or taken since the com-
mencement of the war was 773, or, allowing for those
retaken, 559; that their value, at a very moderate compu-
tation, was 1,800,000l.; that of the ships thus taken, 247
were engaged in the West India trade; that all articles
imported from America had risen enormously in price;
tobacco from 74d. to 2s. 6d. per pound; pitch from 8s.
to 35s. a barrel; and tar, turpentine, oil, and pig-iron in
the same proportion. It was also stated that the injury
inflicted on American commerce amounted to about
the same sum, which appears to have been considered
highly satisfactory.
From August 1778 to April 1779, 120 privateers were
fitted out in Liverpool alone; their total tonnage was
30,787, with 1,986 guns, and 8,754 men. The weight
of metal ranged from 6 to 18-pounders. The privateer
crews were very naturally a rough and lawless set, the
terror of the town when on shore, committing many out-
rages, and breaking open the guard-house to release the
impressed seamen there confined. Nor was the state of
things much better on the opposite shore of the Mersey
A Liverpool privateer, the Mersey,' having brought into
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
243
III.
1778.
port a French prize, stranded her near the New Ferry. CHAP.
Lighters were employed to take out the cargo, consisting
of sugar and coffee; but the country people assembling
in crowds, put in an equal claim to the proceeds, and a
battle ensued in which firearms were employed, and one
man was shot. The assailants remained masters of the
field, and carried off the cargo.
6
Jones.
In April 1778, the celebrated Paul Jones cruised in Paul
the Irish Channel, in the Ranger' privateer, and did
much mischief. He ran into the harbour of Whitehaven
and set fire to the shipping. Thence sailing northward,
he made inroads on the Scottish isles. When short of
supplies, or pressed by English cruisers, he took refuge
in the French or Dutch ports. More fortunate than his
predecessor, M. Thurot, he escaped all attempts at inter-
ception, and retired safe to America with his booty.
6
C
From a list of 71 privateers belonging to Liverpool, Privateers.
published about this time, it appears they were of all
sizes, from the Lady Granby' cutter of 45 tons, to the
ship Mersey' of 1,400 tons. The number of hands seem
to have been most unequally distributed, vessels of 160
tons shipping crews of 100 men, whilst those of 1,200
and 1,400 tons had only the same number.
Between the privateers on the one hand and the press-
gang on the other, poor Jack at this period had a very
hard time of it. We read, for instance, in the 'Liverpool
Advertiser' as follows:
'Capt. Thompson, of the "Golden Lyon," Greenland Press-
ship, is discharged from the "Vengeance," man-of-war, gang.
on board of whom he and several of his crew had been
carried by force, by the press-gangs out of the Custom
House here; several bullets have been found that were
fired from the pistols in the Custom House by the press-
gangs, and we are assured that the magistrates and the
merchants are determined to prosecute them for their
insolence, one of the magistrates being then in the Custom
House, and very ill treated for commanding the peace,'
R 2
244.
CHAP.
III.
1778.
Impress-
ment.
Liverpool
Blues.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
&c. Again: 'On Tuesday last arrived here the letter of
marque ship "Ingram," from Africa and Jamaica. The
crew having secured the captain, attempted to get clear
of the man-of-war and four tenders; the tide being spent,
the ship's company and officers were all impressed, except
the chief mate and commander; on their being brought
on board the man-of-war, the captain ordered each man
to be tied up, stripped, and whipped.' The editor adds:
This needs no comment, for had the seamen committed
any offence against the laws of this realm, they were enti-
tled to an Englishman's right.' This scandalous treat-
ment of the sailors was rather aggravated by the fact that
protections from impressment might be procured by those
who were willing to pay for them, with official sanction,
as appears by the following advertisement of the period
in question: Protections from the press for ship's com-
panies, sailors upwards of 55 years of age, apprentices,
foreigners, or landsmen who incline to betake themselves
to the sea service, may be had with the greatest expedi-
tion by applying to Thomas Statham, at the Post-office,
Liverpool.'
6
Liverpool had not forgotten her ancient warlike tra-
ditions. In the year 1778, when France and Spain united
with America and presented a most formidable coalition
united in arms against England, a regiment was raised
and equipped in the town, principally at the expense of
the corporation, which contributed 2,000l. out of about
3000, the total cost. In memory of the battalion
raised in 1745, the regiment was called the Liverpool
Blues.' It was not a volunteer force, but a regiment of
the line intended for active service. Lieutenant-General
Calcraft was the Colonel; Mr. Pole, Lieutenant-Colonel;
the Honourable Thomas Stanley, Major. The subaltern
officers were principally Liverpool gentlemen. Amongst
them was Captain Banastre Tarleton, a member of an
old Liverpool family, who subsequently distinguished
himself in the American war of independence as a dash-
}
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
245
ing cavalry officer, filling much the same position in the
English army as Colonel Marion did amongst the con-
tinentals.¹
The Liverpool Blues mustered 1,100 strong. On
May 25, 1778, they were reviewed on the sands near
Bank Hall, and presented with their colours. On
June 17, they marched out to active service, and in a
short six years the poor remnant of them returned from
Jamaica (February 9, 1784) reduced to eighty-four in
number, and deposited their colours in the Exchange.
After the departure of the Blues, the town was garrisoned
by a regiment of Yorkshire militia, commanded by Sir
George Saville.
CHAP.
III.
1778.
It was at this time that the old fort and barracks on Fort.
the north shore near the bottom of Denison Street were
erected, now forming part of the site of the Prince's
Dock.
C
Howard.
stool.
In 1779 John Howard the philanthropist paid his first A.d. 1779.
visit to Liverpool, which he repeated on several sub- John
sequent occasions. In his notes on his first visit he men-
tions that the ducking stool' was in use in the house of Ducking
correction here. He describes it as follows: At one
end (of the pond or tank) was a standard for a long
pole, at the extremity of which was fastened a chair.
In this, all the females (not the males) at their entrance,
after a few questions, were placed, with a flannel shift
on, and underwent a thorough ducking thrice repeated,
a use of a bath which I dare say the legislature never
thought of, when in their late Act they ordered baths,
with a view to cleanliness and preserving the health of
prisoners; not for the exercise of a wanton and danger-
ous kind of severity.' This practice was discontinued
soon after the publication of the report.
1 In the collection of Mr. Wynn Ellis there is a fine portrait of Colonel
Tarleton by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It is a half-length, and represents him
as a handsome fresh-coloured young man dressed in a light cavalry uniform,
holding his horse by the bridle.
246
CHAP.
III.
1779.
Corpora-
tion
address.
Defence
of the
town.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
The Corporation of Liverpool have always been dis-
tinguished by a somewhat exuberant display of loyalty.
At a special council held on June 26, 1779, it was re-
solved that an address under the common seal should
be presented to the king: As a testimony of our duty
and affection for your Majesty's royal person, and of
our attachment to the welfare and prosperity of your
kingdoms, at the present alarming juncture; when from
the perfidious alliances of our natural and combined
enemies, the House of Bourbon, with your Majesty's
revolted Colonies in America, to succour rebellion against
the parent state, this nation and the most formidable
powers in Europe, must be unavoidably involved in all
the calamities of war.' Their loyalty did not evaporate
in mere professions, for at the same council it was ordered,
that a bounty of ten guineas for every able seaman, and
five guineas for every ordinary seaman should be offered,
and be paid by the corporation treasurer to every volun-
teer who should enter on board any of the king's ships
of war at Liverpool.'
In September 1779, the dreaded Paul Jones still
hovering about the channel, a special council was held
to take into consideration the most effectual method of
putting the town into a state of defence, at which various
orders were passed; to remove the gunpowder from the
magazines in Cheshire to the New Fort and St. George's
Battery; to apply to the Government for a thousand
stand of arms for the use of such gentlemen and privates
who may offer themselves to serve as volunteers in case
of the enemy landing on the coast; that steps be imme-
diately taken to receive names for volunteer service; that
application be made for the removal of the French and
Spanish prisoners now confined in the gaol at Mount
Pleasant to the castles of Chester, Carlisle, &c., and for
the removal of the prisoners now on parole at Ormskirk
and Wigan to some more inland situation; that a pilot
boat be sent out to cruize off Point Lynas to give in-
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
247
telligence upon the appearance of an enemy, and that
boats be stationed at the different buoys along the coast
to sink them in case of imminent danger.
CHAP.
III.
1780.
In the midst of these stirring events, the excitement of
which was intensified by anti-Catholic riots at Edinburgh
and London stimulated by the crazy fanatic Lord George
Gordon, Parliament was dissolved and writs issued for a
new election. I am unable to state the reason why Sir Election.
William Meredith, heretofore so popular, did not offer
himself for re-election. Mr. Pennant, the other sitting
member, came forward, and two new candidates were
found in Bamber Gascoyne, jun., and Henry Rawlinson.
Bamber Gascoyne, senior, was the only son of Sir Bamber
Crisp Gascoyne, Lord Mayor of London in 1753, who Gascoyne.
possessed an estate at Barking in Essex, and died in
1761. Bamber Gascoyne by marriage with Mary, co-
heiress of Isaac Green,¹ inherited the estate of Childwall
near Liverpool. He appears to have been born under a
lucky star, for in addition to his estates acquired by in-
heritance and marriage, he held the office of Receiver-
General of Her Majesty's Customs, was one of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty, and Verderer of Wal-
tham Forest, Essex. He died at Bath in 1791, aged
sixty-four, and was interred with great pomp at Barking.
Bamber Gascoyne, junior, seems not to have distin-
guished himself in any special manner. He
He and his
brother successively represented Liverpool in an un-
broken line for the period of fifty-two years.
1 Isaac Green was an attorney of Liverpool and Prescot. He married
Mary Aspinwall, sole heiress of the ancient family of the Irelands of Hale,
and became possessed of the manors, of Hale, Childwall, West Derby,
Wavertree, and Everton. He died in 1749, leaving two daughters. One
of them married Thomas Blackburne of Orford, and inherited the Hale
property. The other married Bamber Gascoyne, as above. The daughter
of Bamber Gascoyne, junr., married in 1821 the Marquis of Salisbury, to
whom descended the estates and manors of Childwall, West Derby,
Wavertree, and Everton. These large estates, in default of male heirs, have
passed three times in little more than a century by marriage to successive
families. The same has taken place with the neighbouring estate of Speke.
243
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1780.
Henry
Rawlin-
son.
Election.
Al fresco
feast.
Diminu-
tion of
voters.
The other new candidate, Mr. Henry Rawlinson, was
Liverpool merchant, residing in York Street, but of his
family and history I have not been able to glean any
particulars.
At this distance of time it is not easy to estimate the
exact political bearings of this election. Mr. Pennant had
evidently given some offence, and Sir William Meredith
withdrew without a contest. It seems more than pro-
bable that the old members were hardly anti-Catholic
enough in the excited state of public opinion. There
was a five days' contest, but only 1,173 freemen polled;
the numbers at the close being-Gascoyne, 608; Raw-
linson, 572; Pennant, 462.
The elected members were chaired at the close of the
poll amidst the acclamations of several thousand people.
On the Monday following, Mr. Gascoyne, senior, gave
an al fresco entertainment at Childwall to the partisans
of his son, who was again chaired from the house of
Mr. Peter Baker in Manesty's Lane, and carried in
procession to Childwall, accompanied with music and
colours. The whole affair was so mismanaged that it
turned out a complete fiasco. No precautions having
been taken, the attractions of the procession brought
together a large mob from the town and the neighbour-
ing country, who invaded the grounds and claimed their
share of the viands and liquor. All attempts to restrain
them were resented and treated with contempt. The ox
which was roasted turned out a tough old bull, a general
scramble ensued, and the proceedings terminated in con-
fusion, disorder, and dissatisfaction. For many years
afterwards Bull beef and cabbage stalks' was a slang
phrase with which the Gascoyne party were greeted by
the mob at the elections.
I have already alluded to the curious phenomenon
that whilst the population was continually increasing,
the number of freemen voters remained almost station-
ary, and that this arose from the corporation having
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
249
[
III.
1780.
abandoned the prohibition against non-freemen carrying CHAP.
on business within the borough. In this matter a sin-
gular revolution had taken place. Down to nearly the
middle of the eighteenth century, the purchase of freedom
was compulsory, and the fines for admission formed an
important part of the corporate revenues. To this suc-
ceeded the optional system, the freedom being sold to all
who sought it, but enforced on none. It was soon dis-
covered, however, that this was a losing game for the
corporation, as the outsiders by purchasing their free-
dom, being exempt from town dues, benefited to a much
greater extent than the amount of their fine. In June
1777 the council passed the following resolution :
'Whereas it has been represented to this council that Sale of
the admitting persons to the freedom of this borough
and corporation on purchase for any sum or sums of
money, is attended with many great inconveniences
and losses to the public estate and revenue by greatly
lessening the town's duties and customs, it is now
ordered and agreed, that from henceforth no person or
persons shall be admitted a freeman or freemen of this
borough and corporation, upon purchase for any sum or
sums of money or other valuable consideration for grant-
ing such freedom.'
This resolution was not literally acted upon, but only
three grants were subsequently made, two in 1780; one
to Mr. William Dickson, who paid twenty guineas; and
one to Mr. George Bowden, who paid fifty. The last
was granted in 1792 to Mr. J. L. Lloyd, who paid 100
guineas for the privilege. The freedom of the town was
occasionally voted as a mark of honour to distinguished
personages, which conferred the same privileges as those
of ordinary freemen; but under the exclusive system,
the freemen constituted a caste apart, gradually diminish-
ing in proportionate numbers, and belonging chiefly to
the artisan class, particularly to the ship carpenters,
coopers, and other handicrafts. The natural result was
freedom.
250
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1780.
CHAP. corruption and debauchery of the most shameless kind,
and influence exercised by the employers upon their
workmen, whose political opinions were never thought
worth enquiring into.
This system took fifty years
longer to reach its culminating point.
Freemen.
A.D. 1782.
Volun-
teers.
Refusal of
mayor to
serve.
In 1782, nearly at the close of the war, a volunteer
company was raised of which Mr. Gill Slater was captain,
and Mr. Joseph Brooks (father of Archdeacon Brooks)
lieutenant. In February 1783, they received a pair of
colours, one of them the gift of the king, the other pre-
sented by Mrs. Rawlinson, wife of one of the sitting
members.
A curious and unprecedented difficulty arose at this
time in the municipal affairs. In October 1782, Mr.
John Brown, merchant, Hanover Street, was elected
mayor, but refused to take the oath of office when ten-
dered. The matter remained over until March 1783,
when notices were issued for a fresh election, which took
place on April 7. Whether as a punishment for his
contumacy, or whether from his great popularity, the
burgesses would have no other candidate, and Mr. Brown
was again unanimously elected. He still continued his
A.D. 1783. refusal to take the oaths, but on September 12, 1783,
when within little more than a month of the termination
of his year of service, he suddenly relented, apologised
for his contumacy and took the oaths. The following
entry was made in the Council Book on December 3,
1783: Mr. Brown having made an apology in council
for the trouble and expense to which this corporation
was put, on account of his refusing to take upon himself
the office of mayor, ordered that such his apology be
accepted of.'
A.D. 1784.
Bill.
6
In 1784 the famous contest took place in Parliament
Mr. Fox's respecting Mr. Fox's India Bill, when the ministry were
dismissed and the youthful Pitt installed as premier.
The new cabinet appealed to the country, and a general
election took place in April. The candidates for Liver-
Election.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
251
CHAP.
III.
1784.
pool were Mr. Bamber Gascoyne, junior; Mr. Pennant,
who had recently been created an Irish Peer under the
title of Lord Penrhyn; and Colonel Tarleton, just re-
turned from the American war. Mr. Rawlinson did not Election.
again offer himself.
Sir William Meredith, once so great a favourite with
the Liverpool freemen, made an attempt to gain their
suffrages; but so fickle is popular favour, that he only
gained thirty-six votes. He soon after retired from public
life and died at Lyons, January 2, 1790, without issue.
Bamber Gascoyne, notwithstanding the Childwall bull
beef and cabbage stalks,' stood at the head of the poll.
The real contest lay between Lord Penrhyn and Colonel
Tarleton. The colonel was a man of very popular
manners, and made himself especially familiar with the
shipwrights and market women. He had lost two fingers
during his military service, and when his eloquence
failed was rather fond of exhibiting his crippled hand
to excite the sympathy of his auditors. But military
service and popular manners were no match for the
fascinations of Lady Penrhyn, who had extensive here-
ditary Liverpool connections, and made the utmost pos-
sible use of them. Influence prevailed over popularity.
After a six days' poll, in which, however, only 1,950
votes were recorded, the numbers stood as follows:
Gascoyne, 960; Penrhyn, 869; Tarleton, 856; Meredith,
36. Colonel Tarleton petitioned against the return, but
withdrew before the hearing.
In September 1784, the first festival of sacred music
was held in the town, and was very successful. The Musical
performances took place in St. Peter's Church, and con- festival,
tinued three days, during which the oratorios of the
Messiah and Judas Maccabæus were performed with a
selection of sacred music. This led to the erection of
a music hall in Bold Street two years subsequently,
which, however, was never used for such performances.
In November 1784, a combined effort was made for
252
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
CHAP. the establishment of Sunday schools in the town. The
system originally proposed differed very materially from
that subsequently carried out. According to the pub-
lished Heads of the Plan for Sunday Schools '—
1784.
Sunday
schools.
First mail
coach.
Popula-
tion and
trade.
John
Howard.
It is proposed to have thirty; one or more masters or
mistresses to each school, as the number of scholars may
require.
The children to go to school at one o'clock, and to
be kept till the evening comes on, according to the season
of the year. When they have learnt to read, and are
brought into order and decorum, to be conducted by
their respective masters and mistresses to church.'
The first mail coach, according to Palmer's system,
started from Liverpool to London on July 25, 1785. It
was to arrive in thirty hours with one guard all the way.
Fare 37. 13s. 6d.
The population had now reached about 41,000. The
churches had increased to nine; and the docks extended
from George's Basin on the north to the Queen's Dock
at the south. The number of ships entering the port had
increased to 3,420. The number of ships belonging to
the port was 446, with a tonnage of 72,730.
John Howard visited Liverpool again in 1787, and
A.D. 1787. inspected the gaol recently erected in the street called
after the philanthropist, 'Great Howard Street,' where he
gave a dinner on Christmas Day to the inmates. In the
course of fifteen years he visited Liverpool five times on
his benevolent mission.
A.D. 1786.
streets.
The increasing population and commerce of the town
Widening began to be seriously inconvenienced by the extreme
narrowness of the thoroughfares. What was the impel-
ling cause it is now impossible to ascertain; but sooth to
say, it would have been difficult to find a town of any-
thing like the importance of Liverpool with more crooked,
narrow, and ill-built streets. The main avenues, such as
Castle Street, Oldhall Street, Tithebarn Street, &c., were
not more than six yards wide. Lord Street, the great
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
253
C
CHAP.
III.
1786.
avenue to the south-east, had to be approached by a cir-
cuitous route following the line of the old castle ditch.
In the year 1786, the council came to the determination
to take active measures to remedy this state of things.
At a special council held on January 10, 1786, it was
resolved, 'That it is the unanimous opinion of this council
that a Bill be drawn and brought into Parliament for the
purpose of improving and widening the streets.' This
resulted in the passing of the Act 26 George III. ch. 12,
For improving certain streets in Liverpool; for supply- Street
ing the town with water,' &c. Under the powers of this
Act, which were speedily and vigorously carried out,
Castle Street, part of Dale Street and Water Street, and
the streets round St. George's Church, which were crowded
and close, were opened out and widened. The Town-
hall was cleared of the buildings which encumbered it
on the north and west sides; a number of courts and
alleys on the west were cleared away; and a new street,
the present Brunswick Street, was carried down from the
west side of Castle Street to George's Dock.
This was the commencement of a long series of im-
provements which have to a considerable extent removed
the reproach which formerly attached to the town for its
meau and crowded appearance.
From 1786 down to the purchase of the town's dues
by the Dock Board in 1857, the corporation had ex-
pended in street improvements the sum of 1,197,977,
without imposing any rates upon the inhabitants.
improve-
ments.
During the war of American Independence, owing to Slave
the activity of the American privateers, the African slave trade.
trade had considerably fallen off. In 1779 only eleven
Liverpool vessels were engaged in the trade, which car-
ried to the West Indies 1,205 negroes. After the peace.
in 1783 the trade rapidly revived, and was soon carried
on with greater vigour than ever, the number of Liver-
pool ships in 1783 being 85, conveying 12,294 slaves.
Hitherto, whatever private opinions might have been on
254
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1786.
Anti-
slavery
Society.
Anti-
slavery
efforts.
William
Roscoe.
the lawfulness of the traffic, no public demonstration of a
hostile character had manifested itself; but the time was
fast approaching when this monster evil was to be grap-
pled with, and after a fierce and long-continued struggle,
finally suppressed. The little cloud, no bigger than a
man's hand foreboding the coming storm, appeared in
1787, in the form of a petition to the House of Commons
from some members of the Society of Friends, praying
for the suppression of the trade in human flesh.
In May the same year, a society was instituted in Lon-
don for the purpose of bringing under public notice the
wrongs of the negro, with a view to the abolition of the
man-traffic. The main promoters were William Dillwyn,
an American Quaker; Granville Sharp, who had already
distinguished himself in the protection of the negroes in
England; and Thomas Clarkson, then or recently a
student at Cambridge. William Wilberforce soon after
joined their ranks. It would be out of place here to
pursue the subject; but a few words may be said as to
the course which the question took in Liverpool, the
head-quarters of the trade. The only Liverpool names
in the list of the first members of the London Society,
are those of William Rathbone and Dr. Jonathan Binns,
both members of the Society of Friends. Others, how-
ever, felt keenly on the subject. William Roscoe in his
juvenile poem of Mount Pleasant,' written in 1771, had
recorded in strong terms his abhorrence of the unhal-
lowed trade. In the summer of 1787 he published the
first part, and in the year following the second part of a
poem called The Wrongs of Africa,' in which he de-
scribes the scenes of the cruelty and rapine, and foretells
the ultimate triumph of justice and mercy. This poem
was warmly received by the public, carried abroad, and
translated and published in Germany. In 1788, Mr.
Roscoe issued a pamphlet, entitled, A general View of
the African Slave Trade, demonstrating its injustice and
impolicy; with hints towards a Bill for its abolition.'
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY,
255
CHAP.
III.
slavery
Harris.
This pamphlet did not go unchallenged. A reply was
put forth by the Rev. Raymond Harris, a Spanish Jesuit
of English extraction, who had settled in Liverpool, enti- 1786.
tled, 'Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Anti-
Trade, showing its conformity with principles of natural efforts.
and revealed religion, delineated in the sacred writings of Raymond
the Word of God.' It would be out of place here to at-
tempt to disinter arguments which are now utterly dead,
repudiated and forgotten, and are only referred to as
singular specimens of sophistry and perversity. Several
replies were immediately published; but the most elo-
quent was the rejoinder of Mr. Roscoe, which was widely
circulated, and called forth the hearty thanks of the Lon-
don Committee. Nothing daunted, Mr. Harris again
returned to the charge in defence of the lawfulness of
man-stealing; but his death, soon after, put an end to the
paper controversy.
The waters once troubled continued to be agitated.
Those whose craft was in danger could not tamely submit
to see their gains cut off, and their trade annihilated.
Dr. Currie, in a letter written at the time, says, 'The
general discussion of the slavery of the negroes has pro-
duced much unhappiness in Liverpool. Men are awaking
to their situation, and the struggle between interest and
humanity has made great havoc in the happiness of
many
families. The attempts that are continually made to jus-
tify this gross violation of the principles of justice, one
cannot help repelling; and at the same time it is dreadful
to hold an argument, where, if your opponent is con-
vinced, he must be made miserable.'
The subject was fully discussed in the newspapers, Contro-
principally in the interest of the African merchants. The versy on
slavery.
line of defence adopted was the great importance and
magnitude of the trade-the ruin of the West India
islands if the negro importation were discontinued that
slavery was not so very bad, even for the negroes them-
selves-that the blacks were an inferior race incapable of
256
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1786.
Slave
trade.
6
CHAP. living as freemen. In what light,' says one correspon-
dent, but in that of enemies of their country, can we
look upon those who, under the specious plea of establish-
ing universal freedom, endeavour to strike at the root of
this trade, the foundation of our commerce, the support
of our colonies, the life of our navigation, the first cause
of our national industry and riches? What vain pretence
of liberty can infatuate people to run into so much licen-
tiousness as to assert a trade is unlawful which custom
immemorial, and various Acts of Parliament, have ratified
and given a sanction to ?'
A.D. 1789.
Loyalty.
The agitation of this question could have only one pos-
sible termination; but during the long protracted contest
the effects produced in Liverpool were of a very injurious
character. The secret consciousness that the trade would
not bear the light either of reason, scripture, or humanity,
combined with the conviction that their prosperity de-
pended upon its retention, produced an uneasy feeling of
suspicion and jealousy, and a dread of all change, which
could not but impart a peculiar character to those at least
connected with the occupation.
In March 1789, on the occasion of the king's recovery
from an afflicting mental malady, there were great re-
joicings throughout the country. The loyalty of Liver-
pool to the Hanoverian dynasty has ever been conspi-
cuous, and nowhere were the celebrations more hearty
and extensive. A general illumination took place on
March 26, ushered in and closed by the firing of cannon
from the fort. The front of the Town-hall was adorned
with transparencies and wreaths of coloured lamps. On
April 16, a grand ball and supper were given at the Town-
hall, which by the contemporary descriptions must have
been a brilliant affair. The central area of the building
was roofed over, and the upper floor formed into a grand
saloon with subordinate apartments, illuminated with
coloured lamps, festoons, stars, and other devices. The
company began to arrive at seven, and were received by
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
257
III.
1789.
monstra-
a committee of the council. At nine the country dances CHAP.
began, and the supper was announced at twelve, when
eight hundred persons sat down to an elegant repast, in
one superb room illuminated with ten thousand lights. Loyal de-
The ladies wore bandeaux, and favours, with devices tions.
and applicable mottoes. The gentlemen had crowns
cyphers and mottoes on their breasts and collars. The
toasts given were the king, the queen, the Prince of
Wales, and the rest of the royal family; and prosperity
to the town and trade of Liverpool. The company in
general retired at four o'clock, highly gratified with the
magnificence of the entertainment.'1
tion.
The proceedings in France which preceded the first French
revolution excited great interest in England. In Liver- revolu-
pool as elsewhere opinions were greatly divided, and
parties formed according to political predilections. In
1788 the centenary of the English revolution was cele-
brated by a banquet, at which Mr. Roscoe produced a Banquet.
poem which was recited on the occasion, commencing as
follows:
Since Freedom here fixed her immutable throne,
A hundred long years wing'd with blessings are past,
Our fathers the sweets of her favour have known,
But 'tis ours to complete the full circle at last :
Then grasp the deep bowl, the full chorus prolong,
To William and Freedom be sacred the song.
&c.
In the following year, when the French National As-
1 The above account is worth extracting to illustrate the changes in
manners which eighty-two years have produced. We read nothing of
quadrilles nor of round dances. The good old country dance is the staple
of the ball. Our forefathers and mothers must have been hearty and vigo-
rous both in body and mind to engage in country dances for nine mortal
hours with the interval of supper. In the description of the building it
must be understood that the present town-hall, minus the addition at the
north side, is the one alluded to. The area described as roofed over is now
occupied by the staircase. How it was possible to seat eight hundred
persons at one time at the supper table is a problem I cannot take upon
myself to resolve. It is a feat which has certainly never been performed in
modern times, even with the greatly increased accommodation.
VOL. I.
S
258
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
'III.
CHAP. Sembly had commenced its bright career of promise so
soon to be overclouded by storm and tempest, Mr.
1789. Roscoe issued 'An Ode to the People of France,' of
French which the following is a portion, imitated and partly
translated from Petrarch's invocation Libertà! dolce e
desiata bene':
revolution.
A.D. 1790.
Election.
Colonel
Tarleton.
C
Freedom! blest gift whom none condemn who know;
Dear is thy presence to this world below!
Life vigorous grows where'er thy steps have trod,
And man walks forth the semblance of a god;
If thou be absent, life no joy affords,
Despised its titled pomps, its useless hoards;
But in thy presence every cottage charms,
And Peace reposes in thy sheltering arms.
On June 10, 1790, Parliament was dissolved, and on
the 13th and 14th, the two sitting members, Bamber
Gascoyne and Lord Penrhyn, issued addresses to the
'freemen,' soliciting their votes. Colonel Tarleton also
put in his claim in a manifesto published at the same
time. There is not a single political allusion in either
of the addresses; the candidates simply base their
claims on their attention to the interests of the borough.
Actually, however, they represented two different in-
terests; the corporation, who were now pretty well
identified with the Tory party, supporting Gascoyne,
and Lord Penrhyn being supposed to have the con-
fidence of the independent electors.
The friends of the old members having coalesced
their forces, Colonel Tarleton proposed to withdraw,
seeing no chance of success; but as our great dramatist
sings
As you all know, security
Is mortal's chiefest enemy.
C
The matter being considered settled, the tap which had
been turned on for the free and independent' electors
was suddenly stopped, which gave rise to great dis-
content. A friend of Colonel Tarleton's, Mr. George
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
259
III.
1790.
Election.
Crump, solicitor, adroitly took advantage of this feeling. CHAP.
He brought out a barrel of ale into the street near the
Exchange, and having knocked out the head of the cask,
began to distribute its contents, haranguing the mob on
the injustice of the coalition and the expediency of sup-
porting Colonel Tarleton. The feeling spread, and an
impromptu address was got up and presented to the
colonel requesting him to come forward again. A meet-
ing which had been called by the mayor and bailiffs of
the merchants and tradesmen 'to settle the question with
as little interruption as possible to the trade of the town,'
broke up in confusion, both sides claiming the majority
in the show of hands. A very severe contest followed,
which lasted seven days. During the first two days,
the polling was nearly equal, but as the struggle pro-
ceeded, the enthusiasm for Tarleton increased. The
exasperated freemen rushed to the poll in crowds to
plump for Tarleton, and at the close the numbers stood:
Tarleton, 1,269; Gascoyne, 888; Penrhyn, 716.
The squibs, addresses, and doggerels issued during Election
the election were rather smarter than usual.
The following is worth extracting for its peculiar
phraseology:
squibs.
THE COLONEL'S BALLAD.
Freemen, where is your great magnanimity?
Where's your boasted courage flown?
Quite perverted by pusillanimity,
Scarce can call your souls your own.
What your colonel has won so victoriously,
Crowned with conquest in the field,
You have relinquished, and O most ingloriously
To oppression tamely yield.
Freedom now for her flight makes preparative,
See her weeping quit the shore !
Freemen's loss is past all comparative,
Never to behold her more!
$ 2
260
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1790.
Election
squibs.
Great God arise! and with fate now exorgitate
Strike with Thy vindictive frown,
Make oppressors their plunder egorgitate,
And relieve a weeping town.
As might naturally be expected, the protection of the
slave trade formed the staple of a large portion of the
appeals to the constituency, and great credit is claimed
for the old members, who, it is said, 'In the late violent
attempt to abolish the supply of the West India islands
with labourers from Africa, have given the most con-
vincing proofs of superior abilities, unremitted attention,
and invincible perseverance.'
6
Again, enquires a champion who signs himself Com-
mon Sense, Was not the African trade in danger? Was
not Mr. Pitt, the minister, against it? Was not Mr. Fox,
the leader of Opposition, against it? Was not the House
of Commons against it? Was not the whole nation
against it? Who was there to stand up for it but Lord
Penrhyn and Mr. Gascoyne? How then can any man
be so ungrateful as to give his vote against them? The
idea of the two Liverpool members successfully resisting
the whole nation in defence of the favourite traffic of the
port is rich in the extreme, and strongly reminds one of
Sydney Smith's picture of Mrs. Partington defying the
Atlantic Ocean.
Not content with prose, the muse of poetry is invoked.
Thus sings the poet laureate of the Gascoyne party:
Be true to the man who stood true to his trust,
Remember our sad situation we must,
When our African business was near at an end,
Remember, my lads, 'twas Gascoyne was our friend.
If our slave trade had gone, there's an end to our lives,
Beggars all we must be, our children and wives,
No ships from our ports their proud sails e'er would spread,
And our streets grown with grass, where the cows might be fed.
The conduct of the self-elected common council in its
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
261
III.
squibs.
exclusion of the burgesses from all share in the local CHAP.
affairs is made use of by the Tarleton party. Mr. John
Foster, a member of a family who for several generations 1790.
managed the architectural and building affairs of the Election
corporation, is thus alluded to: Consider the insult
offered you by the Body Corporate, in bestowing all the
work on Young F-r, a fellow of yesterday; an upstart
whose arrogance, impudence, and ignorance are only
surpassed by the blunders he commits hourly in his pro-
fession.'
The unfortunate fiasco of the entertainment given by
Mr. Gascoyne ten years before was not forgotten. Both
prose and poetry were called into requisition to excite the
public ridicule. The following is one specimen:
Mr. Gascoyne, actuated by those fixed principles, that ever
memorable gratitude and steady adherence to a party, that
have exalted his highly respected father's name almost to
immortality, solicits the honour of his friends' company on
Wednesday next at half-past two on Childwall Heath to par-
take of a roasted plump calf the company may rely on its
not being too fat.-By friends, Mr. Gascoyne means those in-
dependent men, who would sacrifice even their freedom to
oblige the Corporation: He likewise assures them that he has
preserved, in high perfection, a large stock of last year's
cabbages, and that they may not be hard of digestion, he has
ordered them to be seven times parboiled. He hopes this en-
tertainment will prove as pleasant and agreeable as the well-
known feast of Bull's beef and faded cabbage-stalks on a
similar occasion.
N.B.-Gentlemen will wash their faces on this occasion,
and suffer themselves to be examined when they go away.
· Please observe the knives and forks are chained down.
The following is a characteristic incident of the times.
It must be taken, however, as an ex parte statement:
1 This is an allusion to the family of the Parrs who had numerous votes,
which were partly divided between Gascoyne and Tarleton, and partly given
as plumpers for Tarleton.
262
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1790.
Poll.
Lord
address.
1
Lord Murray was observed forcing a man along Castle
Street, who without intermission shouted Tarleton for ever!'
while the man's wife kept pulling him by the coat, begging
he would be true to his promise of giving the colonel a
plumper. At that instant up came a party of freemen in the
interest of the colonel, who, knowing their comrade, endeavoured
to rescue him, accusing Lord Murray of having stolen their
property-that was the term made use of. In the scuffle Lord
Murray struck one of the party, when a small species of
bruising ensued, in which, it must be confessed, his lordship
displayed the character of a common porter much to his credit.
The hisses and groans that saluted his lordship's ears from
every quarter, must have roused his shame-had that meek-
eyed goddess ever sat on his brow.
At the close of the third day's poll, seeing that Tar-
leton's majority rendered his return almost certain, Lord
Penrhyn generously gave way and issued an address
withdrawing from the contest. He says, with some bitter-
ness:
As my re-election is now attended with the same contest,
Penrhyn's disorder, and confusion that I have experienced at every dis-
solution of Parliament for these twenty-two years past, though
I am first on the poll,2 and have no doubt of success, I beg
leave to retire. . . . To represent the town of Liverpool with
the unanimous approbation of the freemen, I should certainly
esteem honourable; but as I have never found myself in that
situation, I have only to subscribe myself your most obedient
humble servant,
A.D. 1791.
PENRHYN.
In the next year (1791) a vigorous effort was made to
shake off the incubus of the self-elected common council.
In the mayoralty of James, Earl of Derby in 1735, a
common hall had been held, sanctioned by a legal de-
1 Lord Henry Murray resided at Eton House (now Bishop Eton) on the
Woolton Road. He belonged, I believe, to the Athol family, and was a
supporter of Lord Penrhyn.
2 This must have been written the day before the address was issued,
when the statement was quite correct.,
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
26.3
СНАР.
III.
1791.
cision of the superior courts, which authorised the
burgesses to manage their own affairs; but the decease
of the noble lord before his term of office expired, ren-
dered the measure abortive, and the council continued Proposed
to exercise its usurped power, no succeeding mayor Council.
having had the courage or inclination to take the popular
side.
6
On October 5, 1790, a memorial was addressed to the
mayor and bailiffs, signed by thirty-six burgesses, com-
plaining of the mode of electing members of the council,
and objecting to the election of some who had been
proposed. They say: We do hereby take the liberty
of expressing our disapprobation, not only of the mode
of election of councilmen, but of the persons who are
frequently chosen into that body.' They refer to several
respectable names which had been rejected, and con-
tinue, 'We think we are warranted in saying that the
council, in choosing their own body, do not consult the
wishes or interests of the burgesses. . . We presume to
desire that you will not hold a council to-morrow; but
take into consideration the propriety of summoning a
common hall, at which the burgesses may have an op-
portunity of electing the guardians of their own estate.'
reforms in
The names appended to this document were amongst
the most respectable in Liverpool, comprising not only
prominent members of the Whig party, such as Nathaniel
Richard, Benjamin and Arthur Heywood, Joseph Birch,
Willis Earle, Ellis L. Hodgson, but names uniformly con-
nected with the corporation and Conservative interests,
such as John Bolton, John Tarleton, Jonas Bold, Cor-
nelius Bourne. The most singular name amongst the
subscribers is that of Henry Brown, if it be, as may be
fairly surmised, that of the clever attorney who acted in
the following year as legal agent for the corporation in
the controversy raised on the very subject-matter of the
memorial. In 1791, during the mayoralty of Mr. John Mr.
Sparling.
Sparling, a requisition signed by 1,028 burgesses, being
264
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1791.
council
reform.
a majority of two-thirds of those residing in the town,
was presented to the mayor and bailiffs requesting them
to call a common hall. The bailiffs at this time were Mr.
Proposed Clayton Tarleton, brother of the member (elected mayor
in 1792), and Mr. Robert Moss. The requisition was
acceded to and the burgesses were called together on
January 17, the mayor having taken the opinion of three
eminent counsel as to the legality of the course. At
this meeting resolutions were passed abrogating the power
assumed by the council to fill up vacancies in their body,
and as the council was then short of its number accord-
ing to the charter, two gentlemen were selected to fill
the vacant places-Mr. Joseph Birch ¹ and Mr. Richard
Walker, both eminent merchants. The meeting also
resolved that the corporation accounts should be audited
on behalf of the burgesses and published, and passed a
by-law to that effect. This by-law the then treasurer,
Mr. Thomas Golightly, supported by the majority of the
council, refused to comply with. Another common hall
was called together on June 16, when a further by-
law was passed, inflicting a penalty of forty shillings for
every refusal of the treasurer to allow the auditors to
inspect the books. The treasurer still refusing the in-
spection, an action was brought against him in the Court
of King's Bench, nominally on behalf of the mayor,
bailiffs, and burgesses, for the recovery of the penalty,
which if successful would establish the rights of the
burgesses. The action was tried at the Lancaster Assizes
before Baron Thompson, Serjeant Adair being counsel
for the prosecutors, and Mr. Erskine (afterwards Lord
Chancellor) for the defendant. The question turned
upon the point whether evidence of a custom ought to
be admitted against the express words of a charter. The
Trial.
1 Mr. Birch sat for many years as Member of Parliament for Nottingham,
and was created a baronet. He was father to the present Sir Thomas
Bernard Birch, Bart., of the Hazles, near Prescot, Member of Parliament
for Liverpool from 1847 to 1852.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
265
III.
judge ruled that it could not be admitted, and the jury CHAP.
accordingly found for the plaintiff, thus establishing the
right of the burgesses to manage their own affairs.
1791.
ceedings.
A motion was made in the Court of King's Bench for Law pro-
a new trial, when after a long argument the judges were
of opinion that the evidence of the custom ought to have
been admitted, and directed a new trial, which came on
during the year subsequent. On the second trial, evi-
dence of the usage was furnished from the corporation
books, and counter evidence was given showing what
the usage and custom had been from the earliest period.
The jury again gave a verdict in favour of the burgesses.
This ought to have settled the question, but abuses are
not so easily put down when they have unlimited funds
at their disposal.
A motion was again made for a new trial, on the New trial.
ground that the jury had not attached to their verdict a
declaration that the usage was an abuse. By this time,
the funds of the burgesses had become exhausted; they
plainly saw that the council were prepared for war to
the knife, and would carry the matter from court to
court as long as money would keep it alive. This pro-
spect was disheartening; very reluctantly the action was
abandoned; and the council continued to practise the
injustice until terminated by the Municipal Reform Act
of 1835.
Warranto.
I have mentioned that the burgesses in the common
hall of 1791, elected two common councilmen, Messrs.
Birch and Walker. Immediate proceedings were taken
by the council to dispute the validity of these elections.
In Trinity Term 1791, writs of Quo warranto were issued Quo
against both these gentlemen calling upon them to prove
their title to their seats. The point at issue was this:
the charter of William III., called the governing charter,
in which the existence of a council was first recognised,
enacted that the vacancies in that body should be filled
in the same manner as had been customary previous
up
266
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1791.
Taking of
Bastille.
to the spurious charter of Charles II. The council before
that time had been the mere creation of the burgesses,
but there can be no doubt that the illegal custom of self-
election had already crept in. After the charter of
Charles I. was granted in 1626, the burgesses met in
common hall and elected a council of fifty-six members,
but no regular system being adopted, the council soon
relieved the burgesses of any care in the matter, and not-
withstanding a few spasmodic throes and impotent re-
monstrances, the exclusive system gained itself a title by
prescription. The question was argued in Hilary, Easter,
and Trinity Terms 1792, and in Michaelmas Term judg-
ment was given in favour of the council, excluding the
new councillors from their seats.
On July 14, 1791, the anniversary of the destruction
of the Bastille was celebrated in Liverpool, on which
occasion Mr. Roscoe composed his well-known lyric:
O'er the vine-covered hills and gay valleys of France,
See the day-star of Liberty rise;
Through the clouds of detraction unsullied advance,
And hold its new course through the skies.
An effulgence so mild with a lustre so bright,
All Europe with wonder surveys,
And from deserts of darkness and dungeons of night,
Contends for a share of the blaze.
&c.
A.D. 1792.
On the same day the Church and King riots at Bir-
mingham took place, which effectually put a stop to
similar celebrations in future.
During all this time the trade of the port continued
prosperous and progressive, and the population rapidly
increasing, amounting at the outbreak of the French war
to not fewer than 60,000 souls.
In 1792, a strong feeling pervaded the mercantile
East India Community that the monopoly of trade with the East,
monopoly. enjoyed by the East India Company, was unjust and
ought to be abolished; that Liverpool and the other
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
267
CHAP.
1792.
Public
ports of the kingdom had an equal right to whatever III.
advantages could be gained by enterprise and capital.
A public meeting of the merchants and inhabitants was
called in the Exchange, the mayor, Clayton Tarleton, meeting.
Esq., in the chair, when a series of resolutions in favour
of free trade were passed unanimously, and an in-
fluential committee was appointed to prepare a petition to
Parliament and to make every effort to carry out the
object of the meeting. A correspondence was entered
into to receive the co-operation of Manchester, Bir-
mingham, Glasgow, and other commercial towns. These
proceedings were, however, cut short by the alarming
state of political affairs. Agitation and disaffection at
home, and the prospect of a general European war,
threw a gloom over the country at large, disheartening
any attempts towards relaxing the existing monopoly,
which it required a further experience of twenty years
finally to overcome.
France.
The year 1793 opened with dark and lowering pro- a.d. 1793.
spects. The execution of Louis XVI. on January 21, Dark
excited a large amount of indignation and sympathy. prospects.
The flags on the shipping and public buildings were
hoisted half-mast high, and a strong disposition was
manifested to rally round the Government. War was War with
declared against France on February 11. Immediately
afterwards a meeting of the principal inhabitants was
held, at which a letter was read from the prime minister,
Mr. Pitt, requesting that a deputation might be sent to
confer with the Government on the steps to be taken for
the protection of the port and shipping. Messrs. George Defence
Case, Richard Walker, and J. P. Richards, were ap-
pointed for the purpose. Vigorous measures were
adopted. An embargo was laid upon all ships carrying
naval or military supplies, and letters of marque were
issued against French ships and commerce. The old Privateers.
fighting instinct of Liverpool was revived in full force,
and before July 1, no less than sixty-seven privateers
of the port.
268
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1793.
'Pelican'
privateer.
Com-
mercial
depres-
sion.
6
were armed and manned, and were either at sea or pre-
paring to sail. An incident occurred in connection with
one of these privateers which was long kept in remem-
brance. A letter of marque ship, called the Pelican,' was
launched on March 20, full rigged, with all her guns and
stores on board. A party of above two hundred persons.
were invited to accompany her down the river to sea.
Whilst they were making merry and enjoying themselves
to their hearts' content, the ship on being put about
opposite Seacombe suddenly made a lurch and went
down. Seventy persons were drowned, the rest being
saved by boats on the river. The accident was supposed
to have occurred through the guns not being properly
secured. The ship was never raised, and the top of her
masts stood above the water for years after the fatal
event. The first prize was brought in on April 5, by the
Liverpool ship Harriet,' Captain Caitcheon, consisting
of a French West Indiaman called 'L'Agréable,' laden
with cotton, sugar, and indigo, of the value of 8000l. to
10,000%.
The upheaval and disturbance in the political world
inflicted a severe and unprecedented shock on com-
mercial affairs. A general panic set in throughout the
country, during which numerous mercantile houses of the
highest standing and character were prostrated in ruin.
Of the four banks then existing in Liverpool, three were
able to withstand the shock. The fourth, that of Messrs.
Charles Caldwell & Co., succumbed under the pressure.
The consequences were very serious. All confidence
was at an end. Produce could not be disposed of and
Measures bills could not be met. The measures taken at this time
adopted.
to mitigate the pressure and to restore confidence were
very judicious, though somewhat bold and novel. On
March 23, a public meeting of merchants was held to
consider the state of affairs at which a committee was
appointed to consult as to the best course to be adopted.
The town council also met and appointed a committee
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
269
III.
1793.
to confer with and aid the committee of merchants. The СНАР.
joint committees drew up an address which was counter-
signed by two hundred and twenty of the principal firms
in the town, recommending forbearance in regard to pay-
ments and bills falling due, and expressing their con-
fidence in the Liverpool banks and their willingness to
receive their paper.
tion notes.
The council went beyond this, and obtained an Act Corpora-
(33 Geo. III. c. 31), authorising them to issue nego-
tiable notes to an amount not exceeding 300,000l. on
security of the corporate property. The 50l. and 100%.
notes were to bear interest. Those of 51. and 10l. to be
without interest. The notes so issued were to be loaned
to the merchants and holders of produce to relieve the
stagnation in the mercantile world. The committee of
management, in their public notice, state that the business
of a loan office on the principles intended by the Act, is
without a parallel; and there being no institution from
which the committee could derive information to aid
their deliberations, they do not suppose that the rules
and regulations now laid before you are the best pos-
sible; a little experience may point out their defects,
and those defects will be remedied and removed as they
are discovered. The mode of obtaining a loan will be
found unembarrassed, easy, and expeditious; the terms
are as moderate as the expenses which will unavoidably
attend the institution would permit, and fixed on that
sure basis which will protect the corporation estate from
injury.
It now rests with you to second the endeavours of
the corporation. The inconveniences resulting from a
convulsion before unknown in the commercial history of
this country, all have been exposed to; all have in a
greater or less degree experienced; the remedy, in a
considerable degree, is now within your power, and that
is, by receiving the notes to be issued, in discharge of all
your simple contract debts.
270
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1793.
C That you may inspire each other with confidence in
this respect, it is recommended that you signify your
assent to do so, publicly and without reserve; it has been
Corpora- suggested that this intention will be most easily collected
by signing your acquiescence at Mr. Gore's shop, near the
Exchange.'
A.D. 1794.
Lord
Howe's
victory.
Guada-
loupe.
The experiment was completely successful. As in
many similar cases, what was wanted was the restora-
tion of confidence rather than any large amount of cir-
culation. It was not found necessary to issue more than
a moderate proportion of the notes.
This scheme and its success have often been quoted in
favour of a paper currency versus gold; but a moment's
consideration will show that the success was entirely
owing to the convertibility of the notes within a limited
period, and to the fact of the larger sums bearing in-
terest, both of which are incompatible with the existence
of an issue of inconvertible paper. The simple process
was this: the corporation pledged their credit; their
notes were cashed and so relieved the holders of pro-
duce, which could not be sold except at a ruinous loss.
The war opened well for England. Lord Howe's great
victory of June 1, 1794, inspired the nation with con-
fidence. The greater part of the West India islands fell
into the hands of the English, which to Liverpool with
its West India and African trade opened up prospects
of great extension of commerce. When the news of the
capture of Guadaloupe arrived there were great re-
joicings. A grand banquet was given by the mayor,
Mr. Henry Blundell, whose brother Lieutenant-Colonel
Blundell had distinguished himself in the attack. Lord
Howe's victory gave rise to the most unbounded rejoicings.
The church bells were rung, flags were displayed from
every steeple and coin of vantage,' the ships in the
docks and harbour were gaily decorated, and a royal
salute fired from the fort.
6
These victories, however, required their price, and this
271
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
CHAP.
1794.
seamen,
was painful enough to the seafaring community. The III.
press for seamen for the navy became very warm. Not
content with overhauling the ships and scouring every
obscure haunt where sailors were accustomed to take Press for
refuge, the pressgang went inland, invaded the merri-
ment of the wakes and fairs, and carried off without
In
scruple any landsmen they could lay their hands on.
the spring of 1794, the Warrington coach and the York
mail were stopped by the pressgang and searched for
sailors. During the heat of the scuffle the horses took
fright, galloped off and upset the coach, by which several
of the passengers were severely injured.
The military spirit of Liverpool has always risen with
every emergency. Few towns in the kingdom have
been so ready in times of need to furnish contingents
whether of regulars, militia, or volunteers, for the service
of the country. In 1794, a subscription was entered
into for the purpose of raising a volunteer force, towards Volun-
This was
which the corporation contributed 1,000.
merely a preliminary movement. I shall have occasion
again to refer to the great volunteer display of a few
years later.
teers,
On February 4, 1794, the town was visited by a Hurricane.
dreadful hurricane which committed very serious damage
and filled the river with wrecks.
In the absence of more legitimate business the priva-
teering expeditions were attended with considerable
success.
On February 11, the town was thrown into a Prizes.
state of excitement by the arrival of seven French West
Indiamen, captured by two Liverpool privateers, all fine
vessels and richly laden.
Political party spirit began now to run very high.
The vast majority in Liverpool as well as in the nation
at large were enthusiastic in favour of the war with
France, and earnest supporters of the Government mea-
sures, but there was a minority, comparatively small in
number but intelligent and determined, who lost no
272
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1794.
Peace
party.
CHAP. opportunity of deprecating the war and of denouncing
the repressive measures adopted by those in power. In
1793, the mayor, Mr. Clayton Tarleton, reprinted and
circulated a charge of Mr. Justice Ashurst, strongly ani-
madverting on the opponents of the Government, along
with an address of the London Loyal Association. To
counteract the effect of this the party of opposition, which
ranked amongst its members several names of which
Liverpool has reason to be proud, such as William Roscoe,
Dr. Currie (the biographer of Burns), Mr. (afterwards
Sir Joseph) Birch and others, adopted vigorous measures.
Dr. Currie published, under the pseudonym of Jasper
Wilson,' a letter to Mr. Pitt strongly condemnatory of
the war, which caused an extraordinary sensation. Three
large editions were sold in two months, besides reprints
in Scotland, Ireland, and in the country. It was re-
printed in America, and translated into French and
German.
Dr.
Currie's
letters.
tion.
C
A society of the friends of peace was organised in
Liverpool by this party, who published their resolutions
in one of the Liverpool papers. To so high a pitch
had party feeling risen that those who were known to be
members were publicly insulted, and after a short time
the society was compelled to discontinue its meetings.
Proclama At this juncture a proclamation was issued by the Go-
vernment representing the dangers to which the country
was exposed by treasonable and seditious designs, and
exhorting all persons to make diligent enquiry after the
authors of the wicked and seditious writings which were
disseminated over the country. This roused the oppo-
sition party in Liverpool to take action. Mr. Roscoe
drew up a declaration expressing the attachment of those
who signed it to the constitution, and at the same time
their resolution to seek a Parliamentary reform by all
legal, temperate, and constitutional means. This decla-
ration had been extensively signed when the mayor
convoked a public meeting of the inhabitants to consider
Declara-
tion.
Public
meeting.
273
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
III.
1794.
the propriety of addressing the king. An opportunity CHAP.
being thus afforded for a public expression of opinion,
the declaration was laid aside and an address was pre-
pared (also by Mr. Roscoe) embracing the sentiments of
the declaration. When the meeting took place ad-
dresses were proposed by the ministerial party, and Mr.
Roscoe's counter-address was brought forward by Mr.
Birch. A stormy debate ensued, accompanied by con-
siderable uproar. Mr. Roscoe however, and several of
the Whigs succeeded in making themselves heard; and,
after a contest of two hours, his address was carried on
a show of hands by a considerable majority. The mayor
then appointed the following Monday at the town-hall
for its signature.
In the meantime the friends of the Government were Conten-
not idle. Exciting placards were posted on the walls call- tions.
ing on the lovers of the Constitution to resist the revo-
lutionary designs of their opponents. When the time for
signature came, the town-hall was surrounded by a mob
who seized and tore up the address which had been
carried at the public meeting. They then sent for the
mayor and called for his address, which was one of those
rejected at the meeting. This was tumultuously voted to
be the Liverpool address. In a few hours it received.
12,000 signatures and was forwarded and presented to
the king.
At the beginning of the year 1795, the peace party AD. 1795.
presented a requisition to the mayor that he would call
a meeting to address the Crown in favour of putting an
end to the war. This requisition was signed by about
fifty merchants. A movement was made by the opposite Public
party, and a counter-requisition signed by 200 of the meeting
merchants was presented, strongly dissuading the mayor
from calling the meeting, on the ground that it would
be useless if not mischievous. His worship accordingly
declined.
The pressure for seamen to man the royal navy was
VOL. I.
T
refused.
274
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1795.
Press for
seamen.
so great that Parliament passed a bill in February 1795
requiring each port in the kingdom to furnish a spe-
cified number of men for the public service. The list
is very curious as showing the estimated relative im-
portance of the different ports of the United Kingdom at
that period. London was assessed to furnish 5,725 men;
Liverpool, 1,711; Newcastle, 1,240; Bristol, 666; and
so in a descending scale to Montrose, which was to
provide 107. A bounty was given by Government,
which was supplemented by an additional sum granted
by the corporation. This was absolutely necessary, as,
until the contingent was supplied, no merchant vessel was
Bounties. allowed to put to sea. The bounty paid in Liverpool was
317. 5s. for each able seaman, 231. 10s. for each ordinary
seaman, and 177. 10s. for each landsman. At the average
of these rates, the Liverpool levy must have cost in
bounties the sum of 41,2067. In order to stimulate the
enlistment, the mayor and other authorities formed in
procession, and, with drums beating and colours flying,
perambulated the streets and dock quays to the sound of
martial music. The contingent was soon completed, and
the embargo removed.
Address
to the
King.
attacked.
The characteristic loyalty of Liverpool displayed itself
by an address to the king on November 11, 1795. The
state trials of Hardy, Tooke, and Thelwall, for sedition,
had caused great excitement in London, which was in-
The King creased by their acquittal. The king had been attacked
by the mob on October 29, whilst proceeding in state to
open Parliament. The crowds collected are stated in
the papers of the day to have amounted to two hundred
thousand. Hisses and groans greeted the royal cortége,
mingled with shouts of Give us peace and bread!' No
war!' No king! • Down with him!' When oppo-
site the Ordnance Office, a shot, supposed to have been a
bullet from an air-gun, passed through the window of the
royal carriage. This outrage strongly roused the indig-
nation of the country, and loyal addresses poured in
6
6
6.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
275
III.
from all quarters. That from Liverpool was presented CHAP.
by the mayor, Mr. Peter Baker, and Mr. Owen Salisbury
Brereton the recorder, at that time eighty years of age.
1796.
Gascoyne.
Parliament was dissolved May 1796, and writs for the Election.
new one immediately issued. Bamber Gascoyne having
succeeded his father, who died in 1791, felt inclined to
withdraw from public life. His place as a candidate was
supplied by his brother Colonel (afterwards General) General
Isaac Gascoyne. This gentleman represented Liverpool,
in nine successive Parliaments, for thirty-five years. He
was a man of no special ablility and took no prominent
part in public affairs, except on one memorable occasion
which cost him his seat for Liverpool. He was doubt-
less zealous and active in promoting the town's interest
in Parliament, his family influence was considerable,
and he had the uniform support of the town council;
'Gascoyne and Townside,' being his favourite electioneer-
ing motto. His only active service had been under the
Duke of York in the unfortunate campaign in Flanders,
in 1794, where, like Achilles, he received a wound in the
heel, which was sometimes sarcastically alluded to in
electioneering squibs. He was a Conservative to the
back-bone, and uniformly supported the measures of
Government.
Of General Tarleton, who came forward for re-election, General
I have already spoken. During the time he had sat for Tarleton.
the borough he had taken the Whig or Opposition side,
and occasionally addressed the House with considerable
effect. On Mr. Fox's motion of December 15, 1792,
proposing to send a minister to Paris to treat with the
provisional government, which might have saved poor
King Louis's life, Colonel Tarleton defended the course
proposed by Mr. Fox against the attacks of Mr. Pitt.
A third candidate presented himself in the person John
of Mr. John Tarleton of Finch House, brother of the Tarleton.
General. He had sat in the previous Parliament for the
now disfranchised borough of Seaford in Sussex, under
T 2
276
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1796.
Bryan
Blundell.
Song.
the patronage of Sir Godfrey Webster, Baronet, and the
on-dit ran that a quarrel had arisen about the price to
be paid for the seat, 3,000l., which the member refused
to pay, and which led to a challenge and an information
before the Court of King's Bench. He was in politics
a supporter of the Administration, but a strong feeling
prevailed as to his unfraternal conduct in coming for-
ward to oppose his brother. It was also alleged that he
had spoken and voted against the Liverpool Loan Bill
of 1793, from which such good results had followed.
Bryan Blundell, Colonel of the 45th regiment, who
had distinguished himself at the taking of Guadaloupe,
had intended to offer himself, but he says in his address:
On my arrival in my native town I found it engaged
in so extraordinary a contest, and so much confusion the
consequence, I must confess my own feelings will not
allow me to add to it by making an offer of my humble
services.'
Rather more virulence than usual was infused into
this contest from the personal relation of the parties, but
the squibs and addresses were of a superior order. The
following song is by no means despicable either in its
versification or sentiment:
TARLETON AND LIBERTY.
To the tune of 'O! dear, what can the matter be?'
From a cruise of six years for the good of the nation,
In which our commander ne'er fled from his station,
But battled with many a loyal oration,
Our brave man of war has come home.
Huzza, Tarleton and Liberty,
Tarleton and Liberty.
Liverpool welcomes him home.
When taxes and war menaced danger around him,
And placemen and courtiers endeavour'd to sound him,
A true British patriot we ever have found him,
As such let us welcome him home.
Huzza, &c.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
277
When credit and property call'd for his aid sirs,
He fought for our rights and protected our trade sirs,
Which enemies vainly may try to invade sirs,
While patriots triumph at home.
Huzza, &c.
Like a rock in the midst of the wide stormy ocean,
He stood firm and free midst the threaten'd commotion,
And scorn'd from our foes to solicit promotion,
Our hearts were his pride and his home.
Huzza, &c.
With freedom and truth, and an Englishman's spirit,
He knows that the proudest distinction is merit,
Then let him from us the rich title inherit,
And Liverpool still be his home.
May 25, 1796.
Huzza, &c.
СНАР.
III.
1796.
The following is rather bitter. It shows that the Election
‹ bull beef and cabbage' of sixteen years before was still squibs.
rankling in the popular mind:
Strayed, or otherways conveyed from the barren hills of
Childwall, a young pug dog of the Lilliputian breed, com-
monly called or known by the name of Isaac. The said dog
was marked in the heel at Dunkirk races, and wears a red
collar. Whoever will give information to Mr. Tom Clarke ¹
where he may be found, will receive a reward of a basket of
fine cabbage and a barrel of excellent bull beef.
Circumstances had considerably changed since the
last election in 1790. At that time party politics were
scarcely alluded to, and on national subjects there seemed
little or no difference of opinion. Now, an earnestness
and even rancour was manifested, and every man took his
particular side on matters which involved the first prin-
ciples of liberty and order. The majority in Liverpool
were undoubtedly on the side of the Government, but
General Tarleton was popular with the working classes
¹ Mr. Thomas Clarke was a Liverpool merchant residing at Childwall,
and an ardent supporter of Colonel Gascoyne.
278
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
CHAP. from his frankness and bonhommie. The ungenerous
opposition of his brother also roused a strong feeling
of indignation, which is expressed in the following
squib:
1796.
Election
squibs.
Liverpool, May 28, 1796.
Lost, this morning about nine o'clock, that very small
portion of popularity which I have lately acquired by abusing
and misrepresenting my brother, his family and friends.
Whoever will bring any part of it to my Committee-room in
Brunswick Street shall receive a handsome reward from my
arch-treasurer, Jn B-n, Esq.,' who, knowing my very
extraordinary manoeuvering abilities, has wisely accepted a
sufficient security from me to indemnify himself and other
friends.
B—n,
J
General Tarleton had the reputation of being some-
what of a roué. There can be no doubt that he formed
one of that select Whig circle which parasitically sur-
rounded the heir to the throne and encouraged him in
his excesses. At election times woe be to the man whose
reputation is in any way loose or dilapidated. The
following placard reflects both on the social habits and
the political connections of the General:
3
Lost-supposed to be stolen out of the pocket of General
Tarleton, between Bold Street and Dale Street-a large packet
of papers, containing the Duke of Bedford's draft upon him, in
favour of Mrs. Robinson for sundries, for five hundred and
eleven pounds four shillings. N.B. This draft is due 1st June,
1796.
Particulars of a conversation between General Tarleton and
the Duke of Bedford, respecting having his hair cut, after
which, like a true jacobin, he is made into a crop.
Copy of a letter addressed to a club called the liberty club,
and a copy of a letter to the Earl of Derby, respecting his
¹ John Bolton, subsequently the great friend and supporter of Canning.
2 John Tarleton.
3 In the original the names are given with the initials and terminals
only, but any occasion for suppression has long passed away.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
279
lending him some money to carry on the election at Liver-
pool.
CHAP.
II.
Lamentations of the freemen of Liverpool, for not letting 1796.
them have free drink. And a many other papers too numerous
to be inserted.
Whoever will bring the said packet of papers to the Com-
mittee-room in Dale Street, or to any of the fish women at
the fish stones, shall receive two dozen green ribbons, and a
peep at the general.
The poll commenced on Saturday May 28. From
the first, Gascoyne took the lead, followed by the General.
On Wednesday, June 1, John Tarleton withdrew, leaving
the numbers at the close of the poll: Colonel Gascoyne,
672; General Tarleton, 506; John Tarleton, 317.
The number of freemen polled was only 1,195, being
772 less than at the election of 1790.
The nation was now plunged into the thick of the war Naval
which was to try to the utmost its courage and endu- successes.
rance. Commerce began slowly to revive. The naval
supremacy of England for the most part swept the seas
clear of our enemies, and the trade of Liverpool, always
ready for any new channel which might open, fully
maintained its position and gained upon its rivals.
Alarms of invasion began now to distract the country. Alarms of
In October 1796 General Hoche was despatched by the invasion.
French Directory with a fleet of seventeen ships, besides
transports, and an army of 17,000 men to attempt a land-
ing in Ireland. The weather being unpropitious, the
fleet returned without making the attempt. The year
1797 opened with a much more threatening demonstra- A.D. 1797.
tion. On Saturday, February 25, an express arrived in
Liverpool with the information that a large body of
French troops had been landed near Fishguard in South
Wales, and might be expected to advance into Lanca-
shire. Liverpool has never been found wanting in cases
of emergency for the defence of her hearths and homes.
A meeting of the inhabitants was called by the mayor
280
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1797.
Volun-
teers.
Defences
of the
town.
CHAP. the next day (Sunday) which is said to have been the
most numerous ever held in the town. The utmost
enthusiasm prevailed amongst all classes; 1,000 volun-
teers presented themselves on the spot for enrolment.
The merchants offered their privateers for service in the
river and on the coast. The mayor applied to the Go-
vernment for a reinforcement of troops and for two
vessels of war to be stationed in the river. In the course
of a week the town and port were placed in a complete
state of defence. Thirty large guns were mounted at the
fort, and twenty-six more were placed in position in tem-
porary batteries at various salient points, with 570 men
well appointed, ten men to a gun, consisting of masters,
mates, and seamen, most of them trained privateers' men,
accustomed to real action. A committee of forty of
the principal inhabitants-irrespective of party-was
appointed to act with the mayor, Mr. (afterwards Sir
George) Dunbar, to conduct the arrangements for the
defence of the town. The volunteers mustered in the fort
on the same Sunday afternoon, and in marching out were
received by the populace with loud cheers. Reinforce-
ments arrived in the town during the week following,
consisting of two troops of the Ayrshire cavalry, and a
regiment of the East Kent militia.
Defences.
Shortly after, the Liverpool volunteers were arranged
into eight companies, commanded respectively by Messrs.
George Case, Jonas Bold, George Dunbar, Henry Blun-
dell, Joseph Birch, Thomas Earle, Felix Doran, and
George Goring. There was also a troop of light horse,
commanded by Mr. Edward Falkner.
Very fortunately this patriotic enthusiasm was never
required to be carried into the field. The French expe-
dition consisted of 1,250 forçats whom the Government
did not know how to dispose of. They were captured
by the British force sent to meet them without striking
a blow.
A little before this time, Charles Jenkinson, who filled
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
281
the office of Prime Minister for a longer period than any
other known in our annals, was created Earl of Liver-
pool, and at the request of the corporation he added
the arms of the town to his family coat. The sup-
porters were at the same time added to the arms of
Liverpool.
СНАР.
III.
1797.
Town
arms.
water.
In 1797 the scheme of bringing water to supply Liver- Supply of
pool from the springs at Bootle, which had been pro-
pounded by Sir Cleave Moore ninety years before, was
revived. A company was incorporated for the purpose
by an Act passed in 1799 (39 Geo. III. c. 36). On
St. Luke's Day in this year, the usually stagnant waters
of the corporation were ruffled by the unusual circum-
stance of a contest for the mayoralty between Messrs.
Thomas Staniforth and Jos. Brooks. The poll con- Poll for
tinued open for the unprecedented period of three days. mayor.
The numbers stood at the close: Staniforth, 597; Brooks,
357. Mr. Brooks did not again offer himself for the
honour.
The prisoners.
About this time Liverpool became a depôt for French French
prisoners, and so continued to the end of the war.
gaol in Great Howard Street, which had been erected in
1786, but not occupied, was used for this purpose. At
the close of 1798 there were 4,000 French prisoners
in Liverpool.
The 18th of December 1797 was celebrated as a
thanksgiving day for the naval victory of Camperdown
under Admiral Duncan.
The year 1798 opened gloomily for the country, inva- A.D. 1798.
sion from France appeared imminent, and the rebellion
in Ireland was showing its first symptoms. Liverpool,
with its usual loyalty, came forward nobly in aid of the
Government with a voluntary subscription of 17,000l. Subscrip-
The list of subscribers contains almost every name of
note in the dominant party, for it is remarkable that the
names of the leading Whigs are conspicuous by their
absence.' The amounts vary from 500l., with which
6
tion.
282
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1798.
Volun-
teers.
Irish
rebellion,
Battle of
the Nile.
A.D. 1799.
Corpora-
works.
Mr. John Bolton heads the list, down to 50l., and even
less. One firm agrees to contribute the yearly sum of
40 guineas during the continuance of the war.
The volunteer forces were at this time rearranged and
extended; 800 additional men were enrolled, making a
total of about 2,000 strong, besides the artillery and
cavalry. Two battalions of infantry were formed, one
commanded by Colonel George Case, the other by
Colonel Pudsey Dawson. The artillery corps was com-
manded by Mr. Jacob Nelson; the cavalry by Colonel
Edward Falkner. On this footing the force remained
until it was disbanded at the Peace of Amiens in 1802,
to be revived at a future period.
At the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion, large numbers
of the loyal inhabitants of Ireland crossed the Channel
and took refuge in Liverpool, which had a favourable
influence on the town. Owing to the stagnation of trade
after the commencement of the war, the increase of popu-
lation had been checked, and a large number of houses.
stood empty, which were now quickly occupied by the
refugees from the sister island.
In November 1798 an address of congratulation was
adopted by the common council and presented to the
king on the great victory obtained by Lord Nelson at the
battle of the Nile.
In the year 1799 the Liverpool & Harrington Com-
tion water- pany, for supplying the town with water from springs on
the spot, was established. Under the Improvement Act
of 1786, the corporation had taken powers to construct
these works either by themselves or others. Up to this
time the powers had lain dormant, but, stimulated by the
incorporation of the Bootle Company, the council made
over their privileges to a company now created. Public
opinion was so much in favour of the undertaking that,
immediately on the subscription list being opened the
whole of the shares were disposed of.
During the same year an important trial took place
283
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
III.
1799.
Trial,
บ.
Londou.
between the city of London and the town of Liverpool, CHAP.
involving the question of exemption from towns' dues
payable in Liverpool on ships and goods belonging to
citizens of London. By the terms of the royal charters Liverpool
granted to the metropolis, the citizens and freemen were
to be exempt from local tolls throughout the country,
anything to the contrary in local charters notwithstand-
ing. This right was litigated in 1695, when the cheese-
mongers of London successfully resisted the payment.
As the commerce of Liverpool increased, and transac-
tions became larger, the exemption from towns' dues
became a valuable privilege. As long as the freedom.
could be purchased, this exemption was a mere matter of
calculation, but after the year 1777, when the council
abandoned the practice of granting the freedom for a fine,
this means of obtaining the privilege was cut off. Find-
ing this to be the case, it became the practice for Liver-
pool merchants to get themselves elected in some minor
company of the city of London, for which they paid
40l. or 50l., and thus, by pleading their privilege, escaped
the payment of many hundreds a year. Instances have
occurred in which these gentlemen were caught in their
own trap. Freemen of London elected on the livery
are liable to serve in the office of sheriff, or pay a fine of
500l. More than once, Liverpool merchants have been
so elected and have paid the fine. In one case the gentle-
man nominated (Mr. Leigh) actually served as sheriff.
In April 1799 the question was brought to an issue by
a trial before the Court of Exchequer and a special jury,
when a verdict was given to the following effect: That
the citizens are entitled to the exemption for their goods
and wares, but it belongs exclusively to such as are re-
sident freemen within the liberties, paying scot and lot.'
Practically this was a verdict for the corporation, as few
persons would go to the expense of an establishment in
London for the mere purpose of evading the payment of
towns' dues in Liverpool.
6
284
CHAP.
III.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
In the conduct of this trial, great credit was due to
Mr. Henry Brown, a solicitor of standing in the town,
and a member of the council, to whom-the town-clerk
Mr. Henry of the day not being considered quite competent for the
1799.
Brown.
extensive research and deep legal lore required-the
business was entrusted. At this time very little was
known as to the title of the corporation to the receipt of
towns' dues, whether they were leviable by prescription
or grant, and in what way they had originated. He had
been previously employed in the trials of 1791 to defend
the council in their claims to self-election and exclusive
management, and was pronounced by Mr. Law (after-
wards Lord Ellenborough) to be the best read corpo-
ration lawyer in existence. He was an antiquary of
the Dryasdust school; never so happy as when immersed
amidst piles of dusty parchments in the Tower or Record
Office. From these and other sources he probed to the
bottom the foundation of the corporation title, which was
never submitted to public view until brought out by the
Municipal Corporations Enquiry in 1833. Like many
other men of his class, he was eccentric in his habits and
slovenly in his person. It is said that on one occasion, whilst
undergoing the operation of shaving in a barber's shop
in London, he accidentally spied Colonel Gascoyne pass-
ing along the street. Without uttering a word, he jumped
up, pushed aside the astonished tonsor, and rushed out
into the street with lathered chin, and the enveloping
garment flying behind, calling at the top of his voice for
the gallant colonel to stop, the populace imagining that
he was a lunatic attempting to make his escape. After
the conclusion of the contest with the city of London,
a complimentary resolution was passed by the council to
the following effect: That the thanks of the council be
given to Mr. Brown for his valuable services, and that he
be presented with a gold snuff-box, having an appro-
priate inscription, as a further mark of approbation of his
conduct, the same to be ordered and executed under the
6
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
285
direction of the Select Finance Committee, paid for by CHAP.
the treasurer, and allowed in his accounts.'
III.
1799.
town clerk.
The thanks of the council proved but barren after all.
In 1807, on the decease of Mr. Jno. Colquitt, Mr. Brown Election of
became a candidate for the town-clerkship, to which he
had the strongest possible title from his previous services.
He had the mortification of finding himself passed over
in favour of one whose claims consisted mainly of cor-
porate influence. It was remarked by a wag in refe-
rence to the compliment of 1799, that Mr. Brown had
got' box et præterea nihil.'
On November 12 of this year one of those hurricanes
which periodically visit the port committed more than
the usual amount of destruction. Three ships which left
the port in the morning-the 'Hope,' the Chirmseck,'
and the Belfast'-became total wrecks, and all on
board perished.
A little before this date a singular accident occurred,
attended with loss of life. At this period nearly all the Ships
sea-going ships carried guns for protection in war-time, saluting
and it was customary for homeward-bound vessels enter-
ing the port to announce their arrival by firing a salute,
the balls of course being drawn. On one occasion this
precaution was neglected, and two men who were cross-
ing the old dock gates were killed, and another man
severely wounded. The practice of saluting was from
that time forward prohibited.
A grand display took place on June 4, 1799, being King's
the king's birthday, when a stand of colours was pre- birthday.
sented to the Royal Liverpool Regiment of Volunteers,
under Colonel Pudsey Dawson. Two brass field-pieces
were also presented to them by the annual vestry meet-
ing of the parish.
nation.
Notwithstanding the temporary relief afforded by the Commer-
corporation issue of notes in 1793-4, commercial affairs cial stag-
continued in a very low state of depression. In 1797
the drain of gold compelled the Bank of England to
286
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
III.
1799.
CHAP. suspend its cash payments, which was soon after sanctioned
by the Bank Restriction Act. The following year, about
the time of the Irish Rebellion, 3 per cent. Consols went
down to 48, the lowest point of depression they have
ever reached. Under these circumstances, application
was made to the Government for assistance. Certainly
if any town in the kingdom deserved sympathy it was
Liverpool, which had preserved its loyalty unshaken in
the most trying times, both of political convulsion and
commercial disaster. The appeal was listened to, and
a bill was brought in (39 & 40 Geo. III. c. 5.), For
enabling his Majesty to issue Exchequer Bills to a limited
amount for the relief of the merchants of Liverpool and
Lancaster.' The principle of this bill was identical with
that of the corporation in 1793, substituting the credit
of the Government for that of the local body. The
result was very beneficial, as it released and brought into
circulation a large amount of capital locked up in un-
saleable produce.
Govern-
ment aid.
Musical
festival.
Botanic
Garden.
Dearness
of food.
In the midst of wars abroad and commercial depres-
sion at home, the amenities of social life were not
altogether lost sight of. In September 1799, the usual
triennial festival of music was held, attended by a brilliant
assemblage, and closing with a grand public ball at the
Athenæum, then recently completed. The names of the
vocal artistes-Madame Mara, with Miss Poole Knyvett,
Bartleman and Meredith-bring up reminiscences of
musical excellence of the highest order.
In 1800 the old Botanic Garden at the top of Mount
Pleasant was established. I shall have to recur to this
in a future chapter.
Provisions at this time were enormously dear, wheat
reaching the price of 100s. a quarter, and the poor
suffered greatly. Liverpool has never been wanting in
sympathetic care for the needy and destitute. The sum
of 10,000l. was subscribed to buy potatoes to be given or
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
287
retailed at a low price, and 20,000l. to purchase pro- CHAP.
visions of other kinds.
III.
1799.
teers.
The volunteering went forward briskly. A battalion
of artillery was organised 500 strong, the members of Volun-
which equipped themselves and manned the guns of the
various batteries which the town had provided. A
second battalion was also enrolled to act as a reserve in
case of need.
We have now brought our record down to the close Summary.
of the eighteenth century, the most eventful cycle in the
history of Liverpool-the transition period from obscu-
rity to celebrity, from poverty to wealth. At the com-
mencement of the century, Liverpool, already active, and
feeling the stimulus to exertion which is the surest omen
of future success, contained a population of something
over 5,000 inhabitants. Its commerce during the year
employed 102 ships with a tonnage of 8,619.
At the close of the century the population had in- Commerce.
creased to 77,653, or, including the seamen belonging to
the port, and the out townships which now form part of
the borough, the numbers would be nearly 90,000. The
number of ships entering the port in the year 1800 was
4,746, with a tonnage of 450,000. In 1700, no docks
had been constructed, the open harbour was dangerous,
and the facilities for trade of a very inferior description.
In 1800 there were five large floating docks, besides the
dry docks and basins, containing a water area of twenty-
six acres. At the former period there was a single paro-
chial chapel-of-ease; at the latter there were eleven
churches belonging to the Establishment, besides nume-
rous places of worship belonging to the Catholics and
Nonconformists. In 1699 the revenue of the corpora-
tion amounted to 8041. 4s. 3d. In 1800 it amounted to
82,3931. 17s. 9d., having increased in a century a hundred-
fold.
A description of the town was published near the
close of the century, from which a few extracts may be
288
III.
1799.
town.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
<
A
CHAP. interesting and somewhat amusing. The author (who
is anonymous) does not draw a very flattering picture
either of the town or its inhabitants. He says:
Descrip- history of Liverpool will be found to be rather the
history of a people than of a place; divested of her
complicated traffic, increased shipping, and nautical erec-
tions, there is nothing to recompense inquiry; the in-
vestigating eye of the cognoscenti will find here a barren
unmeaning prospect, the search of the antiquary will be
rewarded by nothing but the remains of an old tower;
Improve-
ments.
Streets,
Squares.
there can be little to amuse or invite the dilitanti
(sic), where neither novelty of composition, nor singu-
larity of construction are to be seen in their buildings;
a tame laboured imitation shows itself in all their public
works, which are rather redundant than elegant, ex-
hibiting a costly magnificence which discovers more the
ability than the taste of the inhabitants.'
The recent improvements of Liverpool are evidences
of its expected populousness, but a stranger on a review
of the whole would receive no other impression than
that a successful commerce is the source of affluence; he
will see an attempt at magnificence and regularity in
all their designs, but they will appear in few instances
united; the general improvements of the old town dis-
cover, for the most part, rather a solicitude to accomplish
than a probability of producing the intended effects. The
streets are unfinished, and their several untenanted
shops show little encouragement to complete them; even
Castle Street, notwithstanding no town in England can
show anything superior of its height and length, is de-
ficient both in symmetry and disposition; their best
streets discover a something that offends the eye of a
judicious observer; while none but Clayton Square ex-
hibits an architectural uniformity, and the propriety of
that composition is totally destroyed by the smallness of
1
1 This refers to the recent widening and re-erection of the west side of
Castle Street, under the Act of 1786.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
289
III.
1799.
the area, which gives it a gloomy and monastic appear- CHAP.
ance. Nor does the new town promise a more certain
attainment of its meditated design; it may not be too
much to say that not one of the streets is yet compleated,
and of those that are nearly so, many of the houses are
empty; the new squares are intended to be little better
than courts, and their present erections appear as if they
had been suddenly stopped in the midst of an Amphionic
jigg, and had stood stock still ever since.'
tion.
Those who from necessity are affianced to a spot, General
are amused and gratified by their improvements and descrip-
public erections, which, from a located prejudice and
partiality, they too often believe equal to those in other
parts of the kingdom; but while such improvements
may satisfy their ambition and contribute to their con-
venience, they may give neither invitation nor amuse-
ment to any but those who are immediately interested
in their concerns. Impartiality and historic justice de-
clare Liverpool to be completely within this description;
their buildings and places for amusement may please
the natives, but they have neither novelty nor a superior
elegancy to attract the notice of the judicious itinerant,
and are consequently deficient in essentials to embellish
the historic page. Arts and sciences are inimical to the
spot; absorbed in the nautical vortex, the only pursuit
of the inhabitants is commerce. Ambitious to emulate
the conduct of their progenitors, which has very clearly
demonstrated that very small literary powers and still
less knowledge of science is necessary to its attainment,
they recoil at the cultivation of a plant that will neither
yield them profit nor amusement. It is to this cause,
that superior merit, improved powers, or exalted talents,
not only pass neglected amongst them, but are regarded
with a suspicious diffidence; it may be truly said with
the son of Sirach, that wisdom cries out in the streets,
and no man regards it. Liverpool is the only town in
England of any pre-eminence that has not one single
VOL. I.
U
290
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
III.
Want of
science
and art.
erection or endowment for the advancement of science,
the cultivation of the arts, or promotion of useful know-
1799. ledge; they have been proved truly exotic, and so little
deserving cultivation when attempts have been made to
fertilise them, that they have been suffered to wither
and decay, and finally to be neglected and forgotten.
Public buildings have been completed, and attempts
made to introduce and encourage them, but they pro-
duced no other effect on the minds of the inhabitants
but a torpid vacuity, which plainly demonstrates that
the liberal arts are a species of merchandise in which few
of the inhabitants are desirous to deal unless for ex-
portation.'
Pavement.
These remarks are severe. The author justifies them
by reference to the attempts made to found an academy
for painting, with lectures on anatomy, perspective, &c. ;
another attempt to establish an institution for mathematics,
navigation, and astronomy, both of which proved entirely
abortive; also to the proposed support of an observatory,
which was actually erected in Hope Street, but which
failed for want of funds, and in a few years became a
heap of ruins.
These are lamentable facts, and it is to be feared that
the further lapse of three quarters of a century has in
some points not much improved the state of things. An
academy of art with a gallery of pictures seems as far
off as ever; every attempt to establish a school of science
has resulted in failure.
A Liverpool poet, writing twenty years after this date,
expresses the same sentiment :
For here they care not with such things to pester,
They'd rather build of cotton bags a tier.
Some of the social arrangements read rather strangely
at the present day, e.g:
The streets are in general well, but not pleasantly
paved. The foot-paths, here called parapets, are dis-
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
291
the
III.
1799.
agreeable and offensive; they are all laid with small CHAP.
sharp pebbles, that render walking in the town very
disagreeable, particularly to ladies; there is not one
street in the town that is regularly flagged. To avoid
sharpness and inconveniency of the pavement, the
foot-passenger for the most part walks on the curb, to
which he is still further induced, as thereby he avoids
the danger which might otherwise arise to him by
reason of the projecting cellars. The foot-paths are
generally dirty, the pebbles gathering mud in their
interstices, and as the custom is not general of sweeping
daily before the houses, it soon becomes a clammy dirt,
which adheres to the feet of the passenger, and is carried
into the public shops, which are thereby rendered wet,
dirty, and disagreeable.'
The streets are generally well cleaned by scavengers,
who are regular and diligent in their duty; but in the
execution of their business, while they remove one evil
they never fail to create a greater. The soil, instead of Street
being immediately carted away, as in London and other deposits.
places, is raked into heaps about 12 ft. by 8, and two
feet deep; these Cloacenian repositories are common in
every part of the town, and remain eight or ten days,
and sometimes longer before they are carted away,
whereby passengers in a dark night, and often in the
day, tread in them to the mid-leg, and children are
sometimes nearly suffocated by falling into them.¹ The
exhalations in summer, by reason of these assemblages of
soil being exposed many days to the sun, have a most
pungent effect on the olfactory nerves of the passenger,
nor are the inhabitants of those houses which are
situated near them insensible of the pernicious effects
of their effluvia on their health and constitution.'
1 The local sobriquet for these mud heaps was 'corporation beds,' from a
tradition that some of the local magnates in returning from the Town-hall
hospitality, were occasionally found using them as places of repose.
U 2
292
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
III.
1799.
Order and
decorum.
Police.
Lifting.
Notwithstanding all this objurgation, there are a few
points on which our author is able to say a good word.
Great care and attention is given by the magistrates
to preserve order and proper decorum in all degrees of
people on the Sabbath-day; the churches are in general.
well filled, and examples held forward to the lower
order of people, by the attention which their superiors
give to divine worship. No disorderly assemblies are
seen in the streets, no persons tippling in public-houses.'
This last statement, however, is rather weakened by
the explanation, that this external appearance of order
and domestic propriety seems limited to the streets and
residences of the principal inhabitants only.'
6
The police arrangements at this time were as follows:
The town is divided into five districts or wards; the
Corporation, for the more effectually preserving order
and decorum therein, have to each of these districts or
wards appointed one head constable and two assistant
constables; and, for the more ready finding their abodes,
each of these officers has his name and office painted on
a board and fixed to the outside of his dwelling.'
to:
6
One social custom now utterly forgotten is thus alluded
Liverpool some years since was partial to the cele-
bration of various ancient customs and ceremonies, but
like most other places the improving hand of time has
rubbed off the rust of antiquity. The only ancient
annual commemoration remaining is termed lifting. This
ridiculous ceremony, which bids defiance to speculation
to define a cause, is performed every Easter Monday
and Tuesday in the town and the circumjacent parts.
On the Monday, groups of men appear in different
places, who lift all the women passengers they meet
without regard to distinction or order. The innocent
devoted victim is seized by head and feet, and thrown
into the air; this is sometimes repeated two or three
times, and on the return the party is caught by the
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
293
CHAP.
III.
1799.
lifters; if unfortunately she falls to the ground, she must
make the best she can of her situation. On the Tuesday
large assemblages of women appear to perform the same
ceremony on the men, who are generally very roughly Lifting.
handled by their Amazonian friends, from whom they
generally receive undeniable proof of their athletic
abilities.'
A considerable portion of the above description might
be supposed to refer to a city of the middle ages, rather
than to a modern commercial town of three quarters of a
century back. In many of the appointments and ac-
cessories of civilised life we are separated by a wide
gulf from our predecessors of two generations since.
There are other subjects, and those not of less import-
ance, such as the taste for art, and the encouragement
of science, the willingness to make some sacrifices for
the decoration and embellishment of the town, the love
of beauty for its own sake, in which our warmest ad-
mirers can hardly maintain that we have made much
progress.
What may yet be done in this direction before the
century closes remains an unsolved problem, which
must be left to future writers to illustrate and explain.
-

294
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAPTER IV.
NINETEENTH CENTURY, FROM 1800 TO THE CLOSE OF THE
THE REIGN OF GEORGE III.
F
IV.
1801.
CHAP. THE commencement of the century found England en-
gaged in war with nearly the whole of Europe. The
armed neutrality of the Northern Powers, fostered by the
sudden desertion of the Russian Emperor Paul to the
side of our great enemy, crippled the commerce of Eng-
land with the continent of Europe; but the rest of the
world lay open to British enterprise, the British fleets
sweeping the seas of every opponent. The commerce of
Liverpool continued to prosper, though the rate of in-
crease at this time was not equal to what it had been
before and has been since.
The early part of 1801 brought to a termination the
first administration of Mr. Pitt. There can be little
doubt that the resignation of a minister whose popularity
had scarcely received a check had primary reference to
a prospect of peace which he prudently thought would
be better in other hands than his own. This anti-
cipation proved correct, and in October 1801 the terms
Peace with of peace with France were agreed on. The treaty, how-
ever, was not signed until March in the following year.
The news was brought down by express to Liverpool on
March 30, in eighteen hours and a half. The arrival of
the news created great joy. The bells rang during the
France.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
295
two following days, and flags were hoisted on the ship- CHAP.
ping and public buildings.'
W
IV.
1801.
On the following Thursday the whole of the military
forces, consisting of the Lancashire and Cheshire regi-
ments of militia, the troops of dragoons, the volunteer
regiments of infantry and artillery, paraded on the north
shore and fired volleys on the occasion. The day was
remarkably fine, and the concourse of people immense.
The French prisoners in custody in the town were soon
after discharged. Two months afterwards the volunteer Volunteers
regiments were disbanded. Before they were broken up
they attended church in full uniform on May 3, when
an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. F.
Hodson. Services of plate were presented to the com-
manding officers, Lieutenant-Colonels Dawson and Case,
and Major Birch. The colours of Major Birch's battalion.
were deposited in St. Thomas's church.
One cannot but remark on the precipitate haste with
which, both on this and on former occasions, the Govern-
ment proceeded to disband the volunteer corps. It is
possible that the experience of the Irish volunteers of
1784, with the political influence they exercised, may have
somewhat alarmed the Ministry, but the sudden abandon-
ment of the preparations for defence before the peace
had been properly consolidated only led to greater ex-
pense and difficulty when the work had to be done over
again.
disbanded.
In January 1802 another of the periodical hurricanes a.d. 1802.
passed over the town, with considerable loss of shipping
and life. The tide rose six feet above its calculated level,
doing a large amount of damage.
Parliament was dissolved in June of this year, and the Election.
new writs were returnable in July. The candidates for
Liverpool were the two old members, Major-General
Gascoyne and Lieutenant-General Tarleton; Mr. (after-
wards Sir Joseph) Birch and Mr. Francis Chalmer.
Politics had something to do with the election, but less
296
CHAP.
IV.
1802.
Election.
Mr, Birch.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
than might have been expected. Although party spirit
had run very high in previous years, there was at present
a lull. All parties were delighted that peace had been
restored, and agreed for the time in support of the
Addington administration. In the records of the election
Mr. Birch is the only candidate who makes any allusion.
to politics, and he says: His Majesty's present ministers
have procured us the blessings of peace. I feel myself
therefore called upon, from sentiments of gratitude, to
give them my thanks and applause.'
6
6
Mr. Chalmer was a broker, residing in Kent Street.
His motto was Liberty, Loyalty, Lancashire, Liverpool,
and a Large Loaf.' He does not appear to have brought
either influence or qualifications, with the exception of
unbounded self-complacency and consummate assurance.
He is described in one of the squibs of the election as
follows:
Escaped from the Asylum a maniac, who is supposed to be
wandering about Liverpool. He is about six feet high, hulks
very much in the shoulders, and is constantly raving about
corn, tobacco, and large loaves of bread. The delirium which
has now induced him to fly out, is the idea that he shall be-
come a member of parliament; and he has frequently forced
himself into the lobby of the House of Commons, and some-
times into Committees, to their great dismay.
Mr. Birch was largely engaged in the corn trade, which
encouraged his opponents to stimulate the absurd pre-
judice which regards all dealers in corn as oppressors of
the poor; for instance:
Look about you and see who are the men who support Sir
Joseph Barleycorn; they are none other than a set of Corn
Jews, who have long ground the poor! and a set of Presbyte-
rians who would upset the State.
The question of the slave trade seems almost to have
been laid aside. The only allusion to it is in the follow-
ing stanza of a song in favour of General Gascoyne :
297
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
For if he your member be my boys
Provisions still must lower ;
And open trade be carried on
CHAP.
IV.
1802.
Along the Afric shore.
And a plumping we will go.
The squibs and addresses at this election are decidedly Election
of an inferior cast. There was little to take hold of to squibs.
The Childwall · bull
give point to a retort or sarcasm.
beef and cabbage stalks,' were at length consigned to the
limbo of oblivion. There is, however, one piece of
satire rather telling, which applies to all parties alike.
It is a description in verse of the obsequious promises of
the candidates before the election and their haughty re-
pudiation afterwards. It is called An Oglio,' said to be
a production of Mr. Chalmer's. If so, he had decidedly
some literary ability:
C
THE CANDIDATES (the old ones).
Lord how they puff and blow and swell,
And what confounded lies they tell!
How big they look, how very great,
Boasting their worth in every street!
Alas, perhaps again you'll find,
That all this is but puff and wind.
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
Behold my house, pray do walk in;
To pass my door would be a sin;
I cannot bear to see friends pass,
Pray do walk in and take a glass;
My generous friends won't turn their coats,
Pray think of me and give your votes.
My generous friends I like to cram,
Come, take a bit of beef or ham;
Come, come, together let us dine,
And take a cheerful glass of wine;
I love you all-most truly so;
How much, you'll never, never know;
And if you'll vote for me, be sure,
My love for ever shall endure;
An oglio.
298
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1802.
Election
squibs.
Poll.
Riots.
With grateful heart and well fill'd brains,
I will reward you for your pains.
For in the house I'll make a speech,
Which, to the wondering world shall teach
How wise I am, how happy you,
Who such a member there can shew!
THE ELECTORS.
Aye, see the house; the surly door
Shall open to us, soon, no more—
This love, how very kind and sudden
This love—i' faith Jack, that's a good un,
This love seems never in perfection,
But just before and at th' election;
No doubt they can afford good cheer;
But how came things so very dear?
And how came they to tax our beer?
AFTER THE ELECTION.
My horse is saddled as you see,
And my gay heart is full of glee;
Election safe, no more I'll stay,
But mount, and gallop fast away;
And when to town with your affairs
You come with heavy cost and cares;
You will not find me over civil,
And you may take them to the devil-
For seven years of a seat secure
What care I for you or the poor?
To none of you again I'll speak,
And I'll forget you in a week.
Some six years hence I'll come once more,
And do as I have done before;
Now fare ye well, ye simple fools,
I did but use you for my tools.
The election lasted four days; 1,426 freemen polled.
At the close the numbers stood: Gascoyne, 884; Tar-
leton, 600; Birch, 477; Chalmer, 31.
A very serious and lamentable occurrence took place
during this election, which may be mentioned as illus-
trative of the license of the populace at such periods, and
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
299.
1
IV.
1802.
of the absence of the means of repression. A number of CHAP.
men, principally sailors, under the excitement of liquor,
made an attack on several houses in Bridge Street ¹ near
the old dock, and sacked them. The tenant of one of
the houses made a vigorous defence with firearms, shot
one of the rioters dead on the spot and wounded another.
This so irritated the mob, that they broke into the house,
seized the unfortunate man, and beat him to death.
On September 14, 1802, occurred the memorable fire Goree fire.
at the Goree Warehouses, George's Dock, by which pro-
perty to the amount of 323,000l. was destroyed. In a
subsequent chapter on the locality I shall have occasion
again to revert to the subject. A local fire insurance
company called the 'St. George's,' which had only been
established in the month of June previous, under very
favourable auspices, was so seriously affected by the
results of this catastrophe that it was found necessary to
wind it up, and the outstanding policies were transferred
to the Imperial' Fire Office.
of war.
The peace of Amiens, about which there had been so Rumours
much rejoicing, proved to be nothing more than an
armed truce. Mutual jealousy and mistrust very soon
began to embitter the relations between the two coun-
tries. The attacks of the English press caused the ruler
of France to wince, and he imperiously made a demand
that these attacks should be suppressed by arbitrary re-
strictions. The island of Malta was another source of
dissension. By the treaty of Amiens, this island was to
have been restored to the keeping of the ancient order of
the Knights of St. John; but before any arrangements
could be made for carrying out this undertaking, it was
found that Bonaparte was intriguing to have the island
delivered into the hands of the French. Complaints
were also made of the protection extended in England to
political exiles from France. On the other hand, the
This street, long since destroyed, consisted almost entirely of houses
of ill-fame of the lowest description.
300
CHAP.
IV.
1803.
War
declared.
Prepara-
tions for
defence.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
extensive military and naval preparations going on in
France, though avowedly for colonial purposes, were such
as to excite alarm in England, and to lead the nation to
look to its means of self-defence.
On March 8, 1803, a message from the king was ad-
dressed to the House of Commons, alluding to the alarm-
ing state of affairs, and stating that as discussions of great
importance were subsisting between his Majesty and the
French Government, the result of which must be uncer-
tain, his Majesty is induced to make this communication
to his faithful Commons, in the full persuasion that he
may rely with perfect confidence on their public spirit
and liberality, to enable his Majesty to adopt such mea-
sures as circumstances may appear to require for support-
ing the honour of his crown and the essential interests of
his people.' On the motion of Mr. Addington the House
voted an address agreeing unanimously to support the
Crown in the measures proposed. The storm which had
been thus gathering soon burst, and on May 16 war was
declared against France.
The excitement which followed this rupture was in-
tense. History has seldom recorded a greater instance
of unanimity than now pervaded all classes in defence of
their hearths and homes. The whole nation rose as one
man, with a spirit which never flagged until the English
standard was borne in triumph to the gates of Paris. In
the efforts and sacrifices which followed, Liverpool fully
maintained her ancient reputation. In the very week in
which Parliament had addressed the Crown with assu-
rances of support, a Liverpool merchant, Mr. John Bol-
ton, made an offer to raise and equip, at his own expense,
a regiment of 600 men-afterwards increased to 800.
The offer was graciously accepted, and a meeting for
enrolment was held at the Exchange. In two hours the
numbers were complete, and many hundreds offered
more than could be received. It was then determined
to raise two other regiments of infantry, a regiment of
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
301
IV.
1803.
artillery, a company of riflemen, and three troops of CHAP.
cavalry, besides the Custom-house corps and the local
militia. These bodies were clothed and armed at their
own expense. In addition to this, a register was taken
of the whole male population between the ages of sixteen
and sixty, and arrangements were made for arming and
calling it out in case of need. The boatmen on the river
also offered their services to aid in working the great
guns in the batteries. They were accepted, and from
their ranks a regiment of artillery was formed.
to the
On May 14 a public meeting was held at the Ex- Address
change, when an address to the king was voted unani- King.
mously, expressing the attachment of the community to
his Majesty's person and Government, and avowing its
determination to support them with the most strenuous
efforts in the arduous contest in which they were about
to be engaged.
In the following week another meeting of the mer-
chants and principal inhabitants was held, to adopt mea-
sures for the defence of the town and port. It was
determined to erect a battery at the mouth of the river,
near the Rock Perch,¹ and another on the Lancashire
shore; and to organise a squadron of gun-boats. To-
wards the expenses 2,000l. was subscribed by the corpo-
ration, and 1,000l. out of the funds of the Liverpool
docks.
In addition to all the other forces, regulars, militia,
and volunteers, the Government determined to form an
army of reserve, to which each county should contribute
its quota of men. The proportion of Lancashire was
2,425 men, of which Liverpool supplied 284.
The following is a list of the Liverpool volunteer regi- Volunteer
ments raised at this time:
1st Battalion; Lieut.-Col., John Bolton; Major, Joseph
Greaves.
¹ This was not carried out at the time, but was subsequently undertaken
by the Government, and erected in 1827.
regiments,
302
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1803.
Enrolment
of reserves.
2nd Battalion, or Liverpool Fusileers; Lieut.-Col., William
Earle; Major, Edward Brooks.
3rd Battalion; Lieut.-Col.-Commandant, George Williams;
Lieut.-Col., Henry Blundell Hollinshead.
Peter Whitfield
Artillery Corps; Major-Commandant, Peter
Brancker.
Independent Rifle Corps; Capt.-Commandant Lieut., D.
O'Donoghue (Half-pay, 22nd Light Dragoons).
Liverpool Light Horse; Major-Commandant, Edward
Falkner.
Custom-house Corps; Captain-Commandant, Edward Onslow
(Collector of Customs).
On Wednesday, August 5, a meeting was held for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of the National
Defence Act, which required the enrolment of all able-
bodied men in different classes, to serve the State when
called on. Thomas Earle, Esq., took the chair. A letter
was read from Lord Hobart, explaining the nature of the
service required. An enrolment then took place of those
liable to serve in the first class.
On Saturday, August 8, the 3rd, or Colonel Williams's
regiment, made a grand demonstration. A military band
had been raised by the musical amateurs of the Choral
Society. Mr. Ford North presented the corps with two
brass field-pieces mounted complete; and a number of
Presenta- young ladies presented a pair of colours beautifully
worked in silk.¹
tion of
colours.
1
The enthusiasm which prevailed in the defence of the
country was beyond all precedent-
The shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner; and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war—
were daily and familiar sights and sounds to the peaceful
traders of Liverpool. The modern volunteer movement
1 These colours on the disbanding of the regiment were deposited in the
town-hall, and, on the revival of the volunteer movement, in 1861, they
were again brought out and presented to one of the corps.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
303
IV.
1803.
of 1860, and successive years, cannot compare with the CHAP.
former in earnestness and gravity. The population of
Great Britain was not more than half its present num-
bers, the enemy to be confronted was much more power-
ful, and the emergency vastly more serious.
L
volunteers.
A review of the Liverpool volunteers was held on the Review of
king's birthday, June 4, 1804, when there appeared on
the field, 1 colonel-commandant, 6 lieutenant-colonels, 8
majors, 54 captains, 111 subalterns, 221 sergeants, 152
members of the band, and 3,313 rank and file.
According to returns made to Parliament in December
1803, the force at that time armed for the defence of the
kingdom by sea and land amounted to upwards of
700,000 men, as follows: 490,000 in Great Britain,
125,000 in Ireland, 100,000 in the naval service; under
the command of 85,000 commissioned and non-commis-
sioned officers, with 461 pieces of cannon, 5,900 horses
for the artillery, and all necessary supplies of stores and
ammunition.
About this time-autumn 1803-a careful account Register of
was taken of the resources of the country as applicable resources.
to a levy en masse in case of actual invasion. The
following are a portion of the returns applying to Lanca-
shire and Liverpool:
Lancashire.
Males between 16 and 60 years of age
Men willing to serve on horseback and
to supply their own horses.
Men willing to serve on foot and to sup- Į
ply their own muskets and clothing.
112,697
Liverpool.
13,134
}
4,166
148
12,055
2,676
Men willing to serve with sword, pistol, }
4,194
and other arms
Men to be supplied with arms at the
25,988
5,250
general levy en masse
Pioneers and labourers.
18,081
200
Guides and overseers across country
13,410
120
Canal and river barges.
266
381
Riding horses.
509
Draught horses
832
Carts
471
304
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1803.
A.D. 1804.
Night
alarm.
Prince
6
Those who have read The Antiquary' (and who is
there that has not?) will remember the spirit-stirring
scene, in the concluding chapter, of the night alarm in
the borough of Fairport: The yeomanry pouring from
their different glens, galloping through the streets. . . .
The drums and fifes of the volunteers beating to arms
were blended with the voices of the officers, the sound
of the bugles, and the tolling of the bells from the
steeple. The ships in the harbour were lit up, and
boats from the armed vessels added to the bustle by
landing men and guns, destined to assist in the defence
of the place.'
C
A scene very similar to this was enacted in Liverpool
during the night of January 2, 1804. A frigate called
the Princess' was stationed for many years in the
Mersey as a receiving ship. On the night in question
the echoes were wakened up by a succession of reports
from her guns, which were naturally interpreted as
signals of attack. The volunteers promptly answered
to the call, and turned out without a moment's hesitation.
The bugles sounded the réveille, the various corps mus-
tered at the appointed rendezvous. There was ‘racing
and chasing' of the cavalry and artillery through the
streets-but as morning dawned it was found to be a
false alarm. The frigate had drifted from her moorings,
and ran some risk of running on shore. The guns were
signals of distress, which were promptly responded to.
In September 1803 Prince William (afterwards Duke)
William. of Gloucester, being appointed commander of the forces
in the district, took up his residence at St. Domingo
House, Everton, where he resided more than three
years. The presence of a scion of royalty of course cast
a roseate hue over the beau monde of Liverpool, and
imparted a spicy sort of court flavour to the entertain-
ments given in his honour. We shall meet with him
again in the course of this history.
Soon after this time a proposition was made by a Mr.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
305
IV.
1804.
graphs.
Boaz for the construction of a system of telegraphs for CHAP.
communication between Liverpool and Holyhead and
the principal seaports of the kingdom. The particulars
are not given, but the principle was that of the French Tele-
semaphore then recently introduced. The projector
estimated the expense at 15,000l., with a probable profit
of 200 per cent. The times were not ripe for a project
which appeared so wild and speculative. Many years
afterwards the semaphore was adopted by the Dock
Board, and carried out by a series of stations between
Liverpool and Holyhead, which continued until a com-
paratively recent period, when it was superseded by the
electric wire.
The year 1805 was a trying period for the country A.D. 1805
at large, and Liverpool in particular. The power of
Napoleon had reached a height which threatened ruin
to all who dared to withstand his progress. A great War.
encampment was formed at Boulogne, and flotillas of
boats were collected from all parts for the purpose, as
was alleged, of the invasion of England. The French
troops were ostentatiously paraded and exercised in the
manœuvres supposed to be necessary in the disem-
barkation and attack. This continued during many
months, creating constant alarm in England, and con-
tinual expectation of invasion. It, therefore, became an
absolute necessity to strengthen our navy at all hazards
and at any expenditure. Hitherto our fleets had swept Capture of
the seas and captured nearly the whole of the enemy's colonies..
colonies. St. Lucie surrendered on June 22, 1803,
Tobago on July 1, Demerara and Berbice on September
23, and a short time after the Cape Colony fell finally
into the hands of the British.
Our attacks, however, were not so successful against
the enemy's flotillas on their own shores, and uniformly
failed. Everything depended on the mastery in the open.
seas being maintained by Britain, and this became more
difficult by the navy of Spain being added to those of
VOL. I.
X
306
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
IV.
CHAP. France and Holland. In May 1805 an order in council
imposed a general embargo on all shipping, until the
demands of the royal navy for seamen were supplied.
It is stated in a Liverpool paper of May 13, as follows:
1805.
Order in
council.
"The immediate augmentation of our naval force is
thought a matter of such pressing necessity that all
considerations of individual suffering must, for the pre-
sent, give way. The order for an embargo for this
port was announced from the Custom-house on Thurs-
day; and during the whole week the press-gang have
been indefatigable in their exertions. Persons of all
professions, as well as seamen, have occasionally been
taken; though many have been released on proper ap-
Impress- plication being made. In the early part of the week
ment.
about forty Irishmen, just landed from a Dublin packet,
and who were proceeding up the country in search of
employment, were pressed, and immediately taken on
board the tender; but most of them are since liberated.
The embargo extends to all vessels bound to foreign
parts, including Ireland and the Isle of Man, with the
exception of ships belonging to foreign powers, pro-
vided they have no British seamen on board. It extends
likewise to coasting vessels of every description, except
such as are laden with coals and grain.'
By this means the British navy was supplied with
seamen, and was enabled to execute that series of
splendid operations terminated by the battle of Trafalgar
Trafalgar. on October 21, the death of Nelson, and the annihilation
of the French and Spanish fleets.
Battle of
The news of the victory reached Liverpool on Novem-
ber 8, and caused great excitement. On the 17th a
public meeting was held at the Town-hall, convened by
the mayor, Mr. Henry Clay, and attended by all classes
and every shade of opinion, all anxious to do honour to
the memory of the departed hero, and to congratulate
each other on the glorious deliverance of the country
from danger. Mr. Roscoe took a leading part in the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
307
IV.
Nelson's
monument.
proceedings. It was resolved with acclamation that a CHAP.
monument should be erected by public subscription,
and that the words of Nelson's last order, 'England 1805.
expects every man to do his duty,' should occupy a
prominent place. The corporation contributed 1,000l. ;
the underwriters at Lloyd's 750l.; the West India Asso-
ciation 5007. A committee, embracing men of all parties,
was nominated to carry out the project. The result
was the monument which now occupies the centre of the
Exchange area.
Mr. Pitt died January 23, 1806. A change of ministry A.D. 1806.
immediately took place, when Lord Grenville and Mr.
Fox were called to his Majesty's counsels.
volunteers.
The volunteer system came under review in the session Disband-
of 1806. No country had ever exhibited so many of the ing of
middle and higher classes in arms as England and Scot-
land in 1803, and never did individuals in these stations
make more personal sacrifices for the object of national
defence. The result for the time answered its purpose.
The national spirit of resistance was raised to the highest
pitch, and a degree of confidence was inspired which
supported the nation through one of the most trying
emergencies in its annals. It began, however, to be felt
that the system had been carried too far; that it ab-
stracted an amount of time and money from the national
industry which could ill be spared. The Parliament
accordingly repealed Mr. Pitt's additional forces' Act
of 1803, and substituted an Act for creating a local
militia, which continued in force to the end of the war.
The volunteer forces were disbanded. Colonel Bol-
ton's regiment laid down their arms on August 26, and
the other corps soon after.
In April 1806 an embargo was laid on all Prussian
vessels in Liverpool, in consequence of a dispute respect-
ing the electorate of Hanover.
In September 1806 the town was honoured by a visit Royal
from the Prince of Wales (George IV.), and the Duke of
visit.
x 2
308
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Insult to
Prince
Clarence (William IV.), who were guests of the Earl of
Derby at Knowsley. They were of course right loyally
received and fêted. The New Exchange Buildings being
at that time in course of erection, the royal brothers
were driven in a coach round the arcades—a feat never
performed before or since. Between the resident com-
mander of the district, Prince William, and his cousins,
the relations were not of the most cordial character, and
an opportunity was ungenerously taken advantage of to
mortify the lesser star to the quick.
1
•
' A magnificent banquet was given at the Town-hall by
the Mayor, Mr. Henry Clay. The Prince of Wales,
the Duke of Clarence, Prince William of Gloucester, the
Earls of Derby and Sefton, with a crowd of military
officers were present. After dinner the usual toasts were
proposed, then the "Prince of Wales" and the "Duke of
Clarence," each with three times three. At last it was
the Prince's turn, when, under the influence of some
demon of mischief, the Mayor, instead of proposing his
health as usual, with all his titles and with all the honours,
William. foolishly consulted the Prince of Wales and the Duke of
Clarence on the subject, asking in what form he should
give the toast; and whether he should say "Highness,"
or "Royal Highness." The answer of the Prince of
Wales was said to be, "Certainly not 'Royal Highness,
and without the honours;" while the Duke of Clarence
more bluntly replied, "D-n him, don't give him at all."
The Mayor then rose, and simply proposed, "The Com-
mander-in-Chief of the district, Prince William Frederick
of Gloucester." It was drunk in solemn silence.
company all looked grave, feeling that a gross insult had
been offered to the late god of Liverpool adoration.
Fierce glances were exchanged between the staff officers
and the other military men present. The Prince himself
The
1 This anecdote I extract from a most amusing series of recollections
entitled 'Liverpool a Few Years Since, by an Old Stager' (Rev. James
Aspinall), 1852.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
309
IV.
1806.
writhed under the stroke, like a wounded tiger smarting CHAP.
under the lance of the hunter. Fire and brimstone, and
the devil himself flashed from his eyes, but he kept his
seat. Presently the fearful and appalling silence was
broken by the voice of the Mayor, calling out as the next
toast, "The Lord Lieutenant of the county, with three
times three;" the three times three, omitted at the name
of the Commander-in-Chief, being revived with that of
the next toast. A thunderbolt falling into the midst of
the party could not have caused more astonishment and
excitement. There could be no mistake now. The insult
was meant to be an insult, and nothing but an open, pro-
minent, and most insulting insult. The words had hardly
passed from the lips of the Mayor, when Prince William,
glancing a signal to his Staff, who had their eyes fixed
upon him, rose from his seat and left the room, followed
not only by them, but by the whole of the military offi-
cers of his command who were present; leaving the table
almost deserted, the Mayor gaping in amazement, and
the royal cousins astounded at the spirit which they had
evoked, more perhaps in mischief than in wanton in-
solence.'
Mr. Fox died on September 13, 1806. The ministry
was continued by Lord Grenville, who considered that
his position would be strengthened by an appeal to the
country.
Parliament was dissolved in October 1806, and the Election.
election took place on the 1st of November. The two
generals stood again, each supported by his own party,
but with a much closer approximation than heretofore.
Tarleton had, in fact, with the rest of the Prince's
friends,' deserted his Whig allies and gone over to the
Tories. There could, therefore, be no reason why the
two old members should not go hand in hand in their
canvass and poll. They were not, however, allowed to
walk over the course. Only two days before the election
a requisition was presented to Mr. Roscoe to come for- Roscoe.
310
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Election.
Addresses.
Squibs.
Tory song.
6
ward in the liberal interest. Roscoe was at this time
probably in the very zenith of his career. The publica-
tion of his Life of Lorenzo de' Medici,' and the Life of
Leo X.,' the latter of which had only recently been
issued, had raised his reputation to a very high place in
the literary world. The bank with which he was con-
nected, in which the millionaire, Thomas Leyland, was a
principal partner, exercised great and extensive influence ;
so that, although his political friends might be in a
minority, his personal character and connections fully
made up for the deficiency in his public relations.
Although the contest was fought out on decidedly
political grounds, the reticence displayed by the candi-
dates is very remarkable. From none of their addresses
could it be gathered that any political principle was at
all involved. They all indulge in vague statements of
the responsibilities' and 'serious duties' attaching to the
office of an M.P., and declare that it shall be the object
of their life,' if elected, to answer the expectations of
their supporters, and to justify their choice. The old
members of course refer to their parliamentary conduct.
as warranting their present appeal.
The squibs and doggrels scattered broadcast at this
election are of fair average merit; but some of them are
more scurrilous than usual. Party politics are of course
brought in, and any weak point in the reputation or
antecedents of any party concerned is mercilessly brought
out to public view.
The following, directed against Roscoe and his friends,
is not devoid of smartness and point. It is too long for
entire transcription. I quote only a specimen :
THE DEFEAT OF THE W(H)IGS.
A new Song.
You will shortly be called brother freemen to action,
And I write but to guard you against the old faction,
Whom four years ago we left quite in the dumps,
They are jacobins all, and we call them the rumps.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
311
At present, my friends, they are all in confusion,
Though they've cunning in plenty and cash in profusion,
But alas! with both money and words at command,
They can't find amongst them a cock that will stand.
In this dreadful quandary, commencing their search,
They thought once again of their tickle-tail Birch;
But he, being once humbugged, became rather shy,
And straight took his place in the Nottingham Fly.
Lord Dashalong 2 next had engaged their affection,
And they swore, if he'd start, they'd ensure his election;
But he, skilled in driving both bargains and horses,
Most wisely distrusted the strength of their forces.
To himself he thus argued: 'These whiggish dissenters,
Will afterwards prove my eternal tormentors;
In Kirkby and Croxteth they'll take their diversions,
And to please them at last I must give my reversions.'
4
13
So his lordship fill'd Arthur's long visage with sorrow,
When he told them he gave up all thoughts of the borough.
And now the griev'd banker he takes by the hand,
Mounts his dickey in haste, and drives off four in hand.
5
Then Byrom and Birch, both being men most discerning,
Well skilled in Belles Lettres and glutted with learning,
Having sharpened their wits o'er a cup of brown nappy,
Their eloquence flow'd, and in accents most happy.
Says Ashton,6' If quickly it is not prevented,
By these sojers again we shall be represented,
Let us wait on Will Roscoe and strike the first blow sirs,
He's a chap that will suit both the Corn Jews and grocers.'
&c., &c.
The gallant admiral, Sir Isaac Coffin, who was a Whig
in politics, had been thought of as colleague to Roscoe;
but after some inquiry he declined to stand, which is thus
celebrated:
1 Mr. Birch was a candidate for Nottingham, which borough he repre-
sented for many years.
2 The Earl of Sefton, at that time only an Irish peer, and eligible for
election.
3 Alluding to his Lordship's leasehold property in Toxteth Park.
Mr. Arthur Heywood, banker.
5 The Byroms were extensive sugar refiners in Matthew Street and Dale
Street.
• Nicholas Ashton of Woolton Hall.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Tory song.
312
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Sir Isaac
Coffin.
Gascoyne.
Dunkirk
Racer,
Tune, Yankee doodle."
Sir Isaac Coffin's come to town,
Not to please the lasses;
He's only come to gull the Whigs,
A set of stupid asses!
Yankee doodle, &c.
For Coffin, like a sailor rough,
Had many a wave been tost on;
And though a Yankee loyal, was
An honest man of Boston.
And hearing of the party's wiles,
Says he, 'I'm not a ninny;
Elect me, Gemmen, if you please,
But I'll not spend a guinea. &c., &c.
General Gascoyne was not spared. His presence at
the 'Race' of Dunkirk, his blind adherence to his party,
and his want of oratorical power, were raked up with
great bitterness. The following are specimens:
A major-general in the army who never distinguished him-
self in his military character, but who, having obtained a seat
in the House of Commons, where he commonly acted as one
of Mr. Pitt's automata, had occasion to write to a friend in
Liverpool at the time of the struggle against Mr. Addington's
administration. In his letter he described the state of par-
ties, and observed that it was then impossible to judge which
would prevail; for his own part he was at a loss how to act,
but had determined to vote according to his conscience-
until the event was decided!
Again:
THE DUNKIRK RACER.
I'm a brave Gasconader as e'er drew a sword,
And once saw a battle, but never did slay;
The cannons were roaring, the bullets were flying,
I was there all the while, but kept running away.
'Tis safer to run than to fight, my boys,
'Tis safer to run than to fight;
In Parliament I may keep up an alarm,
But far from the foe I shall meet with no harm.
O''tis safer to run than to fight.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
313
'Twas at Dunkirk I proved the high mettled racer,
The guns they did roar, and I ran with good will,
I was hotly pursued, but I beat every chaser,
And covered with glory, lost only a heel.
"Tis safer to run, &c.
Gascoyne's speech to the House of Commons,
O!
The following pasquinade is rather severe on General
Tarleton, whose baptismal name was Banastre':
Mr. Banastre
(
Begs leave to inform the nobility and gentry of Liverpool
that Mr. Morritz,' being under the imperious necessity of
changing his situation, he has, at the pressing solicitation of
that gentleman, come forward, and hopes to merit the appro-
bation of a discerning public. Mr. Banastre, who has had
the honour of playing his tricks before the imperial Parliament
of Great Britain, flatters himself that his unrivalled exertions
will obtain their patronage and favour.
First. He will, to the astonishment of his audience, turn
his coat sixteen times in one minute.
Second. He will, by his extraordinary powers, display the
manner in which, in the summer of 1802, without any visible
means, he led by the nose six hundred persons in a populous
town in the north.
Third. He will produce his patent leaping Pole,2 with which
he will take a suprising leap from the Exchange to the Stamp
Office.
3
Fourth. He will likewise exhibit his wonderful tricks of
parliamentary legerdemain, which he had the honour of per-
forming at Bath, before the late heaven-born minister' and
the celebrated doctor Sidmouth of Richmond Park, together
with other performances too numerous to mention here. Mr.
Banastre will be assisted by the well-known Sieur Silvestre,"
1 A distinguished professor of legerdemain.
2 Mr. Pole was the stamp distributor for Liverpool. It was alleged that
Tarleton had intrigued to obtain the place for one his own adherents.
3 This alludes to an allegation that Tarleton had met Mr. Pitt at Bath,
and had made a tender of his parliamentary support on certain conditions.
4 Mr. Silvester Richmond, Searcher of Customs, who had made a large
seizure of foreign lace.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Tarleton.
314
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Poll.
Roscoe's
speech.
who seizes this opportunity of informing his friends and the
public that he has on sale a large quantity of French lace
(duty not paid), which, having obtained at the cheapest rate,
he will be enabled to dispose of on the most moderate terms.
Also a quantity of Balm of Gilead at the manufacturer's
prices, credits, and discounts.
1
A considerable amount of rioting and disorder took
place, which the mayor and magistrates endeavoured to
put down by swearing in a number of special constables,
and offering a reward of fifty guineas for the discovery
and conviction of any persons so offending.
The election did not open well for Roscoe. At the
close of the first day's poll he was considerably in the
rear of the other candidates, and so continued until the
sixth day, when Tarleton's supporters began to falter,
and allowed Roscoe to pass him. The poll closed on the
seventh day with the numbers as follows: Roscoe, 1,151;
Gascoyne, 1,138; Tarleton, 986.
There was not much display of oratory during the
election. After its close, the supporters of Mr. Roscoe
celebrated his return by a large gathering, at which he
expounded at considerable length his political creed and
the principles by which he proposed to be guided in his
parliamentary career. The three points on which he
expatiated were the prospects of peace; the abolition
of the slave trade, on which he spoke boldly and de-
cidedly, notwithstanding that some of his supporters were
still associated with the traffic; and Parliamentary Re-
form. On this latter subject, fraught with considerable
interest to those who have watched the progress of events
from Roscoe's time to the present, he thus expressed
himself:
1 This alludes to a seizure of a quantity of Dr. Solomon's Balm of Gilead,
which was subject to an ad valorem export duty, on the ground of its being
undervalued. After receiving payment at its estimated value the doctor
turned the laugh against the Customs, by offering to supply any quantity at
the same price.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
315
IV.
mentary
Another subject on which I wish to say a few words CHAP.
is one of considerable moment; it is that which is usually
called a reform in Parliament. But before I proceed, it 1806.
may be necessary to enquire what is meant by a reform Parlia-
in Parliament. If by a reform in Parliament be meant reform.
any alteration in the established constitution of this
country, as it has long existed in its three estates of King,
Lords, and Commons, then I declare that I am totally
averse to any reform in Parliament. I consider the king
as the keystone of the arch of the constitution, and that
if he were taken away, the whole must inevitably fall into
ruins. I consider the nobility as a body of hereditary
counsellors, adding dignity to the Crown, and forming a
powerful and useful barrier, on many occasions between
the Crown and the people. I esteem the House of Com-
mons, properly purified and constructed, as the legitimate
organ of the public voice; and therefore if any inno-
vation be attempted upon any one of these, to that you
will always find me a decided enemy. But if by a reform
in Parliament be meant the purifying of the House of
Commons from all kinds of bribery and corruption,
whether that of electors, or of those who sit in that house,
then I am a friend to reform in Parliament. If it should
be proposed that the elective franchise should be granted
to great towns, and extensive bodies of men who do not
at present enjoy them, then I am a friend to reform in
Parliament. If it should appear that insignificant and
corrupt boroughs have from time to time tainted the
dignity of the House, and it should be thought proper to
deprive them of the right of election, then I shall be
found an advocate for a reform in Parliament.'
These sentiments are such as would meet general ac-
ceptance at the present day from all political parties, and
are far within the limits of the reforms which the present
generation have seen carried out with the consent of
both sides of the House; yet at this time and for many
years after, those who ventured to express such opinions
316
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1806.
Parlia-
ment.
Suppres-
sion of
slave
trade
were branded as revolutionists and Jacobins, who were
bent on destroying the institutions of their country.
Mr. Roscoe's Parliamentary career was short, but he
Roscoe in had the good fortune to assist in carrying that great mea-
sure of humanity, the abolition of the slave trade-to
the promotion of which he had devoted his best powers,
from the time of the publication of 'The Wrongs of
Africa,' twenty years before. Like many other abuses,
it died hard. After a painful struggle of many years,
in 1804 a bill for the abolition was carried by Mr.
Wilberforce in the House of Commons, but was thrown
out by the Lords. In the next session a similar bill
was thrown out by the Commons. At the same time
the capture of the foreign colonies in the West Indies
The
had greatly increased the demand for slaves.
trade had previously been diminishing, the number im-
ported in Liverpool ships having dropped from 30,796
in 1802 to 15,534 in 1803. Stimulated by the new
colonial markets, the number in 1804 had risen to
27,322, being five-sixths of the whole number imported.
In 1805 an order in council prohibited any further
supply to the conquered colonies which lay within the
prerogative of the Crown. After the death of Mr. Pitt,
the Fox and Grenville ministry carried a bill prohibiting
British subjects from supplying slaves either to foreign
settlements or to the conquered colonies. One of the
last acts of Mr. Fox in Parliament was to carry a vote in
the Commons pledging the House to the total abolition
of the trade in the next session. At length, in the short
Parliament called by the Grenville ministry, the iniquity
received its coup de grâce, to which Mr. Roscoe had the
gratification of contributing by a speech delivered on the
second reading of the bill, which finally received the royal
assent on March 25, 1807. During the last fifteen
months of the trade, from January 1, 1806 to May 1,
1807, the number of Liverpool ships engaged was 185,
carrying 43,755 slaves.
A.D. 1807
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
317
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Grenville.
The administration of Lord Grenville came
termination on March 25, 1807, the immediate cause
being the introduction of a bill to relax the penal laws
against the Roman Catholics, to the extent of permitting Fall of
them to act as officers in the army and navy, without
taking the oaths of abjuration and supremacy. To this
measure the king was violently opposed. The ministers,
failing to convince their royal master, agreed to withdraw
the bill, but attached to their decision a Cabinet minute.
which was considered disrespectful to his Majesty, who
then insisted that they should pledge themselves in writing
never again to bring the measure forward. This they
declined to do, and the king, after consulting with Lord
Eldon, agreed to accept their resignation. They were Portland
succeeded in the great offices of state by Lords Castle- ministry.
reagh and Liverpool, and Messrs. Perceval and Canning,
the Duke of Portland being Prime Minister. One of the
first measures of the new ministry was the dissolution of
Parliament, in order that the country might express its
opinion on the questions at issue.
This was brought prominently forward in the speech
from the throne delivered by the Lords Commissioners
on the prorogation, April 27. They say: His majesty
feels that, in resorting to this measure under the present
circumstances, he at once demonstrates in the most un-
equivocal manner his own conscientious persuasion of the
rectitude of those motives upon which he has acted, and
affords to his people the best opportunity of testifying
their determination to support him in every exercise of
the prerogatives of the Crown, which is conformable to
the sacred obligations under which they are held, and
conducive to the welfare of his kingdom and to the
security of the constitution.'
strations.
This appeal was answered by a display of loyal and Loyal
anti-Catholic feeling which put back Catholic Emanci- demon-
pation for twenty-one years. In Liverpool the excite-
ment was probably greater than at any former election,
318
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
C
СНАР.
IV.
1807.
Election.
Roscoe's
entrance.
Election
riots.
and was unfortunately attended with a degree of viru-
lence and bitterness which had never hitherto been
displayed. The two points principally urged by the
ministerial party were the loss of the slave trade and
the cry of No Popery.'
<
The day after the speech from the throne, a requi-
sition was presented to General Tarleton, to offer him-
self again to the burgesses of Liverpool, to which he
promptly replied in the affirmative. The friends of
Mr. Roscoe applied to him to come forward again, which
he seemed well inclined to do, and issued an address in
which he says: "I have, in acting up to the dictates of
my own mind, experienced, even from those amongst you
who have differed from me in opinion, the most friendly
indulgence and liberal construction of my conduct; nor
can I entertain a doubt that the same plain, direct, and
open track which it has hitherto been my uniform en-
deavour to pursue, will, in every situation, and under all
circumstances, be found to obtain your permanent favour
and support.'
On May 2 Mr. Roscoe made a public entry into
Liverpool, accompanied by a numerous body of friends,
mounted and on foot, who met him at Low Hill. The
opposite party alleged that a number of American seamen
were marshalled in the procession, and thus gave offence
to the native part of the populace. However this might
be, the demonstration was allowed to pass without any
overt act of opposition until it arrived at the south end
of Castle Street, where a body of men arrayed in green
favours (Tarleton's colour), strengthened, as stated, by
parties of seamen from vessels lately engaged in the
African trade, armed with bludgeons, were stationed. A
scene of riot and confusion then ensued such as has
been rarely witnessed in the town. The horsemen were
attacked, the horses struck with sticks, and the procession
obstructed; but it slowly advanced with difficulty to the
north-east corner of Castle and Dale Streets, where
NINETEENTH CENTURY,
319
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Roscoe's bank then was carried on. As Mr. Roscoe was
alighting from his carriage a stone was thrown at him,
said to have been aimed from the town-hall. A voice
cried, 'Now is your time,' and a violent attack was at
once commenced. The horse ridden by Colonel Williams,
late commander of one of the volunteer regiments, was
stabbed with a knife. Every attempt of Mr. Roscoe to
address the crowd was received with groans and uproar,
and the assembly finally broke up in disorder. The same
evening an affray took place in Highfield Street, between
the rival parties, in which a young man named Edward
Spencer, one of Roscoe's adherents, was killed. Mr.
Roscoe became disheartened, and, although strongly urged
by his friends to disregard the attempt to drive him away
by threats and violence, he determined to withdraw from Roscoe
the contest. This determination he communicated in a
long address, published on May 5, in which he concludes:
I have finally resolved not to afford by my further perse-
verance a pretext for those excesses, which, from what
has occurred, there is but too much reason to apprehend
would be experienced in the course of the election.
What will be the character of a Parliament chosen under
such auspices I shall not pretend to determine; but if
the representation of Liverpool can only be obtained by
violence and bloodshed, I leave the honour of it to those
who choose to contend for it; nor will I accept even that
distinction accompanied by reflections which must em-
bitter every future moment of my life.'
withdraws.
Many of Mr. Roscoe's friends were not willing to lose Election.
his services as member for the borough, and persisted
in carrying on the contest, though as was abundantly
manifest, with small hopes of success. He was accord-
ingly nominated and went to the poll. The election
continued for six days, terminating on May 14, when
the numbers stood at the final close: Tarleton, 1,461; Poll.
Gascoyne, 1,277; Roscoe, 379.
The squibs and appeals to the electors exhibit, with
320
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
some exceptions, more virulence and scurrility than wit
and talent. The prominent men on both sides are
1807. bespattered pretty freely with coarse jokes to an extent
that would not be tolerated at the present day. Some
of these would not bear quotation; a few specimens may
be given of the milder description.
Squibs.
Roger
Leigh.
A very prominent advocate and supporter of General
Gascoyne was Roger Leigh, a soap and candle manu-
facturer. He was well known as the largest man in
Liverpool, being six feet six inches in height, with corre-
sponding circumference. He is thus described by the
opposite party :
The great Image of Tallow.
1
It is proposed to the friends of the coalescing Generals,
who meet at the sign of the Lion and the Talbot,2 to give
orders to all their desponding butchers to transport thither as
soon as possible all the tallow they can collect, to make of it
a huge image of Roger the great, the firm supporter of church
and king. The image to be placed in an old chair of state at
the Town-hall, to be adorned with a superb crown of farthing
candles, and to hold in each hand a lighted flambeau, the
flaming symbol of his origin and occupation, with a label
issuing from his greasy mouth No Popery.' That this idol
of tallow be carried out in open procession on a cool day
(for it will not bear the fervour of the sun's rays), accompanied
by flutes, harps, sackbuts, psalteries, and all kinds of music;
that our wise and virtuous Corporation bear the tallow idol on
their shoulders through the streets of Liverpool, veiled under
a gorgeous canopy of cabbage leaves, interwoven with candle-
wicks, and composed of all the letters and fugitive squibs of
those bright geniuses and hired defamers,' &c.
6
A well-known character in Liverpool at this time was
1 The Golden Lion, Dale Street, which stood on the site of the Queen
Insurance Buildings. It was for many years the head-quarters of the
Gascoyne party.
2 The Talbot Inn, Water Street, the site of the District Bank, was the
rendezvous of Tarleton's supporters. The general himself was born on the
spot.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
321
6
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Samuel William Ryley, who had passed through a
singular career of adventure, which he embodied in a -
semi-fictitious work entitled The Itinerant.' He was
great at election times on the Whig interest, and was Ryley.
accustomed to head up the tallies' dressed in a short
green hunting-coat and white hat, with a small flag in his
hand. He is very well hit off in the following extract from
a parody of one of Moore's 'Letters of the Fudge Family':
In the bustle I saw a long quizzical face,
Nose lengthened, mouth widened, and monkey grimace;
Thought I, I have seen this tall fellow before,
And I'm sure one might tell him again from a score.
He's a mixture of deep methodistical cant,
With an equal proportion of farcical rant;
This medley, this fain would-be saint or be sinner,
This vendor of grace, if it buys a good dinner;
For he once was a preacher,—a player-buffoon,
But now he's turned spouter, and spouts to some tune;
And when I come home, I can tell you then slily,
When nobody's near, that his name is called Ryley.
The satirical poetry of the Tories at the elections of
the early part of this century is superior to that of their
opponents, and some of it is very sparkling and effective.
The best portion of it was from the pen of Mr. Silvester Silvester
Richmond, searcher in Customs, already alluded to, whose
ready wit made him the life and soul of the society in
which he moved.
The following parody on Roscoe's lyric,
O'er the vine-covered hills and fair valleys of France,
is in all probability from the same pen :
From this apple-fraught land, this island so blest,
See see! Liberty's Dog-star retire,
That has thinn'd the gay valleys of France-like a pest,
And her vine-covered hills like a fire.
No longer the tabor and pipe gives delight,
From their vintage all pleasure is flown,
The men are dragged out for a tyrant to fight,
And the women remain but to moan.
VOL. I.
Y
Richmond.
322
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Election
squibs.
Ass race.
'Tis the bent of ambition to sport with the mind,
And to boast every virtue its own ;
But the pinnacle gained, the delusion we find,
And the monster's true features are shewn ;
Nor is he the more brave in true Liberty's cause,
Who talks loud of resigning his life,
'Tis pretenders alone fawn and bellow-but pause,
And at danger will slink from the strife.
Who now in the regions of France would reside,
Who, that e'er in Old England had been?
And who, but a wretch in their ruler can pride,
That our sovereign has heard of or seen?
O Pitt, thou art gone, we must ever deplore-
To thy memory what praise can we bring?
Thou hast saved both our liberties, lives, laws, and more,
Our religion, our country, and king.
The following squib brings in the names of most of the
leading supporters of the Tory candidates. In the
original the names are concealed by dashes, which I have
filled in :
ASS RACE.
During the Races a sweepstakes will be run for by the following
asses, to be rode by their respective owners:
Brazen Face-Mr. Silvester (Richmond).
Greasy Chops-Roger Leigh.
Inkhorn and Popgun-P. W. Brancker.¹
Gripe-all-W. Harper.2
Game Cock-G. Drinkwater.3
Spindle Shanks-Ned Renshaw.4
Lechery-Parson Vause.5
Rub-a-dub fire away-J. Bolton.6
Footman-P. W. Litt.7
1 Mayor in 1801; the father of Sir Thomas Brancker, mayor in 1830.
2 Mayor in 1804.
3 Afterwards Sir George Drinkwater, mayor in 1829.
4 Ed. Renshaw was a rope-manufacturer in Newington, son of the rector.
5 Rev. John Vause was incumbent of Christ Church, Hunter Street.
Unfortunately his moral character did not stand high.
Colonel Bolton of the volunteers.
7 Mr. Litt resided at St. Domingo House, Everton, after Prince William.
He took an active part in the establishment of the Lyceum, Bold Street.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
323
Putty and Lead-J. Aspinall.'
Drawcansir-Major Falkner.2
Sulky-Saml. Staniforth.³
Pot Belly-Bishop Renshaw.¹
Allbum-R. Statham.5
Evil Conscience-R. Carr.6
Sweet Lips-J. Shaw.7
And some others who did not name.
It is only fair to give some portraits painted by the
opposite party, with which I will close these somewhat
too lengthy extracts :
Extract of a Letter from Liverpool, May 2, 1807.
This day about two o'clock, his Holiness Pope Leo 10th
made his long-expected public entry. We subjoin the order
of the procession:
Drums and fifes playing the Rogue's March.
Two hundred Anglo-Brissotins habited as American sailors
bearing Tomahawks.
Banner of emblems with the Words
'Catholic Emancipation and Abolition of the Slave Trade.'
A. Heywood, Keeper of the Privy Seal.
8
C. Bardswell, Keeper of the Conscience, in his tatter'd
robes of estate.
9
Major Alison as Esquire Dickey, without his hat.
A group of infidels and heretics two by two.
Teacher of the Languages and prime orator, T. Booth.10
Corn Jews and Grocers.
Col. Williams, in a well-laced coat, dismounted.
1 John and James Aspinall were plumbers and glaziers, Park Lane.
• Of Fairfield Hall, Commander of the Liverpool Light Horse.
3 Mr. Staniforth was mayor in 1812. He resided in Ranelagh Street, in
the house afterwards the Waterloo Hotel, behind which he had a rope-
walk. His appearance and manners were somewhat forbidding.
4 One of the rectors, whose physique is not unaptly described.
5 The town-clerk, recently appointed.
6 Mr. Carr was an attorney residing at Wavertree.
7 Alderman Shaw, mayor in 1800, commonly called Jack Shaw, a man
of immense wealth and great vulgarity, whose character is amusingly
sketched by the Old Stager.'
8 Mr. Bardswell was an attorney in Drury Lane.
9 Richard Alison, corn merchant, Richmond Row.
10 Thomas Booth, corn merchant (Booth and Walmsley).
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Election
squibs.
Tory
squib.
Y 2
324
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Election
squibs.
Battle of
Jena.
Berlin
decree.
A Flag representing the burning of the Bishops, Nuns, and
Virgins, and a Lady Abbess.
Parson Yates.¹
The Arch Fiend and Counsellor, W. Rathbone.2
His Holiness the Pope, on a Dicky proper, supported by Col.
Earle, Acting Manager to the Bedchamber women of His
Holiness's Household.
Clarifier of Urine, J. Holmes.3
4
Francis Jordan as Guy Faux.
Four Pages of his household representing à la Grotesque-
8
Temperance, R. Downward.5
Modesty, J. Carter.6
Sincerity, W. Shepherd."
Simplicity, A. Byrom.
H. Norris as Dulcinea del Toboso, bearing a Rump nicely
roasted.
Music playing the Marseillaise Hymn.
The whole went off in an unusual manner, very suddenly,
though most deservedly received; and pronounced by Coun-
sellor Raincock a Humbug after the best manner.
• Vive la République.'
The war continued to be waged with unabated vigour.
On October 14, 1806, was fought the disastrous battle of
Jena, by which Prussia was laid prostrate at the feet of
the French emperor. On November 20, Bonaparte issued
his celebrated Berlin decree, which declared the British
islands in a state of blockade, all British subjects wherever
found prisoners of war, all British goods lawful prizes.
1 Mr. Yates was the minister of Paradise Street Chapel.
2 Grandfather of Mr. W. Rathbone, M.P. for Liverpool.
3 Mr. Holmes was mayor in 1849-50. He was a cudbear manufacturer
in the Old Haymarket. Hence the allusion in the text.
4 Mr. Jordan was a well-known merchant, residing in Duke Street.
5 The Downwards were sugar refiners in Matthew Street. Mr. R. Down-
ward resided at Springfield, near the Old Swan.
• Mr. Carter was a merchant residing in Richmond Row.
7 Rev. William Shepherd of Gateacre, author of the 'Life of Poggio
Bracciolini.'
8 Henry Norris was a broker in Water Street.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
325
This at once closed to England all the continental
ports under French influence; all neutral vessels which
had touched at a British port were excluded.
The English merchants struggled manfully against this
wrong. The British navy being masters of the seas, the
small island of Heligoland, lying off the mouths of the
Elbe and Weser, was seized and converted into a dépôt,
from whence smuggling operations could be carried on
with the German coast. Russia being still a friendly
power, those ports of the Baltic under Russian influence
were still accessible to British commerce. This was not
to be of long continuance. The battle of Friedland,
fought on June 14, 1807, humiliated Russia. This was
followed by the treaty of Tilsit, on July 7, which con-
verted Russia into an ally of our great enemy, and shut
us out from the remainder of the Continent.
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
The British Government retaliated by an order in Order in
council, dated January 7, 1807, declaring all the ports in council.
the French empire in a state of blockade, and prohibiting
all neutrals from trading with the enemy; that no vessel
should trade from one enemy's port to another of a French
or French allies' coast shut against English vessels. This
was the work of the Whig Cabinet. The Tory ministry,
which succeeded in March, carried the principle still
further by an order issued in November 1807. Napo-
leon had decreed that no vessel should touch at a British
port and then enter a French one. The new order in
council enacted that no vessel whatever should enter a
French port unless she had previously touched at a
British one; and claimed the right of searching neutrals
for the purpose of carrying out this regulation.
Following this, on December 17, came out Napoleon's
Milan decree, declaring all merchant vessels, of whatso- Milan
ever nation, which should submit to the British orders in decree.
council, to be lawful prizes to the French. Acting on
this, a number of American ships were seized and con-
fiscated in the ports of Italy and France. The object of
326
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Disputes
with
America.
American
trade.
the rival belligerents was to starve each other out by
mutual destruction of their commerce.
The trading community of England seemed at first to
approve of these high-handed measures, but ere long
they found the pressure more than they could bear.
One means of mitigation was the granting of licences
exempting particular ships from the operation of the law.
This led to the adoption of fraudulent papers, and thus
rendered the success of commerce dependent on forgery
and fraud.
The commerce with America was seriously interfered
with. The Americans naturally resisted the assumption
of the right of search, and passed Acts in retaliation vir-
tually suspending the commerce between the two coun-
tries. Liverpool began seriously to feel the evil results.
In one year the commerce declined to the amount of
146,000 tons, being nearly one-fourth of the entire trade,
and 22,0007. in dock dues, being a falling off of more
than one-third from the previous year's receipts.
Opinions at first greatly differed as to the principles
and effects of these measures. The merchants trading
with America felt them most severely, and issued a requi-
sition to call a public meeting to petition Parliament
against the orders in council. Amongst the signatures to
this requisition were John (afterwards Sir John) Glad-
stone; Ewart Rutson & Co.; Rathbone, Hughes & Dun-
can; Martin, Hope & Thornely; Cropper, Benson & Co.,
and most of those engaged in the trade with America.
The meeting was held on February 26, 1808, Mr. James
Cropper in the chair, A powerful representation was
made of the importance of the American trade to Liver-
pool, employing annually 123,000 tons of shipping, and
producing a revenue from Liverpool alone of upwards of
a million sterling per annum. The American ships visit-
ing the port expended not less than 150,000l. annually
amongst the tradesmen of the town, and the charges on
the cargoes were 150,000l. more. The injustice and im-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
327
policy of the whole proceeding was strongly dwelt upon,
and it was resolved to petition both houses of Parliament
for redress. Two petitions were sent up to each house;
one praying for the repeal of the orders, the other pray-
ing to be heard by counsel at the bar of the house. The
latter petitions were rejected on the ground of informality.
Similar steps were taken by the West India Association,
the salt proprietors of Cheshire, the manufacturers of
Lancashire and Yorkshire, and by the London American
merchants.
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Petitions.
Govern-
meeting.
These feelings, however, were not shared by the whole
community. A large and influential party, embracing Support of
the Mayor and Common Council, and probably the majo- ment.
rity of the mercantile community, were prepared to up-
hold the Government in their policy of reprisals. A
public meeting was held on March 21 to express these Public
opinions; the mayor, Mr. Henry Blundell Hollinshead, in
the chair. The chairman, in giving utterance to the pre-
vailing feeling, declared that 'His majesty's ministers had
adopted a mode of retaliation which must, if vigorously
supported by the energies of the country, ultimately lead
the enemy to accede to those terms of conciliation which
shall be honourable to Britain, and secure the repose and
happiness of Europe.' Resolutions and petitions to the
same tenor were then laid before the meeting. The peti-
tion concluded with the expression of an unshaken
determination to consent to every sacrifice which either
now or hereafter may be required, and to employ all
their efforts to realise the hope of his Majesty that the
present awful and momentous struggle, through the bless-
ing of Providence, may prove ultimately successful and
glorious to Great Britain."
6
The opposite party attended in force, and counter-reso-
lutions and petitions were moved by Mr. Roscoe, which,
whilst expressing the firmest devotion to the throne and
person of the king, and their willingness to make all
needful sacrifices, yet recommended a conciliatory policy
328
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
CHAP.
IV.
1807.
Petitions.
Mr.
Brougham.
Orders
rescinded.
A.D. 1808.
both towards hostile and neutral states, and especially in
reference to the United States of America, as best cal-
culated to restore, at an early period, to his Majesty's
faithful subjects, and to the world at large, the blessings
of a secure and lasting peace.'
On a show of hands, a dispute arose as to which peti-
tion was carried. They were both very numerously
signed, and presented to the houses of Parliament. From
the stand-point of the present day, we look back on these
transactions with very mingled feelings. It is agreed on
all hands that the governments, both Whig and Tory,
went lamentably astray in the measures they adopted,
and enormously aggravated the evils they intended to
cure. This, in fact, was admitted by the withdrawal of
the obnoxious orders in council four years subsequently;
but in the meantime what evils had they caused! One
serious result was, war with America, which crippled our
trade, disgraced our arms, and engendered an amount of
bitterness and ill-will for which succeeding generations
have had to suffer severely.
At the same time we cannot but admire and honour
the spirit of patriotism which animated the majority, and
inspired them to be prepared for any sacrifice to uphold
the dignity and prestige of the country.
After some little time, Parliament consented to hear
the petitioners at the bar of the house. Mr. Brougham
appeared as their counsel, and tendered evidence, show-
ing the disastrous effects caused by the orders--but all
in vain. The ministry continued firm to their purpose,
and the orders were rigidly enforced. Not long after
this, Mr. Brougham became a member of the House
of Commons, and never relaxed his exertions until, on
June 16, 1812, Lord Castlereagh announced that the
Crown had been advised immediately to rescind the
orders.
In January 1808, a supplementary charter was granted
to the borough by the Crown. Under the governing
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
329
IV.
1808.
charter.
charter of William III., the only justices of the peace СНАР.
were each mayor during his continuance in office, and
for one year subsequently; the senior alderman for the
time being, and the recorder. By the charter of King Newter.
George II. (1752), the powers were extended, so that
every ex-mayor should continue to act as a justice for
four years after vacating the chair, and that the four
senior aldermen should be constituted justices ex-officio.
With the great increase of population, this was found
insufficient, and an application was made for a further
provision, which was embodied in the new charter.
whole of the aldermen were now appointed justices` by
virtue of their office, whilst they continued members of
the council. A further provision was also made for the
office of coroner. By ancient prescription, this office was
filled by the ex-mayor for one year after vacating the
chair. By the new charter the term was extended to
four years, so that instead of one the duty would be dis-
tributed amongst four.
The
In March 1808 the new Exchange was completed and New
+
opened to the public. I shall have occasion in a future Exchange.
chapter to dwell more at length on the history of this
building.
to the
The rising of the Spaniards and Portuguese against the
French domination in 1808, was hailed in England with
hearty sympathy, as the harbinger of future deliverance
from the domination of the French dictator. On July 28, Address
the mayor, bailiffs, and council, united in an address to
the king, expressing the most heartfelt congratulations
on those late events on the continent of Europe, which
seem to promise the dawn of a brighter day to the liber-
ties and independence of nations.'
C
On Tuesday, August 2, the new Corn Exchange in
Brunswick Street was opened.
King.
The sufferings of the poor in the winter of 1808-9 Distress.
were very great. Provisions were dear and work very
scarce, owing to the decrease in the trade of the port
330
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
CHAP. arising from the operations of the orders in council.
Great efforts were made to relieve the distress, as has
always been the case in Liverpool under similar circum-
1809.
William
Rathbone.
=
stances.
On February 11, 1809, died William Rathbone, one
of a race of which members bearing the same name in
lineal succession for a century and a half, have distin-
guished themselves in every effort to promote the welfare
and progress of Liverpool. The William Rathbone of
whom I am now speaking was for many years the con-
fidential friend of William Roscoe, who has left on record
a touching testimony to the character and abilities of
his associate. A short memoir of him, written by Mr.
Roscoe, was published in the Athenæum.'1
The character of Mr. Rathbone was of the highest
cast; and it was ever the subject of deep regret with
those who knew and appreciated him, that a genius
which might have shone with the brightest lustre in the
most extended sphere was restricted to comparative
obscurity. The talents for public life manifested by him
on various occasions were of the first order. A friend
to peace, to toleration, and to improvement, had he been
placed in a situation where scope could have been given
to his lofty and benevolent views, his name must have
been for ever associated with his country's happiness and
honour; but confined to the limits of a private station,
a man formed of the clay from which in former days
heroes and martyrs were moulded, expended the strength
which might have ruled a nation, in contests, the recol-
lection of which, has already passed away.' He was cut
off at the age of fifty-one years and eight months. The
following sonnet from the pen of Mr. Roscoe forms an
appropriate tribute to his memory:
¹ Not the Athenæum of modern times, but a periodical edited by Dr.
Aikin, which had only a brief existence.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
331
Doom'd for a season to that frail disguise,
Whilst yet thy spirit felt its bonds of clay,
How through the gloom shone forth th' imprisoned ray,
Beam'd in thy smile, and sparkled in thine eyes.
Prompting thee on to deeds of high emprise,
To plant thy foot athwart Oppression's way;
To shield the weak, the sufferer's pangs allay,
And soothe the widow's woes, the orphan's cries.
Thy mission now is closed. The sacred flame
From earth releas'd, in other worlds expands,
Midst the blest regions of eternal love.
O glorious hour! when midst her falling frame,
Th' imperishable soul superior stands,
Spurns her frail chain, and soars to realms above.
C
CHAP.
IV.
1809.
Sonnet by
Roscoe.
On October 25, 1809, the Jubilee of King George III. Jubilee.
was celebrated. In no town of his Majesty's dominions
was it conducted with more enthusiasm than in the
ancient and loyal' borough of Liverpool. The morning
was ushered in with the ringing of bells, there were
public processions civil and military, feux de joie, and in
the evening a general illumination with a brilliant display
of fireworks. The front of the town-hall was decorated
with festoons of coloured lamps round the columns.
Whatever his faults might be, Farmer George,' by the
simplicity of his character and the earnestness of his
political principles, had endeared himself in the hearts of
his people to a degree which few of his predecessors had
attained. In addition to these public rejoicings, a monu-
ment of a more permanent character was determined on,
in the shape of an equestrian bronze statue, the first stone
of the pedestal of which was laid on the day of jubilee
by the mayor, Mr. John Clarke. The subscription for
this object was large enough to embrace another, the
liberation of all the prisoners confined for debt in the
borough gaol. About seventy poor debtors were thus
set free, no doubt to the great satisfaction of their
creditors as well as to their own.
The result of the Government measures of blockade
and embargo now began fully to develop itself in the
332
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1810.
Advance
of prices.
CHAP. enormously advanced price of all the necessaries of life.
Wheat was at this time 100 shillings a quarter; butchers'
meat had risen from fourpence to eightpence a pound;
butter from sixpence to one-and-sixpence, and other
articles in proportion. Under a previous pressure, an
Act had been passed to prohibit the distillation of spirits
from grain. This Act was to expire on March 4, 1810.
A public meeting was held at the town-hall, under the
presidency of the mayor, at which resolutions were
adopted and a petition to Parliament prepared, setting
forth the advantages which had accrued from the pro-
hibition in the Act, and praying Parliament to extend
its operation, so long as the high prices of grain should
be maintained.
Fall of St.
Nicholas's
spire.
Exhibi-
tion.
On Sunday morning, February 11, 1810, an accident
occurred which threw a gloom over the town and carried
mourning into many houses. About half-past ten in the
forenoon, when the bells were ringing for service, the
spire of the steeple of the parish church of St. Nicholas
suddenly toppled over and fell upon the body of the
building, crushing all before it, and wrecking the entire
interior. Twenty-two persons, principally children of the
school, who were entering the church at the time, were
killed, and many more seriously injured. Several hair-
breadth escapes were recorded, amongst others that of
the Rev. L. Pughe the officiating clergyman, who was
entering the church, but stepped aside to allow the
children to pass, and so saved his life. The children
were all interred in the cemetery of St. John's church on
the following Tuesday, and were followed by a large
concourse of sympathising friends.
In August 1810, an exhibition of pictures was held
in connection with the proposed establishment of an
Academy and Gallery of Art, towards which Mr. Henry
Blundell of Ince offered to contribute the sum of 1,000/
During the last hundred years, many attempts at this
desirable object have been made, but by some unfor-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
333
tunate fatality they have all proved abortive. The one
of which I am now speaking was defeated by the com-
mercial collapse which speedily followed. Other similar
attempts both before and since have met with the like
fate, and still
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time.
CHAP.
IV.
1810.
The uprising in the peninsula inspired the commercial Spanish
world with great expectations of fresh openings for trade, rising.
not only with Spain and Portugal but with the Spanish
and Portuguese possessions in America, which had been
hitherto closed to British enterprise. Under the arti-
ficial restrictions then existing every fresh opening was
eagerly availed of, and an indiscriminate rush being made
to ship goods to the new markets, very naturally a glut
took place which led to a disastrous panic and a fall of
prices, which carried ruin to many an old-established and
hitherto prosperous concern. This was of course much
aggravated by the disputes with the United States and
the blockade of the European ports. The panic reached
its climax about the close of 1810, and early in 1811
the Government found it absolutely necessary to take
measures for relieving the commercial distress by the issue Com-
of Exchequer bills by way of loan. On March 15, 1811, mercial
a public meeting of the merchants of Liverpool was held
at the town-hall, at which it was determined to make
application for a share of the Government advances.
The census of the population was taken in the year
1811, when it was found the numbers in the borough
had increased from 77,708 in 1801 to 94,376, being an
addition of 16,668. Including the seamen and suburbs,
the total population would be about 116,000. The in-
crease was large but not in the same ratio as that of
the previous or of the subsequent ten years. The de-
pressed state of trade caused by the war and the
• distress.
A.D. 1811.
Census.
334
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1811.
trade.
CHAP. proceedings arising out of it, sufficiently account for this
comparative check. This depression is also manifested
by the returns of shipping and dock-dues. After the
Decline of disasters of 1808, the trade had partially recovered
itself, and, stimulated by the new openings arising out
of the peninsular war, in 1810 the returns were as
follow ships, 6,729; tonnage, 734,391; dock-dues,
65,7821. 1s.
Havannah
frigate.
death.
The panic of the winter of 1810 acted very unfavour-
ably on the commerce of 1811, during which year the
returns had fallen: ships, 5,616; tonnage, 611,190;
dock-dues, 54,752l. 18s. 5d., being a falling-off in ships,
1,113; tonnage, 123,201; dock-dues, 11,0301.
'
On March 26, 1811, the Havannah' frigate was
launched from the building-yard at Cornhill, belonging
to Messr. Hassall & Co. During the previous century,
many contracts for ships for the navy had been taken by
Liverpool builders, but the system gradually died out,
the 'Havannah' being the last so constructed. The
system has been revived in modern times, some of the
finest ironclads in the naval service having been con-
structed on the banks of the Mersey.
In August of this year the public sympathy was greatly
Spencer's excited by the melancholy death of the Rev. Thomas
Spencer, whilst bathing in the river at the south shore.
I shall have occasion again to allude to Mr. Spencer in
the topographical portion of this work.
The enormous change which has taken place in the
principles of commercial law is curiously shown by occa-
sional incidents in our local history. At the time of
which I am writing it was a criminal offence to export
machinery to foreign countries; and an equal offence
for a skilled artisan to attempt to emigrate. In the
Export of newspaper of November 11, 1811, we read that a man
machinery named Wagstaff was taken into custody, in the act of
putting on board the ship "Mount Vernon," bound to
New York, twenty-three boxes, containing about 140
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
335
gross of spindles, used in the spinning of cotton. The
prisoner has been proved to be a manufacturer of spindles,
and to have agreed with the captain of the "Mount
Vernon," to take a passage to New York. He was ex-
amined before the mayor, and committed to Lancaster to
take his trial at the next assizes.' Many persons living
at that period have survived to see the day when the
export of machinery is considered one of the most
valuable branches of our national commerce, and when
our surplus artisans for whom work cannot be found
at home, are encouraged by the highest sanctions to
emigrate.
CHAP.
IV.
1811.
Famine prices still continuing, a public meeting was Relief of
held in November 1811, to consider the propriety of the poor.
petitioning the Prince Regent to exercise his authority
for still further suspending the distillation of spirits from
grain.
In December, a meeting was held, and liberal sub-
scriptions entered into for the relief of the suffering
poor.
Employment being difficult to provide, another public
meeting was held, when it was resolved to memorialise
the trustees of the docks to employ an additional number
of hands on their works during the winter season; and in
order to provide money for this purpose, a number of
subscribers came forward with various sums on loan to
be advanced to the dock trustees for this specific pur-
pose, the money to remain for five years. A sum of
about 2,000l. was also raised to be distributed in charity.
What may be called the Liverpool H. P. riots, took H. P. riots.
place during this season at the Theatre Royal, in conse-
quence of the half-price admission being discontinued.
A great commotion was raised amongst the play-going
community, which was not quelled without great dif
ficulty and considerable destruction of property.
The borough gaol in Great Howard Street, which had Borough
been erected in 1786, was only now occupied for the gaol.
336
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Depres
sion.
Relief of
distress.
Relations
with
America.
first time for its original purpose, having been hitherto
used as a place of confinement for French prisoners, the
borough prisoners being incarcerated in the old Tower
in Water Street, and the old House of Correction, Mount
Pleasant.
The year 1812 was a memorable one in the annals of
Liverpool. It opened with a very dark and lowering
aspect. Trade was depressed, employment scanty, and
provisions very dear. One cannot but admire the spirit
which animated the people with hope and enabled them
to persevere with true British pluck—
As if allegiance in their bosoms sat,
Crowned with faith and constant loyalty.
Towards the general national distress, the Government
adopted the usual remedy of an issue of Exchequer
bills. The paper currency as compared with gold was
at a considerable discount; but Parliament passed very
stringent measures, enforcing the Bank issues as a legal
tender.
The distress still continuing, a public meeting was held
on April 23, 'to take into consideration the high price of
provisions, and to adopt such measures as may be deemed
expedient in relation thereto.' A subscription was
opened for the purpose of buying up provisions, to be
retailed to the poor at reduced prices. A recommenda-
tion was also issued, recommending all housekeepers to
be economical in the use of bread and potatoes, to abstain
altogether from pastry, and not to use any bread until
the expiration of twenty-four hours from the time of its
being baked; and that it be also recommended to all
persons who keep horses to be economical in the feeding
of them, by diminishing the quantity as much as possible.'
Ever since the first issue of the orders in council, in
1807, the relations of England with the United States.
had been of the most unsatisfactory character. The
embargo which the American Government had laid on
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
337
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
the intercourse with this country had been partially with-
drawn in 1809, and the commerce for a time resumed;
but the uneasiness still continued. The right of search
claimed and exercised by British cruisers against Ame-
rican ships exasperated the people and government to the
highest degree. The British Ministry persisted in enforc-
ing the orders in council in spite of all remonstrance
until June 1812. On the 16th of this month, Mr.
Brougham concluded a persevering opposition of four
years, by moving in the House of Commons an address
to the Prince Regent, beseeching him to recal or sus-
pend the orders in council, and to adopt such other mea-
sures as might tend to conciliate neutral powers, without
sacrificing the rights or dignity of his Majesty's crown.'
He was estopped by an announcement from Lord Castle-
reagh that the proposition was already decided upon by
the Cabinet, and would appear in the next 'Gazette.' It
was, however, too late; the die had been cast. There
was at that time no wire to flash across the Atlantic the
message of peace; two days after Lord Castlereagh's an-
nouncement, and three weeks before the news could
reach America, President Madison had issued a declara- War
tion of war against this country. The war lasted for two
years and a half, inflicting a frightful amount of injury
on both countries, without one particle of benefit either
political or commercial; and left behind it a degree of
rancour and bitterness of which succeeding generations
have reaped the fruits.
declared.
orders in
council.
In Liverpool the repeal of the orders was celebrated Repeal of
by a public dinner, at which Mr. Brougham was present;
and by a public meeting, at which the obligations to
those who had exerted themselves to obtain the repeal
were duly acknowledged.
The serious results to both nations from the war may
be illustrated by a few facts. Not much fewer than two
thousand vessels were captured, including the losses on
both sides. The cotton was piled up in the warehouses
VOL. I.
Z
338
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Losses by
war.
Perceval
shot.
Belling-
ham.
in New York in useless masses, whilst England was suf
fering distress for want of it. The insurance on coasting
voyages in America rose to the rates of from 6 to 25
per cent., according to circumstances. American priva-
teers swept the Atlantic, and even penetrated within a
few leagues of the mouth of the Mersey.
The darkest hour is said to be that which precedes the
dawn. The year 1812 was the turning-point in the for-
tunes of the continental war. The great Napoleon,
intoxicated with his brilliant successes, provoked a war
with Russia, and rushed blindly on his fate, whilst the
little cloud rising in the peninsula had swelled into a hur-
ricane, which, guided by the genius of Wellington, was
speedily to sweep from the Pyrenees to the gates of Paris.
Liverpool suffered greatly during the year 1812. The
number of ships entering the port during the year dwin-
dled to 4,599, with a tonnage of 446,788; the amount of
dock-dues was 44,4037., being a diminution since 1810 of
ships, 2130; tonnage, 287,603; and dues, 21,3797.
majority of the inhabitants, notwithstanding, continued
loyally faithful to the Government, and gave them un-
stinted support in all their public measures.
The
In May 1812, a melancholy catastrophe occurred in
the assassination of the Prime Minister, Mr. Spencer Per-
ceval, by an inhabitant of Liverpool, John Bellingham.
It may not be out of place here to put on record a few
particulars of this sad event.
Bellingham was a native of St. Neots, Huntingdon-
shire, born in 1771. His father, who resided subse-
quently in London, exhibited symptoms of mental
derangement, and was placed in St. Luke's Hospital,
whence he was discharged as incurable, and died in that
state. John Bellingham was an intractable youth. After
some irregularities in early life, he was fitted out and
sent to the East Indies by a maternal uncle. The ship in
which he sailed was wrecked on one of the Cape de
Verde islands, and he returned to England without ac-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
339
IV.
1812.
Belling-
ham.
complishing the voyage. He was then assisted to open CHAP.
a tinplate worker's shop in Oxford Street. Here a fire
occurred, in which he stated he lost a considerable
amount in bank-notes. This statement found no credit,
and considerable suspicion was excited as to the origin of
the fire. Soon afterwards he became bankrupt, and his
creditors being dissatisfied with his accounts, he never
succeeded in obtaining his certificate. He then entered.
a merchant's counting-house, where he must have dis-
played some ability, as his employers sent him to act as
their agent at Archangel in Russia, where he remained
three years. Here he formed a connection with a Rus-
sian house in the timber trade-Messrs. Dorbeker & Co.
Returning to England, he entered into a contract to sup-
ply timber to certain merchants in Hull to the amount
of 12,000l. It is said that bills were accepted to that
amount, but timber only to the value of 4,000l. was actu-
ally supplied, as, in his absence, his partners in Russia
had failed, and the vessels despatched for the timber had
to return in ballast. Bellingham was then arrested for
the debt and thrown into gaol. When he recovered his
liberty he returned to Archangel, where he was again
arrested and incarcerated, and remained in prison several
months. He accused the Russian judges of corruption,
which was very likely true, that being the leading feature
of Russian justice, and applied to the British Ambassador
for protection, which was refused, the matter being one
purely of domestic law. He then returned to England,
full of indignation against the Russsian Government. He
repaired to Liverpool, where his mother was then living,
married, and commenced as an insurance broker, residing
at 46 Duke Street, his wife carrying on business as a
milliner and dressmaker, under the name of Bellingham
& Stevens. He continued from time to time to present
memorials to the Government, setting forth the injustice
he had received at the hands of the Russian authorities,
and demanding redress as a British subject from the
z 2
340
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Belling-
ham.
Mr.
Perceval's
death.
British Government. His appeals were disregarded, as
the Government had no pretext for interference. His
unfortunate circumstances operating on a mind tainted
with hereditary disease converted him into a dangerous
monomaniac. He went up to London determined to
revenge his fancied wrongs on some member of the
Government; it appears from his subsequent confession,
he did not exactly know whom. He went about his fell
purpose with the utmost deliberation. He bought a pair
of pistols, for which he gave four guineas, and quietly
practised with them at Primrose Hill. He then employed
a tailor to prepare him a coat with a side-pocket, for the
pistols to be immediately available. Thus armed and
prepared, on the afternoon of Monday, May 11, 1812, he
posted himself in the lobby of the House of Commons.
Soon after, Mr. Perceval, having been sent for, entered
the lobby in haste, Mr. Brougham having just commenced
the examination of witnesses against the obnoxious orders
in council. At this moment, as Lord Brougham describes
the scene, he thought he heard a noise as if a pistol had
gone off in some one's pocket-such at least was the idea
which instantaneously passed through his mind, but did
not interrupt his interrogation. Presently there were
seen several persons in the gallery running towards the
doors; and before a minute more had passed, General
Gascoyne, who had seized the murderer and wrested the
pistol from his hand, rushed up the House, and an-
nounced that the minister had been shot, and had fallen
on the spot dead. The House instantly adjourned. Ex-
aminations were taken of the wretch who had struck the
blow, and he was speedily committed for trial by Mr. M.
A. Taylor, who acted as a magistrate for Middlesex. On
that day week, Bellingham, having been tried and con-
victed, was executed, to the utter disgrace of the court
which tried him, and refused an application for delay,
grounded on a representation that were time given, evi-
dence of his insanity could be obtained from Liverpool
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
341
IV.
where he resided and was known. It cannot with any CHAP.
truth be said that the popular ferment, which so astonish-
ing and shocking an event occasioned, had at all subsided 1812.
on the trial, the fourth day after the act was committed,
and the day on which the judge and jury were called
upon-calm in mind-inaccessible to all feelings-above
all outward impressions-to administer strict and impar-
tial justice.'
C
The assassin persisted to the last in defending his
crime; remarking that life had been to him a weary
pilgrimage; the bliss fleeting and illusory, the misery
permanent and real; in laying it down he had no vain
regrets to make.'
Considerable sympathy was manifested in Liverpool
for his wife, who was much respected, and a subscription
was got up for the benefit of the family.
Liverpool
succeeds.
The death of Mr. Perceval led to certain changes in Lord
the administration. The Earl of Liverpool succeeded as
Prime Minister, and made overtures to the Marquis of
Wellesley and Mr. Canning to join the Cabinet, which
were declined. An adverse vote in the House of Com-
mons soon afterwards determined the Ministry to dissolve
the House and appeal to the country. They were en-
couraged in this by the gleams of success in Spain, and
the victory of Salamanca fought on July 22, which gave
a tinge of popularity to the Government, amongst many
things of a discouraging nature. The dissolution was
proclaimed on September 29, and the new Parliament
summoned for November 30.
Few elections in the country, certainly none in Liver- Election.
pool, have been more memorable than this; whether we
look at the talents of the two chief candidates and their
subsequent brilliant career, the position of the country at
the time, or the great interests at stake both national and
local.
The candidates were the Right Hon. George Canning
and General Gascoyne, on the ministerial or Tory side;
342
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
and Messrs. Henry Brougham and Thomas Creevey on
the side of the Whigs.
The first movement was made by the friends of Mr.
Brougham. Brougham. On September 4 he was entertained at a
public dinner given at the Liverpool Arms, Castle Street,
in testimony of the spirited and successful exertions' he
had displayed in obtaining the repeal of the orders in
council. About 250 guests were present, amongst them
the Earls of Derby and Sefton, Lord Stanley, Sir William
Gerard, Bart., Sir James Nasmyth, Bart., &c. Mr. Roscoe
occupied the chair. After proposing the health of their
distinguished guest, he turned to Mr. Brougham and said:
Sir,—We have already thanked you in our more serious
moments—it was the tribute of our judgment. We now
thank you amidst our conviviality-it is the tribute of
our hearts. The third time, I hope, sir, we shall thank
you in a manner more adequate to your high deserts.'
This announcement was received with unbounded ap-
plause. At a subsequent period of the evening the
chairman proposed the health of Mr. Thomas Creevey, and
recommended him as joint candidate with Mr. Brougham,
for his parliamentary experience, his liberal principles,
and his commercial knowledge, especially in relation to
the East India trade, which would have shortly to come
under review.
Creevey.
Mr. Creevey was a native of Liverpool, the son of an
old sea captain and merchant. He had already sat in
Parliament for four years as member for Thetford, to
which borough he was again elected during the elections.
then pending.
Lord Brougham, in his allusion to this election,¹ con-
demns the conduct of the Whigs on this occasion. He
says: No one at all acquainted with Liverpool politics,
and whose judgment was left calm and unbiassed by
passing events, especially the late victory against the
orders in council, had any very sanguine expectation that
¹ Collected Works, vol. x. p. 67.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
343
IV.
1812.
the Whig interest could defeat entirely all the Tory CHAP.
power, the corporation interest, and the Government
influence; and the total defeat of the opposition party
seemed inevitable, unless one of their candidates should
be withdrawn.'
dinner.
A public dinner took place at the Liverpool Arms on Public
September 25, the mayor (Mr. John Bourne) in the chair,
to celebrate the victories of Wellington in the peninsula,
particularly that of Salamanca. On the same day a meet-
ing was held at the Golden Lion, Mr. (afterwards Sir
John) Gladstone in the chair, for the purpose of inviting
Mr. Canning to come forward as a candidate. Resolu- Canning.
tions were passed, and a requisition soon afterwards pre-
sented, entreating him to offer himself, and pledging
themselves to his support. Owing to his absence in
Devonshire, Mr. Canning did not receive this requisition
in time to reply before the dissolution; but on October 4
he wrote, accepting the invitation. Mr. Brougham re-
sponded on September 28, and Mr. Creevey on October 1.
In the meantime the old members, though left without
invitations, were not disposed quietly to retire. General
Tarleton issued an address, dated September 24, in which Tarleton.
he again offers his services, and says, 'if any part of my
conduct requires explanation from any individual (sic), I
shall attend with cheerfulness to such a command, and
prove myself most willing to enter into a general detail
of the Parliamentary proceedings of the last five
your bar-the tribunal of election.'
6
years at
General Gascoyne says: Not feeling in the smallest Gascoyne.
degree conscious of having done anything to forfeit my
claims to your support, I beg leave most respectfully
again to solicit your votes and interests,' &c.
It must be observed, that whilst the Whig party com-
bined their forces in support of Brougham and Creevey,
the partisans of Canning and Gascoyne at first stood
aloof from each other. Gascoyne's old friends rallied
round him and received the support of the mayor and
344
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1812.
Canning.
CHAP. corporation; but the supporters of Mr. Canning occupied
an entirely independent position. Messrs. Gladstone,
Bolton, Litt, Ewart, Barton, Rodie, and others, were not
in connection with the corporation, and had not been
supporters of General Gascoyne. Several of them had
voted for Mr. Roscoe in the election of 1806. The way
was therefore open for a compromise, for which Mr. Can-
ning's friends were quite prepared. Such an opportunity
had never occurred before. Since 1588, when Francis
Bacon, Esq., was returned, no first-class man had ever
Brougham represented Liverpool. Now, two of the foremost men
and of the age were contending for the honour. For bril-
liancy of parts, for matchless eloquence, for general
ability, and for parliamentary power, it would be difficult
to award the palm. Brougham wielded the tomahawk,
and bore down his opponents by a whirlwind of invec-
tive. Canning's weapon was the polished rapier, which
pierced his antagonist to the quick, whilst exciting the
laughter of the spectators. Although Brougham's life
was prolonged for forty years after that of his antagonist,
yet for at least fifteen years they confronted each other
on the benches of the House of Commons, where many a
gallant fight was maintained with varying success, until
that memorable evening when Canning, stung to the
quick by the scathing taunts of his rival, rose in his place
and gave the lie direct to his accuser. They lived to
respect and understand each other better, and at the time
of his decease Canning had no more sincere supporter
than his quondam rival, Brougham.
Election
dinner.
The campaign now opened in good earnest.
On Sep-
tember 29, what was called an election dinner was held
in a field in Great George Street, on the site of the pre-
sent St. James's Market. Although not so announced, it
was really a demonstration in favour of Brougham and
Creevey. The field was planked over and covered with
awnings. Mr. Thomas Green, auctioneer, occupied the
chair. About a thousand persons sat down, principally
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
345
freemen. The bill of fare was as follows:-Two whole
sheep, 50 rounds of beef, 1 baron of beef, 30 legs of
mutton, 1,500 loaves of bread, 2 cartloads of potatoes,
23 barrels of ale and porter.
Mr. Green, the chairman, was elevated several feet
above the company, and the toasts were given out through
a speaking-trumpet. A number were proposed, the toast
of the evening being, Our friends, Brougham and
Creevey, and a free trade to America and the East Indies.'
6
The company afterwards adjourned to St. James's
Mount, with colours flying and a band of music. On
this occasion the following song was brought out. There
is not much merit in it as a poetical composition, but
being set to the popular air of 'Gee O Dobbin,' it became
a great favourite, and might have been heard long after
the election trolled out by the boys in the streets :
CREEVEY AND BROUGHAM.
Huzza! my brave boys, what a sight is here seen,
We've taken the field under General Green;
We've plenty of cheer, boys, and good elbow-room,
And want nothing more except-Creevey and Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys;
Give a strong pull, boys;
A pull altogether, for Creevey and Brougham.
If Roscoe would stand, who's the man of our soul,
He'd soon my lads, be at the head of the poll;
But the cares of the state he declines to resume,
Though he points out successors in Creevey and Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
If you wish that old England should weather the storm,
You must vote for the champions of peace and reform;
Not for men who the loaves and the fishes consume,
But patriots, like Creevey, our townsman, and Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
George Canning's a man of some talents 'tis true,
But his mother and sisters are pensioned by you;
And freemen of spirit will choose, I presume,
Men free and unpensioned, like Creevey and Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Election
dinner.
Election
song.
346
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
The friends of the Generals begin to placard,
1812.
Election
song.
Brougham,
1;
But mind your eyes, lads, and we'll run them both hard
They'd better not too much importance assume,
For instead of these broomsticks, we'll send up our Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
'Tis said, but 'tis sure a most libellous tale,
That you'll vote for the man who will give the most ale.
But men, who themselves on their liberty plume,
Should choose freedom's champions, Creevey and Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
The ladies we know too will give us their aid,
Nor be dazzled again with the Gen'ral's cockade,
For Creevey's pink favours will add to their bloom,
And the maidens all know how to value a broom.
Then give a long pull, boys, &c.
So now I'll conclude with proposing a toast,
Here's Creevey, of freedom and commerce the boast;
Success to the plough, to the sail, and the loom,
And long life, my brave boys, to their champion our Brougham.
Then give a long pull, boys,
Give a strong pull, boys,
A pull altogether, for Creevey and Brougham.
The election was fixed for Thursday, October 8. On
his entry. Monday, 5th, Mr. Brougham made his public entry. His
friends assembled at the old Botanic Graden, top of
Mount Pleasant. He was seated in an open carriage
drawn by four horses, with Colonel Williams by his side.
In the same vehicle were the Earl of Sefton and Messrs.
Rawson, Heywood, and Roscoe. The crowd wished to
detach the horses from the carriage and draw it into the
town, but Mr. Brougham urged that such a testimony of
their regard was a degradation to which freemen ought
never to submit. There was the ususal display of pink
and white favours, flags, and music. The procession
halted at Roscoe's Bank in Castle Street, from the
windows of which the crowd was addressed by Mr.
Brougham, Lord Sefton, Mr. Roscoe, and Mr. Casey, an
Irish gentleman at that time resident in the town, who
was endowed with the gift of eloquence which so often
distinguishes his countrymen.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
347
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
On Wednesday, October 7, Mr. Canning's acceptance
was received, and he was expected to arrive on the same
afternoon; a large body of his friends assembled at Low-
hill to bid him welcome and escort him into the town. Canning's
reception.
Unfortunately, in the then state of travelling, he found it
impossible to arrive until the following morning. Mr.
Litt, who had brought with him Mr. Canning's address,
took his place in the open carriage, and the procession
paraded the principal streets, finally halting in Castle
Street. Here Mr. Litt addressed the assembled mul-
titude, and was followed by Mr. Gladstone, who took a
review of the commercial state of the country, and de-
scribed in glowing and lively colours Mr. Canning's
public and private character.
Now began the shower of squibs, pasquinades, satires, Squibs.
and libels. On no occasion was there a greater pro-
fusion, many of them pungent, sparkling, and of con-
siderable merit in a literary point of view. Some are unfit
for publication; but independent of these it is difficult to
select out of the numerous specimens those which would
give an adequate idea of the whole. Two gentlemen
especially distinguished themselves in this department
(of course anonymously), Mr. Silvester Richmond on the
side of the Tories, and Parson' Shepherd, as he was
usually called, of Gateacre, on the side of the Whigs. It
is hard to say which takes the lead, but I will give a
specimen or two of each that my readers may judge.
C
Mr. Canning's non-apppearance to meet his followers
naturally gave rise to some sarcasms. The following
notice was issued:
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Missing this morning, the Right Honourable George Can-
ning, supposed to be lost somewhere on the Prescot Road.
Searchers¹are out in every direction—each expecting a pen-
sion, if they discover the place where he is now to be found.
God help the Corporation! Save the nation.
1 An allusion to Mr. Silvester Richmond, searcher in the Customs.
Election
squibs.
348
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
СНАР.
IV.
1812.
Election
squibs.
The next day came out the following jeu d'esprit,
evidently from the pen of Mr. Shepherd. The allusions
will explain themselves: 1
THE SPEECH
Delivered by Sir Pertinax McSycophant from a coach box.
Good folks! you have heard from the great Mr. Litt
(As renown'd for his virtue, as famed for his wit),
Why to-day the great Canning has not shown his face,
And I'a mere shadow' stand up in his place.
They found, as post-haste, they were coming to town,
All the horses knocked up and the chaises broke down;
But he, somehow or other, to tell us forgot,
How he could find horses, when Canning could not.
You all must remember, that Brougham t'other day,
Came to town in a noble lord's carriage so gay;
But pray can you tell me, what was there so grand in
An Earl and a merchant of forty years standing?
Two bankers, two magistrates-mere mushroom fellows;
Let them look at our coachful, I'm sure they'll be jealous;
Here's Ewart, and Rodie, and I, for your sake,
Have deserted our country, the land of oat-cake;
Here's Hollinshead too, who's so loyal a soul,
When we light up a bonfire, he'll give us the coal;
And Barton, the gallant Lothario, we've him in,
You canvass the men-he'll canvass the women.
And for a man witty, and generous and free,
John Bolton will suit you, I'm sure, to a T.
In short, of the good loyal town, be it known,
You see now before you the very BACKBONE;
Nay more (for I will not my simile narrow),
My friends are the bone, I myself am the marrow.
Now Gemmen, if you will your gravity keep
(But first you must put down that impudent sweep,2
Who seems to regard himself quite on a level,
As if I was the Punch, and he was the Devil),
You shall hear me my fine new morality teach,
For I've got it by heart, in a cut and dry speech.
In the original the names are partially concealed by dashes, which I
have filled in.
2 The incident occurred as here related.
349
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The Roscoeites tell you that peace is a blessing,
And going all day without food is distressing;
I thought so myself, when their party I joined,
But turning my coat has quite alter'd my mind.
And I'm confident now (since I purchased some slaves}
That we all ought to sing 'Rule Britannia the waves.'
Although we have lost a fine trade that 'we was in,'
It is but a trifle-(I've hit it in rosin.)
To give up our maritime rights I'm not willing
(While ashes are only worth fifty-two shilling).
To try to make peace they'd be cowardly toads
(Till I can make fifty per cent. by my 'boweds '),¹
And you all must resolve to die in the last ditch
(For I've got a good stock of tobacco and pitch).
You remember that I, with your worshipful mayor,
And some other wise men, did to London repair,-
You know my friend Bourne; 2 it had near been his ruin,
Alas! he was christened by old parson Lewin,³
But he got again dipt by a son of the church,
Or the town for a mayor had been left in the lurch,
So we told my lord Sidmouth, the scheme we were planning,
If you want a sly fellow,' says he, 'go to Canning.'
'O bless you, my Lord! we know him very well.'
Now ain't this a wonderful story to tell?
'Tis whisper'd, that I and my friends are not loath
To trade with our conscience, and take a false oath;
But don't you believe it;—you know it's all right
To tell a few lies, and to say black is white,
When our business requires it,—we did that, 'tis true,
But then, my good fellows, 'twas wholly for you ;
We shipp'd to the Baltic our coffee and wood,
And got hemp and tallow, 'twas all for your good;
You cannot imagine that I and my friends
Would have run all these risks for our own private ends;
Then thus while we're striving the whole world to gain,
If we lose our own souls, surely you can't complain.
In vain have I tried your attention to rivet,
I see you're quite tired-but I hope you'll forgive it;
Last time you remember, we kick'd up a row,
But I think it's not prudent to try the thing now,
1 Bowed Georgia cotton.
2 Mr. Bourne was the mayor and returning officer.
3 Mr. Lewin was the minister of the Unitarian chapel, Benn's Garden.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Election
squibs.
350
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Election
squibs.
For you see there's a grin upon every one's face,
And our party themselves can't endure the disgrace
That Canning's not here, and that I'm in his place.
So steal away quietly, banish all sorrow,
For I doubt not that George will find horses to-morrow.
The other side were not wanting in smart rejoinders.
I quote the following as a companion picture, describing
the entry of Mr. Brougham. It is most probaby the
production of Mr. Silvester Richmond:
A SONG,
Astonish'd was the town,
That a hero of renown,
To end our woes would come,
Ushered in by fife and drum;
Respected was his name,
Of democratic fame,
The only man that ever was perfection, O.
Mr. Brougham-he'll do 'em,
Which is he?-can't you see?
Twig his nose-I suppose,
He's in a fit says a wit,
Hey down, oh down, derry, derry down,
Oh the humours of a Liverpool election O.
Then in Castle Street we squeeze,
Curiosity to please,
And to hear from Roscoe's bank,
This orator so lank ;.
With that ourang outang Sefton,
Whom the ladies took for Strephon,
Or Adonis, for in figure he's perfection O.
How he snorts-face distorts,
Every action—ruled by faction,
Voice of strength--chin in length,
Half a yard-very hard,
On his barber-beard to harbour.
Hey down, oh down, &c.
1
Noisy Paddy ¹ bawl'd aloud,
From revolution's cloud;
While harmless poor old Heywood,
Thought he'd be good if they would,
1 Mr. Casey.
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
351
Though a smile and glance so sly,
From his heavy half-closed eye,
Spoke his pleasure at this rendezvous of faction, O.
Brougham twitching-so bewitching,
Canning's pension—he must mention;
Roasts with wit-your townman Litt,
Forgets the hunch ¹-on noble Punch.
Hey down, oh down, &c.
1
Then to raise a party quarrel,
They exalt an old flour barrel,
Wooden, empty, as 'tis said,
A type of Brougham's head;
And their type they've placed so droll,
At the summit of a pole,
Borne by Ryley, who's a type too of starvation, O.
Poor old fellow-going to Hell O,
Beef and gravy—cannot save ye,
Brougham and Creevey-both deceive ye;
Freemen spurn 'em!-ne'er return 'em.
Hey down, oh down, &c.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Election
squibs.
The election commenced on October 8. Mr. Canning Nomina-
was proposed by Colonel John Bolton, seconded by Mr. tion.
Henry Blundell Hollinshead. General Gascoyne was
proposed by Mr. John Bridge Aspinall, seconded by
Mr. Thomas Parr. Mr. Brougham was proposed by Mr.
Nicholas Ashton of Woolton Hall, seconded by Mr.
Arthur Heywood, banker. Mr. Creevey was proposed
by Mr. Thomas Earle, seconded by Colonel Williams.
General Tarleton was proposed by the Rev. J. E. Tar-
leton, seconded by Mr. William Corrie.
A severe struggle then commenced, maintained with
equal vigour on both sides. Down to the sixth day
Mr. Brougham kept a majority over General Gascoyne,
the numbers being: Brougham, 1,030; Gascoyne, 1,003;
Mr. Canning's majority over Brougham being only 46.
Under these circumstances, the issue being so doubtful,
the way seemed open for a compromise. Lord Brougham's
account is as follows: After the election had gone on Election.
6
¹ Referring to a deformity of Lord Sefton.
352
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Rejection
of com-
promise.
Tarleton.
for some days, the Tories, who supported Mr. Canning,
made a direct proposition for a junction with Mr.
Brougham's party, on the footing of the former giving
up General Gascoyne, and the latter withdrawing Mr.
Creevey. But this proposal was rejected, neither Mr.
Brougham nor Mr. Creevey giving any opinion on the
subject, nor expressing any wish. The proposition was
rejected and the election was lost; General Gascoyne
being then supported by Mr. Canning's friends, and re-
turned along with him.'¹
The rejection of the compromise was attributed to the
influence of Mr. Roscoe, who was under the persuasion
that the Whigs could carry both their candidates. The
fate of poor General Tarleton was rather melancholy.
After having been the popular idol in the election of
1790; having represented the town consecutively, with
the exception of a very short interval, for twenty-two
years; and having headed the poll by a considerable
majority at the last election, he had so fallen off in public
estimation that it was with difficulty he found a person
to nominate him, and he only polled eleven votes. His
undecided vacillating conduct partially led to this result.
He further seems hardly to have kept himself au courant
with his constituents.
When the distress in the country was discussed in
Parliament in 1808, and illustrated by the sad condition.
of the working classes in Liverpool, the General was
reported to have denied the fact, and stated that there
was not a single carpenter out of employment, and that
three shillings a day was enough for a Liverpool car-
penter. When afterwards taxed with this, he threw the
responsibility of the statement on Colonel Bolton. The
real cause of the desertion of the General probably was
the feeling amongst the party of the necessity for obtain-
ing the services of some gentleman of higher parlia-
mentary qualifications. After two days' poll, during which
1 Collected Works, vol. x. p. 66.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
353
CHAP.
IV.
he only received five votes, General Tarleton withdrew
by an address in which he says: 'My political opinions
are not the cause of the cold neglect and unjust hostility 1812.
which I have experienced. The nucleus of the transfer Election.
of votes and interests to another respectable individual, is
derived from the profusion of some rich men, in carrying
into effect a requisition sent to me more than five years
ago. I have in my possession that document, as well as
clear evidence of the dissension arising amongst them
from that expenditure.'
As far as can be gathered from the hazy language of
this address, it would appear that he ascribes his desertion
to some quarrel about the payment of election expenses.
That there were many publicans' accounts for the previous
election remaining unpaid, is evident from a handbill
circulated at the commencement of the election.
General Tarleton retired from public life, and died in
a good old age; but had no further connection with
Liverpool.
It is time that some notice should be taken of the
speeches of the two principal candidates. Mr. Canning's Speeches.
speeches have been collected and published in a separate
volume. Lord Brougham has included in his collected
works only one speech delivered at the Liverpool elec-
tion, that at the close of the sixth day's poll; the others
are to be found in the newspapers of the day. Each
champion put forth all his strength, and neither of them
ever appeared to greater advantage. I will give a short
extract from each, the most characteristic I can find of
their respective styles.
up
In the published speech of Mr. Brougham, he draws a Brougham.
dreary picture of the results of the war, and after ·
piling
the agony' to make his hearers shudder, he continues :
I trust myself once more into your faithful hands. I
fling myself again on you for protection. I call aloud to
you to bear your own cause in your hearts. I implore of
you to come forth in your own defence-for the sake of
VOL. I.
A A
354
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Brough-
am's
speeches.
this vast town and its people-for the salvation of the
middle and lower orders-for the whole industrious part
of the whole country. I entreat you by your love of
peace by your hatred of oppression-by your weariness
of burthensome and useless taxation-by yet another
appeal to which those must lend an ear who have been
deaf to all the rest: I ask it for your families—for your
infants-if you would avoid such a winter of horrors as
the last.'
'
After referring to his own efforts in the suppression
of the slave trade, and the abolition of the orders in
council, he winds up with this magnificent peroration:
Gentlemen, I stand up in this contest against the
friends and followers of Mr. Pitt, or, as they partially
designate him, the immortal statesman now no more. Im-
mortal in the miseries of his devoted country! Immortal
in the wounds of her bleeding liberties! Immortal in
the cruel wars which sprang from his cold miscalculating
ambition Immortal in the intolerable taxes, the count-
less loads of debt which these wars have flung upon us
which the youngest man amongst us will not live to see
the end of! Immortal in the triumph of our enemies
and the ruin of our allies, the costly purchase of so much
blood and treasure! Immortal in the afflictions of Eng-
land, and the humiliation of her friends, through the
whole results of his twenty years' reign, from the first rays
of favour with which a delighted court gilded his early
apostacy, to the deadly glare which is at this instant cast
upon his name by the burning metropolis of our last
ally! But may no such immortality ever fall to my lot;
let me rather live innocent and inglorious; and when
at last I cease to serve you, and to feel for your wrongs,
may I have an humble monument in some nameless
stone, to tell that beneath it there rests from his labours
in your service an adversary of the immortal statesman
-a friend of peace and of the people. Friends! you
1
1 The news of the burning of Moscow had arrived by that day's post.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
355
ami's
IV.
must now judge for yourselves, and act accordingly. CHAP.
Against us, and against you stand those who call them-
selves the successors of that man. They are the heirs 1812.
of his policy; and if not of his immortality too, it is only Brough-
because their talents for the work of destruction are less speeches.
transcendant than his. They are his surviving colleagues.
His fury survives in them, if not his fire; and they par-
take of all his infatuated principles if they have lost the
genius that first made those principles triumphant. If
you choose them for your delegates, you know to what
policy you lend your sanction-what men you exalt to
power. Should you prefer me, your choice falls upon
one, who, if obscure and unambitious, will at least give
his own age no reason to fear him, or posterity to curse
him-one whose proudest ambition it is to be deemed
the friend of Liberty and Peace.'
We now turn to Mr. Canning, and furnish a specimen Canning's
or two of his bright, keen, and cutting eloquence. In speeches.
his speech at the close of the fifth day's poll, he thus
speaks of Parliamentary Reform: In some of the
societies which I have visited, a question has been put
to me whether I was prepared to support the question
of Parliamentary Reform. I have heard that question
in societies which I suppose my antagonists had pre-
viously visited, and to which they had held forth on the
blessings to be derived from a new modelling of Par-
liament, and on the inadequacy and defects of the present
representation of the people. Upon a point of this im-
portance I will not equivocate. I freely own my mind is
made up on the question. Gentlemen, I will not support
that question of Parliamentary Reform. I will not sup-
port it, because I am persuaded that those who are most
loud, and apparently most solicitous in recommending
it, do mean, and have for years past meant, far other
things than those simple words seem to intend; because
I am persuaded that that question cannot be stirred
without stirring others which would shake the consti-
A A 2
356
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
Canning's
tution to its very foundation; and because I am satisfied
that the House of Commons as at present constituted
1812. is adequate to all the functions which it is wisely and
speeches. legitimately ordained to execute; that showy theories
and fanciful schemes of arithmetical or geographical pro-
portion would fail to produce any amelioration of the
present frame of the House of Commons. I deny the
grievance; I doubt the remedy. And when it is as-
serted to me again, as I have often heard it asserted
heretofore, that under the present corrupt system there
is no true popular delegation, no uninfluenced or disin-
terested choice of representatives by the people, my
mind will recur at once to the scene which is now before
me, and will repose with perfect contentment upon the
practical contradiction which Liverpool affords to asser-
tions so disparaging to the people.'
The following affords a specimen, by no means the
best, of his power of irony and banter. It is from the
speech at the close of the sixth day's poll.
6
Gentlemen, I will advert to one topic which my
opponents have studiously endeavoured to impress upon
your minds by the circulation of handbills and by emble-
matical devices-a topic as unfounded in fact as it is
mischievous in tendency. They have exhibited a large
loaf as the loaf of peace, and a small one as the loaf of
war; intending by these emblems to show a necessary
connection between war and scarcity; and they have
held out to you the return of Messrs. Brougham and
Creevey to Parliament as the certain safeguard for the
plentiful subsistence of the people.
(
If, Gentlemen, the imaginers of these devices can
prove to you that their favourite candidates have power
to direct the course of the seasons, and thereby to render
more abundant the means of subsistence for the great
body of the people, I should exhort you to pass me by,
and return men who are possessed of so wonderful and
supernatural a secret.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
357
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
speeches.
'But, Gentlemen, my habits of discussion have taught
me to look for some connection between effect and cause,
and never to acquiesce in the conclusion until I have
attempted to trace it to its premises. After the most Canning's
serious investigation, I confess I am at a loss to discover
the natural and necessary connection between the boun-
tiful blessings of Providence, and the return of Messrs.
Brougham and Creevey. Many of you have read a tale
which is in the hands of most of your children, I mean
Dr. Johnson's "Rasselas," in which there is an account
of a philosopher who fancied himself to have a control
over the sunshine and the showers, and who busied him-
self in distributing the proper proportions of these favours
as he thought fit to the different countries of the earth.
Whether my competitors have a power like this I have
not been able to ascertain. I do not mean to impute
to my competitors that they arrogate it to themselves;
they are too manly and upright to attempt the practice
of so gross a delusion. But their panegyrists, who couple
plenty with their name and scarcity with mine, are as
absurd as the philosopher in "Rasselas ;" and they have
not the excuse which he had for his folly, for, gentlemen,
the philosopher was mad, but these reasoners can only
be mischievous . . .
6
But, Gentlemen, the same sun which gilded the
triumphal entry of Lord Wellington into Madrid, and
turned pale at the conflagration of Moscow, has ripened
during the present year, both in the north and in the
south, the most luxuriant harvest that ever blessed man-
kind. Before the war-loaf is paraded again, let the phi-
losophers who support my antagonists bring me the
solution of this phenomenon.'
After the rejection of the compromise, and the coalition
of the partisans of Canning and Gascoyne, the Whig
cause soon became hopeless. The Io Pæan' of triumph
was thus jauntily chanted by the poet laureate of the
Tories:
P
358
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Tory song.
A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE.
(Brougham Loquitur.)
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
'Tis most likely before next Saturday,
I'm moved from the head to the tail.
They sent me a promise, O Lord how they flatter'd me,
And now read the squibs, see how they've bespatter'd me,
'Tis my own turn to cry, O what can the matter be?
For all our resources now fail.
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Instead of being chair'd we take coach on Saturday,
Creevey and I, by the Mail.
How strangely the people do muster for loyalty,
And follow George Canning as if he were royalty,
I'll leave them, but then the loss doubtless will my all be.
Oh why did my Lord thus turn tail?
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
View my poor captains, oh how they scatter'd be !
Say, why has success not prevail'd ?
They said they would back me with all the nobility,
Promised they'd show me the greatest civility,
Now left me to brood o'er my own poor scurrility—
The fond hopes of my heart now have failed.
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
I'll take care again, howe'er they may flatter me,
Upon me again they'd turn tail.
What, though the rabble for peace shouted lustily,
All my poor tricks have turn'd out but fustily,
I, the war-loaf must chew, though it smells mustily-
Some one the Peace-loaf did steal.
Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
At twelve o'clock on the next Saturday,
Green invites all to a sale;
A large two arm'd chair, of a town-leaving gentleman,
To pay for its making, dear friends come if you can,
Or sure the Upholsterer will now be a ruined man,
As sure as this ends our sad tale.
1
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
359
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
The poll closed on Friday, October 16, being the
eighth day of the election. The numbers stood thus:
Canning, 1,631; Gascoyne, 1,532; Brougham, 1,131;
Creevey, 1,068; Tarlton, 11. The number of freemen Pull.
who voted, 2,726.
am's
A little time before the final close, the two unsuccessful
candidates left the hustings, and took leave of their rivals
with mutual expressions of personal regard. They were Brough-
conveyed in the carriage of Lord Sefton to Clayton farewell,
Square, where Mr. Brougham wound up by a magnificent
oration. The peroration consisted of a eulogium on Mr.
Fox, as a counterpart to his previous denunciation of Mr.
Pitt. As the speech is not published in Lord Brougham's
works, I subjoin a small portion of the closing part. He
says: I yesterday took the liberty of professing myself as
one of the adversaries, certainly in a very humble sphere,
of Mr. Pitt's measures. I would not, however, have you
to think, gentlemen, that my political creed is made up
of opposition and denial-that I feel nothing but antipa-
thies, or acknowledge no leader to follow and venerate.
I avow myself among the most zealous followers of a
man who has now, as well as his celebrated antagonist,
unhappily for England, mingled his dust with the sacred
ashes of the fathers of her liberty. When I express, or
attempt to express, my profound and unalterable venera-
tion for his memory, it is not surely in the vain hope of
expressing my love for him; but that I may pass the last
moments I have to be amongst you in performing the
duty, most sad indeed, but most pleasing to our feelings.
I have not named him-is it necessary I should? I am
speaking to you, friends of liberty, advocates of peace, of
one who was your undaunted leader in every struggle for
the constitution; in all the efforts which you have seen
made for the repose and happiness of mankind! Of him,
in whom the mightiest powers of eloquence were far less
wonderful than the prodigious virtue which unceasingly
pointed them against all the enemies of human happiness,
360
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Brough-
am's
farewell.
and against every thing that ordinary mortals might call
his own interest or ease; who knew of no interest but
yours, nor could taste of any ease, while despotism, and
intolerance, and war, were ravaging the earth; who,
blending in his genius the severer qualities of profound
intellect, free, enlarged, and original conception, with the
most attractive graces that can adorn the mind; temper-
ing the sublime features of his talents with the softness of
the most amiable virtues, and exposing whatever human
failings he had with the honest simplicity that pervaded
each part of his frame-presented to his attached followers
a character, if possible, more to be loved than venerated;
and taught all that approached him, at however humble
a distance, to cultivate him rather with the homage of
their affection than their fears. It was he who, for your
sake, and for the sake of the great cause of civil and reli-
gious freedom, vowed eternal war with your oppressors,
and united to himself those faithful friends of their coun-
try, whose exalted rank, I sincerely believe, they under-
value, compared with the place they possess in your
service; whose vast possessions they account as less pre-
cious than the treasure of the people's love; among
whose titles and honours they regard that illustrious
descent as the chief, which they derive from the noble
martyrs of English liberty! He was their leader and
yours-alas! I need not name him, for with whom can
you possibly confound him? Yet it may be grateful to
our ears to hear that name, which is all that remains of
him. I am then a follower of Charles Fox (immense
cheering). By his principles it is my delight to regulate
my conduct; and judging by what he did and said, of
what he would have done had he been preserved to our
days, I feel well assured that he would now have followed
a course if possible still more popular, because he would
have seen, more and more clearly, the vital importance
to the country of a strict union between the people and
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
361
their leaders against the growing corruptions and aug- CHAP.
mented influence of the court.'
In comparing the two perorations, I think it will be
admitted that the great orator is far more terse and
powerful in invective than in panegyric.
IV.
1812.
The Whigs wound up their proceedings by a ball at Ball.
Lillyman's Hotel on November 16. About 500 guests
were present, amongst whom were the Earl and Countess
of Sefton. Mr. Brougham and Mr. Creevey were each
presented with a gold watch, value 50 guineas.
On Saturday, October 16, the two successful candi- Chairing,
dates were chaired and carried in procession through the
principal streets, with great enthusiasm and display of red
and blue favours. The procession finally halted at the
house of Mr. John Gladstone, in Rodney Street, from the
balcony of which Mr. Canning addressed the assembled
spectators. William Ewart Gladstone, the future Pre-
mier, was born in this house, and was at this time a child
of about three years old. One wonders whether any
recollection of the exciting scene, 'the thunder of the
captains and the shouting,' and the silvery eloquence of
the great Tory champion, of which he was to hear more
in after years, made any permanent impressions on his
mind, and had any influence on his future career. Very
slight incidents in early life often give an impulse which
is never forgotten. As the Spaniards say, 'Quien sabe?'
In the course of his speech Mr. Canning said: 'Gentle- Canning's
men,-It has been attempted to deter you from the speech.
choice which you have done me the honour to make, by
saying that I had been in office, and am likely to be in
office again. I have been in office. How soon, if ever, I
may be in office again, I neither know, nor do I care, for
any other reason than as it might afford me greater op-
portunities of promoting the interests of the country, of
which your interests constitute so essential a part.
But, gentlemen, what is meant by this imputation?
Are the gentlemen who urge it so little read in the prin-
362
IV.
1812.
speech.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. ciples, the democratic principles of the British constitu-
tion, as not to know that it is one of the peculiar boasts
of this country, one of the prime fruits of its free consti-
Canning's tution, and one main security for its continuing free, that
men as humble as myself, with no pretensions of wealth,
or title, or high family, or wide-spreading connections,
may yet find their way into the cabinet of their Sove-
reign through the fair road of public service, and stand
there upon a footing of equality with the proudest aris-
tocracy of the land?
Is it from courtiers of the people, from admirers of
republican virtue and republican energy, that we hear
doctrines which would tend to exclude from the manage-
ment of public affairs all who are not illustrious by birth,
or powerful from hereditary opulence? Why, gentlemen,
in this limited monarchy there are undoubtedly contests
for office, contests which agitate the elements of the con-
stitution, which keep them alive and active, but without
endangering the constitution itself. A republic is but
one continual struggle for office in every department of
the State.
'Gentlemen, if I have held office, I hope I have held
it honourably; I will never hold it again but on the same
terms. Gentlemen, it is not my fault that I must state
facts in my own defence which might appear to be stated
ostentatiously, but I mean them simply as defensive. It
is entirely my own fault, gentlemen, that I am not now
addressing you with the seals of the Secretary of State in
my pocket. Twice in the course of six months have the
seals of the office of Secretary of State been tendered to
my acceptance, and twice have I declined them. Is this
like hankering after office?
I declined office, gen-
tlemen, because it was tendered to me on terms not con-
sistent, as I thought, and as my immediate friends agreed
in thinking, with my personal honour; because if accepted
on such terms it would not have enabled me to serve the
public with efficiency.'
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
363
On Monday, October 26, Mr. Canning's return was
celebrated by a public dinner at the Liverpool Arms, at
which about four hundred sat down. The chair was
taken by Mr. John Gladstone. On the 29th he left
Liverpool for Manchester, and was there entertained at a
public dinner in the Exchange.
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
Public
dinner.
So ended this famous election, one of the most re-
markable ever held out of the metropolis. Before finally
quitting the scene, I cannot refrain from inserting a song Whig song.
written at the time, which bears unmistakeable evidence
of the pen of Mr. Roscoe. There is very little political
or electioneering about it, except near the close:
A SONG.
(
Tune To Anacreon in Heaven.'
When commerce first spread the broad sails to the wind,
And her bark the proud billows submissively bore,
And the ocean became the wide path of mankind,
And the waters divided the nations no more;
Round the rocks of the main
Was re-echoed this strain,-—
Now shall man's scatter'd race be connected again ;
And the vessels of commerce extend the great plan,
Of Harmony, Peace, and the Freedom of Man.
The fruits of each climate shall commerce exchange,
And make equal the blessings of God upon earth,
Over each distant realm she delighted shall range,
And rough Labour enrich'd shall sing carols of mirth;
Pleasure tread the gay green,
Beauty too, pleasure's queen,
And the cottage of industry gladden the scene ;
And the arts shall with commerce extend the great plan,
Of Harmony, Peace, and the Freedom of Man.
Thus the nations with whom commerce chose to reside,
?
They were free, they were great, and with opulence blest;
But she lov'd Britain most,-'twas her home and her pride;
And the world soon revered her, 'fair isle of the west.'
For where'er the waves roll,
From the line to the pole,
To the vessels of Britain she gave the control ;
And she said, 'Be it yours to extend the great plan,
Of Harmony, Peace, and the Freedom of Man.'
364
CHAP.
IV.
1812.
A.D. 1813.
Brighter
prospects.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
Here the lab'rer, embolden'd with gains of his toil,
Felt the solace of blithe independence his own ;
For the rights of mankind are the growth of this soil,
They grew with our strength, and encircle our throne;
And these rights shall prevail,
Though corruption assail,
For the efforts of wretches 'gainst liberty fail;
And these rights are the ground-work of that mighty plan-
The Harmony, Peace, and the Freedom of Man.
The remainder is devoted to singing the praises of
Brougham and Creevey.
The new Parliament was opened on November 30 by
the Prince Regent in person, who then spoke for the first
time from the throne.
turn.
The year 1813 opened with much brighter prospects
for the country. We were still at war with America;
but on the continent of Europe the tide had begun to
Almost every post brought cheering news of the
reverses of the great Napoleon; the uprising of the Ger-
man race after long years of oppression, and the gradual
advance northward of the army of Wellington, signalised
by the victory of Vittoria and the capture of San Sebas-
tian. Liverpool, as she had been unswerving in her
loyalty in the darkest hour of depression, now took her
full share in the rejoicings over the tidings of success.
Subscriptions were enterd into for the relief of the Rus-
sian peasantry; and at the close of the year, when the
victory of the allies at Leipsic had secured the indepen-
dence of Germany, the inhabitants almost went beside.
themselves in the exuberance of their joy. The festivi-
ties continued for four days.
The bells rang out their merry peals, the flags and
streamers of all nations and all parties waved triumphantly
in the wind, the military assembled and fired feux de joie,
the men-of-war in the river gave a royal salute. On
Illumina- Tuesday, December 14, there was a general illumination,
and a brilliant display of fireworks on Everton Brow.
tion.
The householders vied with each other in the exhibition
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
365
CHAP.
IV.
1813.
of transparencies and devices in coloured lamps. It is
said that the glare of the light from the town was visible
as far as Chester. On Wednesday there was a ball at
the Town-hall, in which nearly a thousand ladies and Ball.
gentlemen participated. On Friday a public dinner took
place, attended by 400 guests; and again, on Saturday
night there was a further exhibition of fireworks on the
slope of Edgehill.
trade.
The industrial classes had good reason for rejoicing, Revival of
for now trade began to revive-slowly at first, but in an
ever-accelerating ratio, until it assumed the gigantic pro-
portions of later years. The dock returns for 1813 give
the number of ships for the year ending June 24, as
5,341; tonnage, 547,426; and dues, 50,1777. 13s. 2d. ;
being an increase over the previous year in ships, 742;
tonnage, 100,638; and in dues, 5,774l. 5s. 3d. Con-
sidering that it was only within a very few months that
any opening whatever existed for extension, this return
gives a very favourable impression of the irrepressible
energy of the trade of Liverpool.
Parlia-
ment.
The loyalty and faithfulness of the town to the Govern- Grant by
ment received some acknowledgment in a grant made by
Parliament in the session of 1813 of the sum of 60,000l.
'for the repair, improvement, and increase of the docks
at Liverpool.'
monument.
The monument erected to the memory of Nelson in Nelson's
the quadrangle of the Exchange was thrown open to
public view on October 21, 1813, the anniversary of the
battle of Trafalgar.
The annals of the town at this period are somewhat
barren of domestic incident. The depressing circum-
stances of the war had exhausted the excitement of its
earlier years, and improvement and progress were for a
time in a state of suspended animation, soon to burst forth
with renewed vigour.
A commercial town is not usually the most favourable
locality for art and science, though Italy presents some
366
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1813.
Royal
Institu-
tion.
CHAP. splendid examples to the contrary. Liverpool began to
feel its deficiency in this respect, but found considerable
difficulty as to the mode of supplying the want. Actuated
by motives of the most laudable description, some of the
leading inhabitants took steps to wipe away the reproach.
A meeting was held at the Liverpool Arms, Castle Street,
on March 31, 1813, Mr. B. A. Heywood in the chair,
when it was resolved to establish an institution' to pro-
mote the increase and diffusion of literature, science, and
the arts; to include a commodious building, a museum
of natural history, a chemical laboratory, lecture-rooms,
and courses of lectures by men eminent in science and
literature. To accomplish these objects 20,000l. was
raised in shares of 1007. and 507. each. Permission was
subsequently obtained to name it the Liverpool Royal
Institution. The scheme found favour for a time with
the upper classes in the town. A suitable building was
purchased in Colquitt Street, and considerable additions
were made to it. A splendid address was delivered by
Mr. Roscoe on the occasion of the opening, November 25,
1817. Several courses of lectures were announced by
literary and scientific men of the highest class. After a
time, however, the institution began to languish. It was
found that the successful cultivation of literature and
science requires internal vitality as well as external means
for its maintenance. The machine was provided, with all
necessary aids and appliances, but the steam to give
motive power was wanting. Expensive courses of lec-
tures delivered in the business hours of the day would
not draw. The exclusive management and privileges
inseparable from the joint stock principle on which the
institution was founded, deterred, if they did not alto-
gether exclude, the general public. In the course of a
few years the establishment sank into a torpid, semi-
fossilised condition, from which for any active purposes it
seems impossible to emerge. There are some points, it
must be admitted, in which this institution has rendered
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
367
IV.
1813.
› Institu
good service to the community, though rather by permis- CHAP.
sion and acquiescence than by self-action. A school of a
high-class character was early established, which has had
a succession of eminent teachers at its head, and which, Royal
notwithstanding the competition of more modern rivals, tion.
continues to maintain its position. An historical gallery
of art was also formed, principally from pictures obtained
by Mr. Roscoe, which contains a series illustrative of the
history and progress of Italian, and to some extent of
Teutonic art, of the rarest character. The building also
has become the centre and place of meeting of most of
the literary societies of the town. It cannot therefore be
said that the institution has existed in vain. If it is not,
like Falstaff, witty in itself, it is the cause that wit is in
other men.'
(
winter.
The winter of 1813-14 was unusually severe, the Severe
frost continuing for about six weeks. The London mail
was delayed four days on the road by the extraor-
dinary fall of snow. On the breaking up of the frost, the
large sheets of ice which were carried down from the
upper reaches of the river, caused considerable damage
and danger to the craft moored in the stream, and ren-
dered the passage across difficult and perilous.
of East
trade.
The year 1814 contributed further to the development A.D. 1814.
of Liverpool commerce. In the session of 1813 the East Opening
India Company's charter received important modifica- India
tions. The China trade was still reserved; but the trade
with India was thrown open to private enterprise. Liver-
pool has never been slow to avail herself of any new
commercial openings. On May 27, 1814, the ship
Kingsmill,' Captain Cassels, burthen 516 tons-consi-
dered in those days a large ship-sailed from the Mersey
with a full cargo to join the convoy at Spithead for
Madeira and Bengal. She belonged to Messrs. John Glad-
stone & Grant, and was the precursor of a trade which
has since grown up to colossal dimensions.
In May commerce with France was renewed, the treaty France.
368
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. having been signed on the 30th.
IV.
1814.
America.
Peace
rejoicings.
A.D. 1815.
Peace with
America.
Progress
of trade.
A few days previous
to this, two cargoes of corn brought in French vessels
from Havre had arrived in the Mersey.
In June negotiations for peace with America were
opened at Ghent, but some months elapsed before inter-
course was resumed.
The rejoicings at the return of peace were earnest and
sincere. The town was again illuminated, with a grand
display of fireworks at Everton. The course of events
after the peace was somewhat interrupted by the escape
of Bonaparte from Elba, and the subsequent reign of one
hundred days. The excitement on the reception of the
news of the battle of Waterloo was something quite
unprecedented. The nation and community were weary
of war, and the feeling that the caged lion could no
longer disturb the repose of the nations gave confidence
to commercial pursuits, and inspired hope for the future.
Just about this time a new bathing-place was being esta-
blished on the coast at Crosby, about five miles seaward
of Liverpool. In commemoration of the great victory, it
was determined to give the new settlement the name of
Waterloo.
In April 1815, all differences between the two nations.
having been settled, intercourse with the United States
was renewed, the first American ship, the 'Milo,' having
arrived in the Mersey on the first of the month. She
sailed up the river with the British flag flying at the
mainmasthead, the American ensign at the mizen, which
was dipped on passing H.M.S. Arago,' then lying in the
river. Her arrival was hailed with enthusiasm by a large
number of spectators who had collected on the piers.
Commerce was at length freed from the dangers, the
imposts, and responsibilities of war, though still subject
to many vexatious restrictions, which it required nearly
half a century entirely to eradicate. Improvement now
proceeded with accelerated progress. By June 1815,
Liverpool had recovered her lost ground, the ships and
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
369
IV.
tonnage very nearly equalling those of 1810, the highest CHAP
year hitherto recorded, whilst the dock-dues had in-
creased to 76,9157.
1815.
Steam
The year 1815 is memorable for the introduction of
steam navigation on the Mersey. It would be entirely navigation.
out of place here to attempt to give a history of the
various tentative steps by which the power of steam be-
came gradually applied to the purposes of navigation;
I will simply state the extent to which it had been ap-
plied elsewhere before it was introduced at Liverpool.
'
It is recorded that Fulton had established a steam-
boat on the Hudson river, between New York and
Albany, in the year 1807. A steamer of 140 feet keel was
built in 1811 for the navigation of the Ohio and Mississippi.
In Great Britain, the name of Henry Bell will ever be
honoured for his perseverance in the introduction of
steam on the river Clyde, which took place in August
1812. The boat called the Comet' was only 40 feet
in length, with 10 feet 6 inches beam. The state of
the river at that time required her to be built very flat,
drawing only about 3 feet of water. In 1813, a steamer
was placed on the river Yare, to ply between Norwich
and Yarmouth. In October 1814 steam navigation was
introduced on the Humber, the speed attained being, it
is said, fourteen miles an hour. In December 1814
old father Thames first witnessed the apparition of the
new invention; and in February 1815 a steamer began
to ply between London and Gravesend.
Liverpool had been more tardy than usual in the
adoption of a promising improvement. At length, in
May 1815, an announcement was made that a steamer
was about to be introduced on the Mersey, and in June
the vessel actually arrived from the Clyde. She was
intended to ply between Liverpool and Runcorn.
Probably one of the most eloquent tributes ever paid
to steam navigation was pronounced by Mr. Canning in the
course of a speech delivered in Liverpool in August 1822.
VOL. I.
B B
370
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1815.
Mr.
Canning
on steam
navigation.
Steam on
He says: What should we think of that philosopher,
who, in writing, at the present day, a treatise upon naval
architecture and theory of navigation, should omit wholly
from his calculation that new and mighty power—new,
at least, in the application of its might-which walks the
water like a giant rejoicing in his course-stemming
alike the tempest and the tide-accelerating intercourse,
shortening distances; creating as it were, unexpected
neighbourhoods, and new combinations of social and com-
mercial relation; and giving to the fickleness of winds,
and the faithlessness of waves the certainty and steadi-
ness of a highway upon the land? Such a writer, though
he might describe a ship correctly, though he might
show from what quarters the winds of heaven blow,
would be surely an incurious and an idle spectator of the
progress of nautical science, who did not see in the power
of steam a corrective of all former calculations.'
6
There is in the utterances of genius always something
of a prophetic character. The eulogy here pronounced,
if limited to the feeble and experimental efforts at that
time put forth, might seem inflated and exaggerated in
its tone; but when applied to the steam navigation of
the present day, to the gradual development of dimen-
sion, tonnage, and power, culminating in the leviathan of
the seas, the Great Eastern'; when we look at the lines
of magnificent steam-ships connecting Liverpool with
almost every great port in the world; when we see in
the latest returns the fact that in the year terminating
in June 1871, 7,425 steamers entered the Mersey, with a
burthen of 3,407,174 tons, being considerably more than
one half the whole trade of the port, and still increasing
in an accelerated ratio- Mr. Canning's eloquent apos-
trophe becomes serious, sober, earnest, falling short of
rather than surpassing the actual facts of the case.
Steam-boats were first used in the Mersey to ply to
the Mersey. the upper reaches of the river, Runcorn and Ellesmere
Port. It was not until two years after their introduc-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
371
tion that steam was adopted for the direct passage across
the estuary.
6
CHAP.
IV.
1815.
the army.
On July 11, 1815, a public meeting was held in the
town-hall under the presidency of the mayor, Mr. Thomas Thanks to
Leyland, for the purpose of affording to the town at
large an opportunity of testifying their admiration of the
conduct of the British army under the command of Field
Marshal the Duke of Wellington, in the splendid victory
of June 18, by instituting a subscription for the widows
and children of those who have fallen on that memorable
day, and in the battles immediately preceding it.' A
committee was formed of gentlemen of all political
opinions, and a subscription was entered into, which ulti- Subscrip-
mately produced 7,208., besides about 2,000l. more, army.
sent direct from the town and neighbourhood to London.
In September 1815, the good ship Kingsmill,' which First ship
had been despatched to India on the opening of the
trade in May 1814, entered the Mersey after a pros-
perous voyage of fifteen months, with a full and valuable
cargo; a large portion being wine from Madeira, the
remainder, sugar, cotton, ebony, indigo, and spices, with
a few shawls and muslins for the ladies.
>
tion for
from
India.
theatre.
On September 25, an unfortunate occurrence took
place at the Theatre Royal, during the performance of
Richard II. by Edmund Kean. The house was crowded
in every part. An Irishman recently arrived in Liver- Alarm at
pool went to the theatre in female attire. Being re-
cognised and requested to withdraw, a scuffle ensued, in
which he frequently vociferated the word 'Ireland!
This was mistaken inside the house for a cry of Fire!'
and a regular stampede ensued. The passage leading
from the gallery became choked with people frantically
struggling for exit, and in the mélée, a young woman
named Edge was thrown down and trampled to death.
Upon subsequent enquiries it turned out that the man
who was the cause of all the mischief was deranged.
6
After the conclusion of the war, several of the foreign
BB 2
372
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1815.
Austrian
archdukes.
Gas
lighting.
potentates who had visited London extended their travels
to the north-west of the kingdom. The Austrian Arch-
dukes, John and Louis, visited Liverpool on November
18, 1815, and remained until the 21st.
In the earlier part of 1816, another of the modern
appliances of civilisation-lighting with gas-was first
introduced into the town.
To whomsoever the discovery of the production of
carburetted hydrogen by distillation from coal is due, the
merit of first practically applying it belongs to Mr.
Murdoch of Redruth. In 1802 gas was employed for
lighting up Messrs. Boulton and Watt's extensive works
at the Soho Foundry, Birmingham. In 1804-5 Mr.
Murdoch constructed an apparatus on an extensive scale
for Messrs. Phillips's cotton mills at Manchester. Some
years elapsed before the invention was utilised for public
purposes. In 1813 Westminster Bridge was lighted
with gas, and in the following year it was applied to
light several of the streets in London.
In July 1815 an announcement was made that a com-
pany was in course of formation for the introduction of
gas into Liverpool. A prospectus was issued by Mr.
J. Hargraves for a company with a capital of 10,000l. in
shares of 50%. each. Some exception was taken to this,
both in regard to the smallness of the capital and the
desirability of the subject being taken up by the town's
authorities. The authorities however were supine, and
a company was formed, which has proved a most
In the
prosperous and eventually a gigantic concern.
'Mercury' of January 26, 1816, it is stated that two
large gas lamps, with three burners in each, have been
lighted with gas, and exhibited for the last few nights in
front of the town-hall. The light is so brilliant that a
person may with ease discover the hour by his watch at
the distance of twenty or thirty yards. We understand
that it is intended to light the dock lamps by this method,
and we trust it will soon become general.' On March 23
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
373
C
IV.
it is announced that the Liverpool Gaslight Company CHAP.
have so far arranged their plans that we shall have the
benefit of those brilliant lights in the ensuing autumn.'
1816.
The first stone of the Prince's Dock was laid in May
by Mr. (afterwards Sir George) Drinkwater. On Monday,
May 13, 1816, a public meeting was held in the town-
hall, when a congratulatory address was voted to the Address
Prince Regent on the occasion of the marriage of the to Regent.
Princess Charlotte. The address was presented by the
1
mayor in person (Mr. William Barton), who received the
honour of knighthood from his Royal Highness.
*
<
tugs.
In October 1816 steam was first employed for towing Steam-
ships out to sea. Mr. Egerton Smith had some time pre-
viously called the attention of the mercantile community
to the advantages of this adaptation in a series of letters
in the Mercury.' One illustration quoted deserves a
record. Two vessels were intended to sail in company
from Liverpool to Barbadoes. One, the Harriet,' be-
longing to Messrs. Barton & Co., started from George's
Dock, got out into the channel and went on her voyage
in safety. Her intended consort having to work out of
the Queen's Dock, a mile and a half higher up the river,
found her course stayed by an adverse change of wind,
and had to anchor in the river. The Harriet' made
the voyage to Barbadoes and back, and on her return
found the other ship at anchor in the Mersey, where she
had left her, the prevalence of west winds having pre-
vented her getting out to sea. Steam towing has rendered
this difficulty a thing of the past.
bath.
An institution which was long a prominent object in Floating
the river Mersey, and was the means of exhilarating
enjoyment to many thousands, was this year established.
I allude to the floating bath which was moored in the
middle of the river for many years. The idea took its
1 Mr. Barton was elected a member of the council on the 5th July, 1815;
was elected mayor on the 18th October in the same year, and received the
honour of knighthood in the May following.
374
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
bath.
rise in America, having been adopted in New York,
and subsequently carried out on the Tagus and on the
Thames. In Liverpool it was taken up by an enter-
Floating prising individual, Mr. Thomas Coglan, who carried out
the scheme on his own responsibility, with some pecu-
niary assistance from his friends. The vessel was launched
on June 11, 1816, from a building-yard on the site of
the Prince's Dock. The floating bath was a vessel con-
structed like an ordinary ship with a flat bottom, and
double or hollow sides; the central portion forming a
large swimming-bath through which the tide flowed,
entering at the stem and flowing out at the stern. There
were dressing-rooms, a saloon cabin, and lower and upper
decks, forming a pleasant promenade and look-out. Boats
plied regularly to and from the pier. The bath remained
for many years a means of useful recreation, until it
became worn out in the service. The crowded state of
the river rendered the mooring of a successor somewhat
dangerous, whilst the erection of the baths on George's
Parade to some extent superseded the necessity.
Election.
Canning.
Leyland.
In June 1816, another parliamentary election took
place in consequence of the appointment of Mr. Canning
to the Presidency of the Board of Control after his re-
turn from Lisbon, where he had been ambassador, the
latter appointment not vacating his seat as member of
Parliament.
On Mr. Canning's arrival in England, he wrote an
address to the freemen of Liverpool, dated May 27, 1816,
expressing his intention again to solicit their votes. A
portion of the Whig party were resolved that Mr. Canning
should not walk over the course. A private meeting was
called, at which the question of a candidate was dis-
cussed. The choice fell upon Mr. Thomas Leyland, who
had been mayor the previous year. A more unfortunate
selection could scarcely have been made. Mr. Leyland
was a shrewd clever banker, a man of great wealth, but
of no very strong political proclivities, and such as he
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
375
IV.
1816.
tion to
possessed were decidedly adverse to the party who wished CHAP.
to elect him. He had recently filled the civic chair with
great acceptance, and had in the previous week been
presented with a valuable piece of plate, purchased by
public subscription, as a testimony to his public services.
This popularity, no doubt, pointed to Mr. Leyland as
likely to procure the suffrages of the freemen, it appa-
rently being a matter of indifference who was elected if
only Canning was kept out. An open-air meeting was
held the same night in Queen Square, when energetic
speeches were made by Mr. Casey and Mr. Edward
Rushton (subsequently stipendiary magistrate) in support
of Mr. Leyland's candidature. A requisition was pre- Requisi-
pared and signed by 577 freemen.
The next evening, Leyland.
June 4, a body of between three and four thousand
persons, having at their head Mr. Thomas Green, with the
requisition, set out to present it to Mr. Leyland. They
were accompanied by Mr. Rushton, Mr. John Smith, and
several others on horseback. The assembly was informed
that Mr. Leyland was dining with John Clarke, Esq.,
at his seat, Ashfield, near Knotty Ash. It was imme-
diately resolved to proceed thither in procession, with
colours flying and a band of music. On the arrival of
the procession at Ashfield, Mr. Leyland presented him-
self, and having heard from Mr. Green the purport of
the visit, he received the requisition, and assured the
freemen that he felt fully sensible of the honour intended
him, but that such a proposition required consideration,
and he would on the next day inform them of his deter-
mination at his bank, in King Street.'¹
The next morning, without waiting for the deputa-
tion, Mr. Leyland issued a placard declining the proposed
honour. In the afternoon, a large body presented them-
selves at the bank, with the object of overcoming his
objections and persuading him to stand, but all proved
vain.
Liverpool Mercury,' June 7, 1810.
376
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
Nomina-
tion.
Poll.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
Mr. Canning arrived in Liverpool on Wednesday,
June 5, and addressed a large assembly, which had been
awaiting his arrival, from the windows of Mr. Bolton's
house, Duke Street.
The election commenced on Friday, June 7. Mr. Can-
ning was proposed by Mr. Bolton, seconded by Mr. H.
Blundell Hollinshead. Mr. Leyland, whom it was deter-
mined to bring forward in spite of his refusal, was pro-
posed by the Rev. William Shepherd, seconded by Col.
Williams. One passage in Mr. Shepherd's speech contains
rather a hard hit. He says: Sir,-I think Mr. Canning
very unworthy to represent this borough in Parliament,
when I consider his conduct after the last election. After
that event, he went "with all his blushing honours thick
upon him," to the loyal town of Manchester, where he
was quickly surrounded by all the opulence and talent of
the place. The people of Manchester, sir, gave Mr. Can-
ning a public dinner. In the course of their festivities,
however, they paid Mr. Canning a very equivocal kind
of compliment. For after they had taken a view of him,
and heard a specimen of his eloquence, they lifted up
their hands in pious gratitude that they had nothing to
do with sending representatives to Parliament! In this
congratulation Mr. Canning joined.'
The election then commenced; but the number of free-
men tendering their votes for Mr. Leyland being few and
diminishing, about half-past ten, Mr. Shepherd addressed
the returning officer (the mayor), stating that he had been
misled by the representations made to him as to the sup-
port Mr. Leyland was likely to receive, and therefore
withdrew from the contest. Mr. Canning thanked Mr.
Shepherd for his handsome conduct, and offered him his
hand.
After a little pause the contest was resumed, Mr.
Edward Rushton taking the post of honour at the hust-
ings. The poll continued open for four days and a half,
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
377
and at the termination the numbers stood: Canning,
1,280; Leyland, 738.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
The struggle was absurd and vexatious, having no
object but that of harassing the dominant party, and put- Squibs.
ting them to expense. The squibs, addresses, and songs
issued during the election are of very inferior quality.
The whole affair being a sham, there was little heart put
into it compared with the thorough earnestness of the
preceding contest. The Whig party put forth a sort of
parody in scripture phraseology, entitled "The First and
Second Chapters of Truth,' but it possessed little point.
Most of the poetry is doggrel of a very wretched descrip-
tion. There is a poem entitled 'The Election,' in eight
cantos, put forth by the Tories, which in parts displays
some ability. I subjoin a specimen or two:
From Canto I.
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
See how the Jacobins and Luddites rise;
Why, it would seem their impudence offends us,
So does Disloyalty; then-d-n their eyes.
Oh! thou art surely charming, Mister Casey,
With lungs stentorian, and with Irish din,
Cannot thy factious noise for once be aisey?
Thy looks without and horrid thoughts within.
But see a Shepherd-and of such a flock !
Sure 'twould the love of any men estrange;
Fit to be tumbled only in a dock
To cure him from the plague, or from the mange.
Crompton the brewer too! a man of fault,
A Democrat of great notorious sin,
Mixes with bitter noxious herbs his malt,
And with a Presbyterian smile can stir them in.
Say Leyland, what art thou? or where thy votes ?
Give way I pray, and humble to thy betters,
For well we know, that though a man of Notes,
The greatest fool ne'er thought thee one of Letters.
Election
squibs.
378
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
Election
squibs.
From Canto VI.
Dear as to hackney coachmen showers of rain,
Dear as to infidels the works of Payne;
Dear as to Casey's creditors the sound,
Or rumour of a penny in the pound.
Dear as to Jacobins, infernal looks,
Dear as to Thomas Leyland sweet Miss Brooks,
Dear as to Sammy Fogg a lottery prize,
Dear as to Parson Shepherd squinting eyes.
Dear as to Parish Clerk the hundredth psalm,
Dear as to Doctor Solomon his balm;
Dear as to Belzebub a ruin'd soul,
Dear as to certain bankers, pits of coal.
So dear is every factious spiteful scribe,
So dear are all the ragamuffin tribe ;
So dear are chimney sweeps and vagrant scamps,
To Leyland's friends' Watch, scavengers, and lamps.'
Tag, rag, and bobtail, scum of all the town,
Whose clothes united, would not fetch a crown;
Loos'd from their various gaols, like hellhounds packed;
Whitewashed, as bankrupts, or th' Insolvent Act.
C
&c., &c.
At the close of the first day's poll, Mr. Canning, in
addressing the electors, concluded his speech in the fol-
lowing words: Gentlemen, I have detained you longer
than it was fitting to do. I have now only to solicit the
continuance of your zeal in our unexampled struggle—a
struggle with an invisible phantom. Let us see whether
before the Sabbath this phantom may not be laid.'
This gave rise to the following poetical comment :
THE PHANTOM.
When Canning from Lisbon was ordered away,
To attend the levée of my Lord Castlereagh,
He touch'd at Bordeaux, where he called on the mayor,
And utter'd a speech, made the Monsieurs all stare.
NINETEENTH CENTURY,
379
How cunning it was of the said Mr. Canning,
The eloquent powers of his speech to be planning,
For wisely he deem'd that a careful selection,
Detail'd in the papers would gain his election.
But horrid! oh, horrible! shocking! oh, dear!
No sooner at Liverpool did he appear,
Than the ghost of the town, with a terrible tale,
Assaulted his optics, and made him look pale.
It rose by degrees from a seat at the bank,
And played up and down with a frolicsome prank;
And though it did make a most terrible clatter,
George Canning declared it a poor trifling matter.
This Ghost he declared he would very soon lay,
And send it off packing into the Red Say;
But the Phantom defied him and hover'd about,
And soon it created a terrible rout.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
Election
squibs.
And truly good people, it surely must seem,
Mr. Place-loving Canning had seen but a dream,
When the freemen he call'd of this Maritime town,
A Phantom which soon, very soon, he'd put down.
His poetical image has vanished away,
He wakes to the spirit which freemen display;
He struggles, but 'tis not with phantoms like those
Which his fanciful thoughts in his speeches disclose.
'Tis the spirit of Freedom he dares to despise,
It rings in his hearing, it dazzles his eyes,
It will roll in a torrent whose health-stirring waves,
Shall bring to confusion all placemen and slaves.
The chairing of Mr. Canning took place immediately Chairing.
after the close of the poll on Wednesday, June 12, with
the usual display of flags, bands of music, and trades' pro-
cessions. The ceremony closed at the house of Mr.
Bolton, in Duke Street, where Mr. Canning made his final
speech. In the course of his address he thus alludes to
his own political career.
After defending himself from the charge of inconsis-
380
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV
1816.
Canning's
speech.
CHAP. tency in acting with those from whom he had formerly
differed, he proceeds: Gentlemen, there is yet a heavier
charge than those which I have stated to you. It is,
gentlemen, that I am an adventurer. To this charge, as
I understand it, I am willing to plead guilty. A repre-
sentative of the people, I am one of the people; and I
present myself to those who choose me, only with the
claims of character (be they what they may) unaccredited
by patrician patronage or party recommendation. Nor
is it in this free country, where in every walk of life the
road of honourable success is open to every individual-
I am sure it is not in this place that I shall be expected
to apologise for so presenting myself to your choice. I
know there is a political creed which assigns to a certain
combination of great families a right to dictate to the
Sovereign, and to influence the people; and that this
doctrine of hereditary aptitude for administration is, sin-
gularly enough, most prevalent among those who find
nothing more laughable than the principle of legitimacy
in the Crown.
Leyland's
medal.
C
To this theory I have never subscribed. If to depend
directly upon the people as their representative in Par-
liament; if, as a servant of the Crown, to lean on no
other support than that of public confidence—if that be
an adventurer, I plead guilty to the charge; and I would
not exchange that situation, to whatever taunts it may
expose me, for all the advantages which may be derived
from an ancestry of a hundred generations.'
After the election, a subscription was entered into by
the Reform party, for the purpose of presenting a silver
medal to each of the 738 freemen who had voted for Mr.
Leyland. The medal was about the size of a crown-
piece, bearing on the obverse the Liver-the crest of the
Liverpool Arms, with the motto, Liverpool be free;' on
the reverse, the name of the elector, with the legend,
'One of the independent minority 738, who voted for
Thomas Leyland, Esq., at the Liverpool election, 1816.'
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
381
On November 25, a copy of the medal in gold was pre-
sented to Mr. Leyland, bearing the same obverse, having
on the reverse the following inscription: To Thomas
Leyland, Esq., presented by the independent freemen of
Liverpool, as a testimony of their esteem for his active and
patriotic conduct as chief magistrate, and as a pledge of
their future support to raise him to the dignity of repre-
senting them in Parliament.' A complimentary address
accompanied the presentation, to which Mr. Leyland
replied, declining to commit himself to any prospective
engagement.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
farewell.
On Friday, July 12, 1816, the great actor, John Philip Kemble's
Kemble, took his final leave of the Liverpool stage in the
character of Coriolanus, his first appearance in which
character had been in Liverpool. His reception was most
enthusiastic. Mr. Kemble may almost be claimed as a
Liverpool worthy, having been born at Prescot, within
eight miles of the town. On June 23, 1817, he bade
farewell to the sock and buskin at Covent Garden theatre
in the same play.
bridge at
In this year (1816) a scheme was brought prominently
before the public, in which Liverpool at the time was
supposed to be greatly interested. This was a proposal Proposed
for the construction of a bridge across the Mersey at Runcorn.
Runcorn. The want of a bridge at a lower point than
Warrington had long been felt. The circuitous route
increased the distance to London and the Midland dis-
tricts by at least an hour, which, with the rage for acce-
lerated speed prevailing during the first quarter of the
present century, was considered a grievance. The Che-
shire interests were also desirous of a shorter and easier
communication with the commercial and manufacturing
districts.
The idea of crossing the river at this point, where the
tidal estuary is narrowed by bold bluffs on each side, was
not new. When the Duke of Bridgwater's canal was in
course of construction, the bold genius of Brindley pro-
382
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1816.
Runcorn
bridge.
CHAP. posed an aqueduct across the river to carry the Duke's
navigation direct to Liverpool. The great cost of the
undertaking prevented its being carried out. In 1814,
Thomas Telford was consulted as to the construction of a
bridge. The width of the river (about 1,200 ft.), and the
necessity for keeping the navigation clear, rendered a
bridge of the ordinary construction inapplicable. The
idea of a suspension bridge here first presented itself, and
after a number of very interesting experiments on the
strength of malleable iron, Telford prepared his design,
which consisted of a central opening of 1,000 ft. span,
and two side openings of 500 ft. each. The roadway
was to be 30 ft. wide, with a central footway and two
carriage-ways. The very grandeur of the design pre-
vented its being carried out; but there can be no question
that here were matured the skill and experience which
culminated a few years afterwards in the beautiful and
hitherto unrivalled Menai Suspension Bridge by the same
engineer.
In 1816 the idea was revived. At a meeting held at
Sandbach on August 22 of parties the most interested, it
was resolved—'That it would be highly advantageous to
the counties of Chester and Lancaster, to the town of
Liverpool, and to the public in general, to have a bridge
at or near Runcorn Gap, with proper and commodious
roads leading thereto.' The meeting was adjourned, to
meet at Runcorn on October 22, Mr. James Cropper, of
Liverpool, in the chair, when the previous resolution was
confirmed, and an influential committee appointed to take
A.D. 1817. further proceedings. On January 13, 1817, a numerous
meeting of the committee was held in Liverpool, Sir John
Chetwode, Bart., in the chair, when plans of the proposed
bridges were laid before the meeting by Captain (after-
wards Sir Samuel) Brown, and Mr. Thomas Pickton, of
Liverpool. At another meeting, held in July, Mr. Telford
presented plans and estimates, and there seemed every
reasonable probability that the scheme would be carried
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
383
IV.
1817.
bridge.
out. Opposition now appeared on behalf of the Mersey CHAP.
and Irwell Navigation Company, who anticipated injury
to the navigation of the river. A select committee was
appointed, and subscriptions were sought; but sufficient Runcorn
encouragement not being forthcoming, it was not judged
prudent to proceed in the face of the impending opposi-
tion. Telford's design was transferred from the Mersey
to the Menai; and the Runcorn project slumbered for
another half century, until the powerful influence and
capital of the railways realised with ease the magnificent
idea, and erected the present structure, which, with its
light lattice work and long ranges of viaduct arches,
sweeping across the country in a graceful curve, far ex-
ceeds in grandeur and beauty its tubular rival on the
Cambrian Straits.
•
In 1815 Parliament had revised the laws relating to
the importation of corn, and had passed an Act pro-
hibiting the importation of wheat, whilst the average price
was at or under eighty shillings the quarter. The har-
vest of 1816 was one of the worst ever known. Trade 1816.
suffered greatly in consequence, and much discontent
prevailed. On October 18 a public meeting was held Public
at the Town-hall, under the presidency of the mayor, Sir meeting on
William Barton, in compliance with a requisition, To
take into consideration the distresses of the country, and
the best means to be adopted for remedying the same.'
This meeting was in many respects a remarkable one.
Although called by the mayor for a purpose-ostensibly
at least-irrespective of party, the Tories for some unex-
plained reason declined to attend. The Radicals, therefore,
had a field-day to themselves of jeremiads over the past,
and proposals of political reform for the future. The
principal speakers were the leading local reformers of the
day-Colonel Williams, Dr. Crompton, Rev. William
Shepherd, Messrs. Egerton and John Smith, Mr. Rushton,
and Mr. Casey. The staple of the specches were of
course political, attributing the distress to expensive wars
384
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1816.
Public
meeting on
distress.
Distress.
and extravagant taxation, and contending for reform in
Parliament as the great panacea. Some of the more
advanced speakers went beyond this, and wished to carry
resolutions attributing the distress to the corruption of
the legislature, to pass a vote of censure on the Ministry,
and to recommend the reduction of the interest on the
national debt. The part took by Mr. Shepherd was
replete with good sense. He more than once called back
the attention of the meeting to its proper object. He
said: Sir,-I am not ashamed to avow that I have
strong political feelings, and to gain a point in politics I
would go far to the utmost limits prescribed by honour
and integrity. But humanity has a still stronger claim
upon our exertions. The feeding of the distressed poor
is an object far more pressing than any political consider-
ations; and, gentlemen, I appeal to your humanity, and
call upon you to support the original resolutions which
supply that material provision which the others do not.'
The resolutions as passed acknowledged the distress,
and appointed a committee to make a minute survey of
the town, to endeavour to procure work for the unem-
ployed, and institute a subscription if necessary. They
recommended the Corporation and Dock Committee to
take up loans in order to employ a greater number of
hands.
The remainder of the resolutions were political, blam-
ing the recent wars, complaining of the standing army,
and of the expense of the civil list, and recommending
such a reform as would give to the people a full, fair,
and free representation. A petition to the Prince Regent
was agreed to, embodying these resolutions.
The petition was forwarded to General Gascoyne, and
by him duly transmitted through Lord Sidmouth to the
Prince.
In order to provide funds for employing the poor,
a sum of 10,000l. was raised on security of dock bonds
in sums of 100l. to 1,000l. subscribed by many of the
principal merchants and others.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
385
IV.
The distress increased throughout the country. The CHAP.
Spa Fields riots took place in London in November and
December, which led to serious alarm and very stringent
measures.
1817.
Duke
On December 31, 1816, Liverpool was honoured by a Grand
visit from the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia (afterwards Nicholas.
Emperor) with a numerous suite, amongst whom were
the celebrated General Kutusoff, Baron Nicholay and
Sir William Congreve.
Parlia-
ment.
In February 1817 a requisition was presented to the Reform in
mayor, Mr. John Wright, to call a public meeting to
consider the subject of a Reform in Parliament. The
mayor having declined the request, the meeting was held
in Clayton Square on February 14, Colonel Williams in
the chair. The numbers present were variously esti-
mated at from 2,000 to 10,000. The speakers were
nearly the same as those at the meeting in October, and
the resolutions an echo of the previous ones.
The pe-
titions which resulted from the meeting were signed by
14,000 persons. That to the Commons was presented by
the Earl of Sefton on March 10.
6
On the opening of Parliament on January 28, 1817,
the Prince Regent had been insulted by the populace on
his way to the house. In obedience to a requisition, the
High Sheriff convened a general meeting of the county County
at the Court House, Preston, on Tuesday, February 25, meeting.
for the purpose of addressing the Prince Regent on the
late atrocious outrage offered to his Royal person, and of
expressing our ardent attachment to his Majesty's person
and Government.' The Court House was crammed to
excess, great numbers not being able to procure ad-
mission. Sir H. Hoghton, Bart., moved a loyal and
dutiful address in correspondence with the requisition.
This was met by a counter-address, moved by Dr,
Crompton of Liverpool, which, whilst lamenting the out-
rage which had been perpetrated, severely reflected upon
the conduct of the Ministry and prayed his Royal
VOL. I.
C C
386
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1817.
CHAP. Highness for their dismissal. This led to an animated dis-
cussion, in which the leading Liverpool reformers took
part. After a debate of two hours duration, the amended
address was carried by a large majority, and forwarded
with the signature of the High Sheriff to the Regent.
Loyal
declara-
tion.
Suspension
of Habeas
Corpus.
To counteract these Whig tactics, the Liverpool Tories
prepared a loyal declaration, which was deposited at the
town-hall and signed by 3,934 individuals, including
the mayor, merchants, bankers, clergy, and other respect-
able inhabitants,' to which each affixed his place of
residence. The address lamented the distress of the
country, applauded the meritorious exertions of his
Majesty's Government, and of the Regent, expressed the
strongest feelings of indignation at the mischievous arts
of designing men in disseminating amongst the people
the most atrocious doctrines, and pledged the subscribers
to support the lawful exercise of the sovereign authority,
to maintain the British constitution with the spirit of
Britons, and to resist to every extremity those visionary
innovators, whose only end and aim is to disturb the
public peace and to destroy our civil liberties.
The town council also voted an address of congra-
tulation to the Regent, breathing a similar spirit.
On March 3, 1817, the Habeas Corpus Act was sus-
pended by Parliament, and on the 29th of the same
month an act was passed for restraining seditious meet-
ings. No meeting could be held without previous notice
in the newspapers and notice to the clerk of the peace;
all political clubs were to be suppressed and prohibited;
and all places in which lectures or discussions were held
must be previously licensed, or be declared unlawful.
The Liverpool newspapers of March 14 contain an-
nouncements of the dissolution of several debating
societies in anticipation of the measures then pending.
Whilst the political atmosphere was thus agitated and
convulsed, the march of improvement could not but be
retarded; still some progress was made.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
387
6
IV.
1817.
on the
The application of steam to the ferries across the Mersey CHAP.
was first adopted in 1817. In February, an announce-
ment was made that a steam-packet was building for the
purpose of conveying passengers, carriages, horses, &c., Steam
across the Mersey with a degree of security, comfort, and Mersey.
despatch, which it is impossible to obtain by any other
mode of conveyance. This packet consists of two vessels
65 feet in length connected by beams, and over the whole
is a deck 28 feet wide. She will be propelled by a wheel
placed in the centre.' Great advantages were promised
by the adoption of this plan. The passage was to be
very short, and the inconvenience to passengers, and the
risk to carriages, inseparable from the use of sail-boats,
was to be almost entirely removed. On March 7 the
boat was launched and called the 'Etna.' She first began 'Etna'
to ply in connection with Chester Races on May 2, and
is advertised to cross from the new slip at the west side
of the Queen's Graving Docks' to Tranmere Ferry pier
every half hour. Passengers were charged 3d. each
on week-days and 4d. on Sundays. The dimensions of
this passage-boat, 65 feet by 28 feet, seem now almost
insignificant, but it was a vast stride in advance of any-
thing previously attempted. The boat plied for many
years; but her usefulness was much marred by the very
inconvenient situation of her landing-place, at the Queen's
Dock, a matter of necessity in the then existing state of
the central piers and stairs, which were only adapted for
the sailing-boats then in use.
6
steamer.
At this time, travelling from Liverpool into North
Wales, chiefly passed by the route of King's Ferry, or by
sailing-boat from Parkgate to Bagillt. In June 1817 Steam on
a steam-packet was advertised to ply across the Dee the Dee.
between these places, continuing to cross from three
hours before to three hours after high water, making
three passages to and fro each tide. The passengers
were conveyed by coach from Parkgate to Tranmere,
c c 2
388
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
C
CHAP. where a small steamer-the Regulator' (the second
ferry steamer on the river) - brought them on to
1817. Liverpool. It may give some idea of the natural change
which has taken place in the river Dee during the last
half century to record that where at that period a steam-
boat could cross three hours before and after high water,
at the present day a small sailing-boat can barely cross
at the summit of the tide. Of course all ferry commu-
Public
meeting.
Miss
McAvoy.
nication has long since ceased.
On June 28, 1817, a public open-air meeting was held
in Clayton Square to petition the Prince Regent and the
Houses of Parliament against the further suspension of
the Habeas Corpus Act. In accordance with the Act
for the suppression of seditious meetings, public notice
had to be given by responsible parties of their intention
to hold such meeting, with the time and place annexed.
This notice was signed by seventeen of the leading
reformers in the town, including William and Richard
Rathbone, David Hodgson (mayor in 1845), Thomas
Thornely (afterwards M.P. for Wolverhampton), Joseph
Sandars, Robert Preston, J. B. Yates, James Ryley,
Thomas Avison, Egerton Smith, &c. Colonel Williams
was voted to the chair. The meeting was addressed by
Messrs. T. Booth, Joseph Sandars, Egerton Smith, William
Rathbone and others. Resolutions were passed con-
demnatory of the restrictive measures of the Govern-
ment, and petitions adopted praying for their repeal.
A singular physiological problem kept the Liverpool
public on the qui vive during the autumn of 1817. A
Miss McAvoy, a young lady residing in St. Paul's Square,
about seventeen years of age, was attacked by hydro-
cephalus, and partial paralysis. Her eyes were affected
by gutta serena, and she was pronounced by her medical
attendants to be entirely blind. Shortly afterwards she
was reported to possess the faculty of reading print and
distinguishing colours by the touch, her eyes being so
completely bandaged as to prevent the possibility of
389
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
deception. The story got wind, and the house in St.
Paul's Square became a centre of attraction to the wonder-
loving public. There could be no mercenary object to
gain by imposture, as the family were respectable and no
money was ever received. Many wonderful accounts
were published of her capacity of deciphering the smallest
print and the most delicate colours in utter darkness as
well as with the eyes covered. Dr. Renwick, a physician
of eminence, published a pamphlet in which he gave
explicit credence to the new and supernatural faculty.
Encouraged in this way, her pretensions assumed a
higher flight. She now claimed the faculty of discerning
objects at a distance by placing her fingers behind her
upon the glass of the window, and was said in this way
to have described the figures of persons in the church-
yard opposite and the colour of their clothes. This
naturally excited some suspicion, which was strength-
ened by other circumstances. The interposition of any
substance between her face and hands deprived her of
the faculty of seeing as it were by touch. This she
attributed to the necessity for her breath having free and
uninterrupted communication with her hands. To obviate
this difficulty an ingenious gentleman (Mr. Egerton Smith)
contrived a mask which whilst entirely covering the eyes
and face, left the breathing free and uninterrupted, and
offered to pay twenty guineas, which another gentleman
doubled, if Miss McAvoy with this mask on could read a
single line of moderately sized print. After some equi-
vocation the test was declined, and Miss McAvoy's pre-
tensions fell to zero and were soon forgotten. There
is nothing new under the sun. The brothers Davenport
of more recent days and the modern spiritualists with their
mediums are uniformly found to fail when, as in this
instance, brought to the crucial test of practical expe-
riment and common sense.
CHAP.
IV.
1817.
Miss
McAvoy.
On St. Luke's Day, 1817, a contested election took Election
place for the mayoralty between Messrs. Thomas Case
for mayor.
390
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1817.
CHAP. and Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead. Hitherto it had
been usual to close the election in a single day, holding
by the letter of the charter, that the mayor must be
elected on the day in question, keeping the poll open if
necessary until midnight. This was transgressed only
in a single instance, the election of 1797, between Stani-
forth and Brooks, when the poll was kept open for three
days. In the contested elections of 1802 and 1803 the
returning officers (the retiring mayors) decided that the
poll must close at midnight, the choice falling on the
candidate who had then the majority. In the present
instance the mayor (Mr. Wright) decided to adjourn the
court in spite of the protest of Mr. Blundell Hollinshead,
who claimed to have the majority at that hour. This
was on Saturday night. After the resumption of the poll
on Monday morning Mr. Case was elected, the numbers
being: Case, 1,020; Hollinshead, 912.
Death of
Princess
Charlotte.
Address.
In November 1817 the nation was plunged into heart-
felt grief by the melancholy decease of the Princess
Charlotte, on whose future the hopes of the country
seemed to be centered. A public meeting was held in
the town-hall under the presidency of the mayor, for the
purpose of adopting addresses of condolence to the
Prince Regent and to Prince Leopold. When the pro-
posed address to the Regent was read, it was moved by
Colonel Williams that the following paragraph should be
expunged:
We are anxious to embrace this opportunity of
renewing to your Royal Highness our sentiments of
fidelity and attachment to your Royal Highness's person,
and to your illustrious house; and to express our earnest
hope that your Royal Highness may long be spared to a
loyal and affectionate people.'
On a show of hands the amendment was rejected, and
the original motion carried by a large majority with vehe-
ment expressions of approbation.
A lively commotion prevailed in the town during a
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
391
IV.
1818.
warden
great part of the year 1818, arising out of the vagaries of CHAP.
Mr. Dennison, one of the churchwardens of the parish,
which, unlike many other large towns, includes the whole
of the original borough. Mr. Dennison entertained the Church-
notion that it was the function of the parishioners to pay Dennison.
and of the churchwardens to spend, and up to this idea
he fully acted. His colleague was set aside; the parish
committee, like H. B.'s caricature of the Duke of Wel-
lington's Cabinet, was represented by vacant chairs. He
erected schools and buildings at his own will and plea-
sure with the parish money-the Gothic gateway in St.
Nicholas's churchyard is a standing monument of his
architectural taste. His hospitality (at the parish ex-
pense) was almost unbounded. There were weekly din-
ners at the workhouse on Tuesday, to which his friends
were very freely invited. Sixteen dozen of port at 65s.;
70%. worth of Vidonia, and sixteen gallons of rum had
thus been consumed in the year, besides brandy, jellies,
and lemons; 200 gallons of wine were given to the
clergy for their private use; 1,4167. was paid for wine,
spirits, and malt liquor within the year; 321. 15s. 6d. for
mourning and scarfs for the parish officers attending the
funeral of the parish doctor; 11. Os. 6d. for six gold-
laced hats for the constables. These are specimens of the
items in the churchwarden's accounts for the year.
The annual vestry of the parishioners, held on March
24, 1818, was a very stormy one, and Mr. Dennison's
conduct met with severe reprehension.
The oppo-
sition was led by Mr. Joseph Dutton, a Newfoundland
merchant, who pursued his opponent from court to court
with the pertinacity of a sleuth-hound. The result was
that a large proportion of the churchwarden's outlay was
disallowed by the Quarter Sessions, besides a considerable
amount due and unpaid for which Mr. Dennison was
liable. In addition to this, he was prosecuted at the
Lancaster Assizes for a penalty of 201. for refusing in-
spection of the rate-book, in which he was cast with the
392
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Repeal of
salt duties.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
An
expenses. On the whole, his short reign of church-
warden cost him about 2,000l. out of pocket.
attempt was made some years afterwards to excite public
commiseration, with a view to an entire or partial reim-
bursement, but it met with little success.
The
On April 3, 1818, a public meeting was held in the
town-hall for the purpose of petitioning Parliament for
a repeal of the duties on salt. At that time, manufac-
tured salt could be exported duty free; but for home
consumption a duty of 30l. per ton was levied.
effects of this impost were injurious in many ways. The
Salt trade. consumption of salt in the whole of the United Kingdom
only amounted to 120,000 tons. Had the duty been
continued, the alkali manufacture of Great Britain, now
so valuable a branch of our export trade, with many
other chemical operations, could never have come into
existence. Another circumstance which it was impos-
sible to guard against led to the defrauding of the re-
venue to a considerable extent. The salt for export
having already paid the excise duty, was entitled to a
drawback of the amount so paid. Now it is well known
that no substance has such an attraction for moisture as
common salt. The consequence was that the salt which
had paid duty at Norwich in a dry state, when sent
down the Mersey for transhipment, added considerably
to its weight by the moisture imbibed, on which the
drawback of 30l. per ton had to be paid, to the loss of
the revenue and the benefit of the manufacturer. It was
not until 1823 that the duty was reduced to 4l. per ton;
and many further years elapsed before it was finally
removed.
Meeting
on forging
notes,
On April 28 a public meeting was held at the town-
hall, under the presidency of the mayor (Mr. Thomas
Case), to consider the propriety of petitioning Parlia-
ment to take into consideration the progressive and
alarming increase in the crimes of forging and uttering
forged Bank of England notes,' with a view to some
NINETEENTH CENTURY,
393
IV.
1818.
remedy. At this time the English law was perfectly CHAP.
'Draconian' in the number of capital crimes, of which
forgery was one of the principal. One pound notes were
still the chief medium of ordinary transactions; and not-
withstanding the terrors of the law, multitudes were
found to brave all the consequences, from the facility
with which the crime was committed. The meeting was
addressed by Mr. John Gladstone, Mr. John Wood (after-
wards M.P. for Preston), Dr. Crompton, and others, and
resolutions were passed recommending the revision and
amendment of the criminal law.
In June 1818 Parliament was dissolved, and the new Election.
writs were made returnable on August 4. Not disheart-
ened by the result of the contest of 1816, the Whigs
looked about for a candidate. In the first instance they
applied to Mr. Leyland. A meeting was held on May
12, under the presidency of the Rev. William Shepherd,
at which a requisition was adopted and forwarded to that
gentleman. On the 19th a reply was received declining
to stand. This gave great umbrage to the reform party,
who considered that Mr. Leyland had given them sub-
stantial grounds for considering that he was prepared to
serve when called on. Their attention was then directed
to the Earl of Sefton, who, at that time only possessing Lord
an Irish title, was eligible for a seat in the House of Com-
mons. A meeting was held on June 2, at which it was
determined to put Lord Sefton forward as a candidate,
Mr. Charles Lawrence being the chairman of the com-
mittee.
Sefton.
The friends of Mr. Canning had been the first in the Canning.
field, having held a meeting and sent their requisition on
April 23. No requisition was forwarded to General Gas-
coyne, but he issued his address on June 3. The other
two candidates issued their addresses on June 10, the day
on which Parliament was dissolved. Mr. Canning made
his public entry into the town on Wednesday the 17th,
being escorted from Low Hill by his friends, with the
usual display.
394
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
Dr.
1818.
Solomon.
Nomina-
tion.
speech.
The same day the following circular was issued:
Worthy Freemen, and dear Sir,
The honour of your attendance is earnestly requested at
Gilead House on Thursday morning next the 18th inst., to
proceed with the full band of music and colours to the Tally;
when I shall have the honour personally to accompany you as the
friend of Lord Sefton, and the rest of my honest set of staunch
fellows, who are in my list of freemen, to regain for yourselves
and brave companions the blessings of real freedom.
I am sir,
Your most faithful, obliged, and very humble servant,
S. SOLOMON, M.D.
Gilead House, June 16, 1818.
The election commenced on Thursday, June 18. Mr.
Canning was proposed by Mr. John Bolton; seconded by
Mr. William Ewart (father of the future member). General
Gascoyne was nominated by Mr. J. B. Aspinall; seconded
by Mr. John Wright (the ex-mayor). The Earl of Sefton
was proposed by Mr. William Earle; seconded by Mr.
Canning's Roger Hunter. At the close of each day's poll Mr. Can-
ning addressed his supporters from the balcony of Colonel
Bolton's house in Duke Street. Lord Sefton was repre-
sented by his son, Lord Molyneux (afterwards the third
earl), who spoke from Mr. Preston's house in Clayton
Square. I extract a few passages from Mr. Canning's
speeches. At the close of the first day he observed:
Gentlemen, I may be allowed to say that the contest.
has begun auspiciously. It is not absolutely nothing that
we are favoured as we are by the beauty of this day,
which enables the immense multitude which I see around
me to be assembled without inconvenience, and that we
bear in recollection what day this is the anniversary of
the greatest victory that ever crowned the British arms.¹
Gentlemen, all these auspicious circumstances undoubt-
edly are not peculiar to ourselves; the same sun which
brightens the scene before me, shines with impartial light
1 The battle of Waterloo.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
395
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
speech.
upon our opponents. But there are points upon which
those who hold the political opinions which we concur in
holding have feelings more peculiarly their own; because
we know to our sorrow, and as Britons to our shame, Canning' s
that there are breasts in which the recollection of the
day, of which this is the third anniversary, excites no
such triumphant sensations as it excites in your breasts
and in mine; there are those to whom the recollection
of that mighty victory, in which the right arm of Britain
struck down the most stupendous tyranny that ever be-
strode the world, affords matter rather of regret and
lamentation than of unqualified exultation and national
pride.
But, gentlemen, peace has its triumphs as well as war.
If the memory of that battle, which rescued Europe, and
in rescuing Europe saved this country from the common
lot with which sooner or later it might otherwise have
been overwhelmed, is to be cherished in our hearts with
everlasting and grateful remembrance, it is not merely
because it exalted to the highest pitch the military cha-
racter of this country; it is not merely because it may be
supposed to have shielded us from the evils of a renewed
and long protracted conflict; not because it preserved
our shores from invasion (for when could these happy
shores have seriously to dread being trampled by the foot
of the invader?)-not merely that it maintained to Great
Britain the rank which she had always vindicated to her-
self among the nations of the world; but because, through
all these means, it contributed to the maintenance of that
Constitution from which all our blessings and all our
strength, all our power to achieve and all our right to
enjoy, are derived; and that Constitution, we have but
too much reason to be aware, has, even when the dangers
of external attack are past, internal enemies to combat.'
There was a profusion of squibs and lampoons issued Election
during the election, but none of any very great literary squibs.
merit or smartness. The poet laureate of the Tories (Mr.
396
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Election
squibs.
Silvester Richmond), who had been a strong partisan of
'the old general,' had transferred his allegiance to Mr.
Canning, which is sarcastically alluded to in the following
jeu d'esprit:
Horace, Book 3, Ode 9.
Isaac. Whilst on your honour I relied-
(Damme, I ne'er did that)—aside—
Both Brougham and Creevey I did spurn,
And sat secure for my return.
Sil.—Whilst you forgetting self and son,
Did toil and job for me alone,
Bedizen'd o'er with ribbons blue,
SIL to his ISAAC then was true.
1
Isaac.-The LEIGHS alone support my cause,
The man of tallow, man of laws;
To raise the wind in vain I've tried,
This Leigh-way ne'er will stem the tide.
Sil.-TO GEORGE, that lord of high controul,
I've pawned both honour, word, and soul;
Though sworn to work at no election,
To him I now look for protection.
Isaac.-If my own son neglecting, I
Should get young SIL a company,
Would you my cause again support,
And leave that minion of the court?
Sil. If it my interest should be,
I'd even shout for Liberty ;
I'd change my scarlet into blue,-
To my own interest ever true.
It would have seemed the most natural thing in the
world for the friends of Canning and Gascoyne to have
united their forces, professing as they did the same prin-
Coalition. ciples; but the word 'coalition,' for some unexplained
reason, probably referring to former elections, seems to
1 Roger Leigh, tallow-chandler; John Leigh, attorney, father of John
Shaw Leigh (mayor in 1841).
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
397
repu-
have been equally obnoxious to both sides. The odious
coalition' was the burden of many of the appeals of the
Sefton party; whilst Mr. Canning's committee, and Mr.
Canning himself, took the earliest opportunity of
diating the insinuation as 'wholly false and unfounded.'
Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, the majority of votes on
the Tory side, as was natural, were split between Canning
and Gascoyne, whilst those for Sefton were plumpers.
The mode of voting at that period by alternate tallies of
ten at each bar, gave a decided advantage to the coalesc-
ing candidates. To obviate this, on the third day Mr.
Arthur Heywood was nominated a candidate in order to
open another bar. This was met on the other side by
the nomination of Colonel John Bolton. Colonel Wil-
liams was then proposed on the other side; and to such
an extent was this carried, that there were at one time
eighteen nominal candidates in the field, besides the three
real ones.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Coalition.
The squibs on the Tory side were for the most part Election
superior in point of ability to those of their opponents. squibs.
Advantage was taken of the topics of the day. Parodies
on Lord Byron's 'Beppo' and Moore's 'Fudge Family,'
just published, and on the popular songs of the day, were
pressed into the service, whilst some are entirely original.
I subjoin a few specimens:
1
SONG.
The Bang up Peer and his Party.
The universal suffrage boys, determined on a row,
Declared they'd send a member up, but then the point was how?
First to Leyland they did go, did go,
To Tommy they did go.
Now Tommy thought in Parliament he might have made a splash ;
But then thinks he, I'd better far decline, and keep my cash.
So to Sefton they did go, did go,
To Sefton they did go.
1 This was a slang term of the day, borrowed from the sporting world, of
which the Earl was a distinguished member. There was a 'Bang Up'
stage-coach of some celebrity from Liverpool to London.
Tory song.
398
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Tory song.
Whig
song.
Lord Four in hand, the Bang up Peer, in bed was on his back,
Their requisition when he read, he jump'd up in a crack,
And his colours now they show, they show,
His colours now they show.
Says he, I can't attend myself, because you know I'm ill,
But 'Dandy' will be with you soon, and dance them a quadrille,
When a polling we will
go, will go,
A polling we will go.
Then Williams will take post in front and charge up to the poll;
Rebellion in his aspect, and venom on his jowl,
And a polling we will go, &c.
And Shepherd show his squinting face, to know him is a sin,
To any party worthless, most the party that he's in,
And a polling we will go, &c.
There's Casey too, will show his teeth, and when we make the start,
That mountebank Sam Ryley, I'll be bound will play his part,
And a polling we will go, &c.
Rail fiercely 'gainst the ministers, the government and laws,
King, Lords, and Commons-everything-'tis worthy of the cause,
And a polling we will go, &c.
Swear Cochrane is a martyr, and Iunt a perfect saint,
That Hone's a worthy character, and Burdett free from from taint,
And a polling we will go, &c.
I'll decorate my six young bloods with ribbons pink and green,
Some day among the thick of it, high mounted I'll be seen,
And a polling we will go, &c.
A clever parody of Burns's Jolly Beggars,' was put
forth by the Whigs. It is too long to quote entire, but I
give a few stanzas :
GLEE FOR THREE VOICES.
Messrs. Ewart, Tayleure, and Myers.
Ye Gentlemen of England,
Next Thursday if you please,
We advertise some thousand souls,
Which you may buy with ease.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
399
SONG-Mr. Ewart.
Who'll buy Mr. Richmond,
Silvester who'll buy?
He'll be knocked down for nothing, Stubbs,
Don't let us try.
SONG-Sir Wm. Barton.
How happy could I be with either,
If my wife was but out of the way,
And since you both please me together,
To her not a word will I say.
SONG-Mr. Gladstone.
John Gladstone was as fine a man
As ever graced commercial story,
Till all at once he changed his plan,
And from a Whig became a Tory.
And now he meets his friends with pride,
Yet tells them but a wretched story,
He says not why he changed his side,
He was a Whig-he's now a Tory.
CONCERTO, JEWS HARP-Mr. Taylor.'
TRIO-Messrs. Thomas, Isaac, and George Littledale.
There was pretty man, and he had a pretty song,
A pretty little song it was reckoned, reckoned, reckoned;
And his brother Isaac too, though not quite so slim to view,
Can occasionally help him with the second, second, second.
Then the cousin to the brother, is a six feet high another,
And the jemmy little broker for insurance-surance—surance,
Will walk with them together, if it should but be fine weather,
And the heat is not oppressive past endurance-durance-durance.
SONG-General Gascoyne.
The General he is come to town,
Old Ladies lips to smack sir,
Some votes to take, a show to make,
But as he came, go back sir,
Yankee doodle, doodle, doo,
Yankee doodle, dandy;
The General's conscience is his guide,
When there is none more handy.
1 Mr. Taylor went by the sobriquet of 'Jew's Harp Taylor.' He had an
extraordinary talent for playing on this little instrument, which he could
make discourse most exquisite music.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Whig
song.
400
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Whig
song.
Gascoyne
song.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
DUET-Mr. Duff, Mr. Stavert, and full chorus.
Should dinner-time be e'er forgot,
Nor always kept in min',
Can dinner-time be e'er forgot,
And plenty o' guid wine?
Bring plenty o' guid wine my lads,
Bring plenty o' guid wine,
And we'll tak a richt guid-willie waught,
O' Mr. Canning's wine.
SONG—Mr. Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead.'
There are freemen of great and small note,
And I go to the bar in a fuss,
Our rival has always a vote;
But d-n the one's coming to us.
G-d d-n it now, what shall we do,
D-n the fellow there's coming to vote for us,
By G-d we shall never get through.
SONG-Mr. Hollinshead, Senior.
Let not rage, thy bosom firing,
Wisdom's warning voice remove,
Since thy hopes are just expiring,
Leave a scene thou can'st not love.
&c., &c.
1
The Old General' did not usually keep a poet, but
some madcap young wag amongst his canvassers rattled
off the following ditty, entitled—
A SONG, dedicated without permission to the Parlour canvassers of
District No. 10.
The roguish Lieutenants a kissing will go,
Heigho, the Lieutenants;
The roguish Lieutenants a kissing will go,
Whether their Captain will let them or no,
With their bonny blue ribbands a kissing they go,
Heigho, the Lieutenants.
1 This gentleman was in the habit of interlarding his conversation with
profane exclamations as described in the text.
401
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
The lasses all hide their sweet pretty faces,
Heigho, for the lasses;
The lasses all hide their sweet pretty faces;
But they love to be kissed for all their grimaces,
With their coying and shying to show off their graces,
Who wouldn't kiss the lasses?
'Oh, give me a ribband, pray do if you please,'
So cry the lasses;
'Oh, give me a ribband, pray do if you please,'
And where's the Lieutenant such angels would tease,
Or see a kind smile ruffled e'en by a breeze,
For the sake of a true blue ribband.
My bonny sweet lass, wear this ribband so blue,
Thus cry the Lieutenants;
My bonny sweet lass, wear this ribband so blue,
'Tis a colour will prove your love faithful and true,
And so may each lover, my lass, prove to you,
True blue,—my sweet lasses.
&c. &c.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Gascoyne
song.
The poll was kept open seven days. At the close the Poll.
numbers stood: Canning, 1,654 ; Gascoyne, 1,444; Sefton,
1,280. 2,876 freemen recorded their votes, being the
largest number ever polled, with the exception of the
election in November 1830.
Lord Molyneux, as the representative of his father, won Lord
golden opinions from all parties. He was in the heyday Molyneux.
of youthful manhood (aged about 22), with a graceful
He was not much of an
presence and winning manners.
orator, but possessed a magnificent voice, which rang
like a trumpet to the remotest corners of the multitudes
he addressed. In winding up the election, after the
chairing, Mr. Canning, in the course of his speech, paid
him the following compliment :
6
Gentlemen, There is no one quality which so effec- Canning's
tually extracts the gall of political animosity as that speech.
generous British spirit which, while it is warm in conflict,
is sedate and temperate after victory; which, while it
asserts itself, does justice to an enemy. Gentlemen, in
VOL. I.
D D
402
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
Public
dinner.
Canning's
speech.
this spirit, you will I am sure, agree with me in feeling,
and so agreeing, will think that I do right in stating, for
myself and you, that the representative of the candidate
whose pretensions alone caused the contest-I will name
him because I name him with honour-Lord Molyneux,
has conducted himself throughout with a propriety, a
moderation, a grace as well as a spirit, which, though
they have not enabled him to fasten his father's pre-
tensions upon Liverpool, must I am sure have established
for himself a claim to the good-will and good opinion of
his neighbours. Of this young nobleman I had no per-
sonal knowledge till I saw him on the hustings; but it
is but justice to say, that in a situation so new and trying
for so young a man, his whole demeanour has been
such as to win, day by day, upon the regard of his
opponents.'
On June 29, Mr. Canning's return was celebrated by
a public dinner in the Music Hall, Bold Street, Mr. H.
Blundell Hollinshead in the chair. In responding to the
toast in his honour, Mr. Canning made the following
observations, which, illustrated by the light of succeeding
events, seem almost like a declaration of faith from the
antediluvians:
K
Gentlemen, my object in political life has always
been, rather to reconcile the nation to the lot which has
fallen to them (surely a most glorious and blessed lot
among nations!) than to aggravate incurable imperfec-
tions, and to point out imaginary and unattainable excel-
lences for their admiration. I have done so, because,
though I am aware that more splendidly popular systems
of government might be devised than that which it is
our happiness to enjoy, it is, I believe in my conscience,
impossible to devise one in which all the good qualities
of human nature should be brought more beneficially into
action--in which there should be as much order and as
much liberty-in which property (the conservative prin-
ciple of society) should operate so fairly, with a just but
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
403
.
IV.
not overwhelming weight-in which industry should be CHAP.
so sure of its reward, talents of their due ascendancy,
and virtue of the general esteem.
The theories of preternatural purity are founded on a
notion of doing away with all these relations, of breaking
all the ties by which society is held together. Property
is to have no influence, talents no respect, virtue no
honours among their neighbourhood. Naked, abstract
political rights are to be set up against the authority of
nature and of reason; and the result of suffrages thus
freed from all the ordinary influences which have ope-
rated upon mankind from the beginning of the world,
is to be the erection of some untried system of politics,
of which it may be sufficient to say, that it could not
last a day-that if it rose with the mists of the morning,
it would dissolve in the noontide sun. Gentlemen, one
ill consequence of these brilliant schemes, even where
they are the visions of unsound imagination, rather than
the suggestions of crafty mischief, is, that they tend to
dissatisfy the minds of the uninformed with the actual
constitution of their country.
To maintain that constitution has been the unvarying
object of my political life; and the maintenance of it, in
these latter days, has, I have said, exposed me to obloquy
and to hatred-to the hatred of those who believe either
their own reputation for sagacity, or their own means of
success, to be connected with a change in the present
institutions of the country.'
1818.
Canning's
speech.
ments in
paving.
Down to about this time Liverpool was one of the Improve-
worst paved towns in the kingdom. The carriage-ways
were pitched with rough boulders. Many of the narrow
streets had no footways, and were paved in the old con-
tinental fashion with a channel along the middle. Where
footways existed they were paved with small angular
pebbles, to which the natives had become hardened, but
which on strangers produced the most uncomfortable
effect. A few cases in which flags had been laid down on
DD 2
404
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
1818.
CHAP. the footways were exhibited to strangers as a curiosity.
The commissioners of the highways at last took heart of
grace, and began to flag the footways and macadamise
some of the principal streets. Church Street was the
first to have the benefit of the improvement. A few
years sufficed to render the town second to none in this
department.
Gas
lighting.
Although gas had been partially introduced and ex-
hibited in the streets in January 1816, and a company
formed for its supply to the inhabitants, it was not until
the session of 1818 that the lighting of the town was
provided for by the Act 58 Geo. III. c. 66., which in-
corporated the company and settled the terms.
Post-office. The state of the postal communication at this time
attracted attention. Letters from Liverpool for the Con-
tinent despatched on Saturday did not leave London until
Wednesday morning. This and other impediments had
caused the correspondence between Liverpool and the
Continent actually to decrease, notwithstanding the general
progress in the trade of the town. A public meeting
was held on October 2, 1818, in the town-hall, the
mayor (Mr. T. Case) in the chair, when a memorial to
the Government was adopted, calling attention to the
grievance and praying for its redress.
Sir
Francis
Burdett.
On October 9 the first stone of the church for the
blind in Hotham Street was laid by the Bishop of Chester
with considerable éclat. There was a procession of the
mayor and council, the clergy, and principal inhabitants,
on foot and in carriages, with the pupils of the school.
The freemasons also attended in force with their insignia,
the ceremony being performed with full masonic honours.
On December 4, 1818, Sir Francis Burdett, then in the
zenith of his popularity, was entertained at a public
dinner by the Liverpool Concentric Society of Reformers.
Nearly 300 guests sat down at table, under the presidency
of the Rev. William Shepherd. In the course of the
chairman's remarks, alluding to the name of the society,
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
405
CHAP.
IV.
1818.
he observed: It is the object of the founders of the
Concentric Society to unite the various classes and de-
scriptions of reformers in one close system of bene-
volence, candour, and liberality to each other; and in Speech of
a firm phalanx as opposed to our common foes, the
advocates of corruption.
6
Upon the general question of the necessity of a reform,
the members of the Concentric Society are united in
opinion. And they gather the necessity of this reform
from speculation, and from what Mr. Pitt was wont to
denominate—“experience and the evidence of facts."
They well know the present composition of the House of
Commons. They well know the nature of ministerial
boroughs. They thoroughly understand, also, the opera-
tions of those parts of the community vulgarly known by
the name of borough-mongers. They are well aware
that, by the proceedings of these men, the authority, or
I should rather say the power, to legislate and to decide
upon the dearest rights and interests of Britons, is made
a marketable commodity, a subject of bargain and sale;
aye, as much so as a bale of cotton or a hogshead of
tobacco. They well remember that the members of that
honourable house for honourable it must be called by
courtesy-have been told to their faces-and none of
them had audacity sufficient to deny the allegation—that
seats in that honourable house are as much a matter of
letting and hire as stalls at a cattle-fair. They ask, are
these things right? are they honest? are they consistent
with the principles of justice and common sense? are
they consistent with the principles of the British Con-
stitution? Of such a system they further ask, is it, or can
it possibly come to good?' Sir Francis Burdett's speech,
was an echo of similar sentiments. The meeting was
also addressed by Sir Charles Wolseley, Bart., Colonel
Williams, Mr. Egerton Smith, and others.
Thomas Campbell, the poet, in the autumn of 1818,
delivered a course of lectures on poetry at the Royal
Institution.
Shepherd.
406
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1819.
of trade.
6
<
The year 1819 opened with general complaints as to
the state of trade and industry. A paragraph having
appeared in the Scotsman' newspaper that'
that Liverpool
Depression is the only place where trade is not complained of, and
that is on account of its vast shipping concerns;' the
Liverpool newspapers hastened to dispel the illusion.
One of them states that there never was a period in our
recollection when pecuniary embarrassments, distress,
and dismay, were so conspicuous as at the present.
Scarcely a day passes over our heads without some com-
mercial failures; and every man we meet in the street
has something to tell us about returned bills, or the
absolute impossibility of obtaining payments.' Another
says: It is acknowledged by everyone that commerce
was never in such a situation as at present. Property of
every kind is depreciating daily. The recent failures
will produce the most disastrous effect, and many who
are not in the slightest degree injured by them directly,
must very soon be seriously affected by the destruction
of all confidence.' 2
Increase of If from this gloomy picture we turn to the actual
shipping. returns, it is evident that, whether carried on to a profit
or a loss, the trade of the town was rapidly increasing.
The statistics for the three years 1817, 1818, 1819, are
as follows:
1817
1818
1819
No. of ships.
Tonnage.
Dock dues.
6,079
653,425
£75,889
6,779
754,690
98,538
7,849
867,318
110,127
The question of the Bank Restriction Act and the return
to cash payments occupied the public attention in the
early part of 1819. For some reason or other, the pro-
posed return to a gold currency did not find favour with
currency. some of the leading Liverpool merchants. A petition
was privately prepared, it was said by some of Mr.
Gold
1 Mercury,' May 7, 1819.
2 Gore's 'Advertiser,' April 22, 1819.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
407
IV.
1819.
Canning's chief supporters, against the proposed change, CHAP.
and carried about for signature. Similar petitions were
also presented from Leeds and Halifax, which Mr.
Canning admitted, on a question from Mr. Tierney in the
House, had really originated in Liverpool. On Tuesday,
February 2, a secret committee was appointed by the
House of Commons to enquire and report on the subject,
of which Mr. (afterwards Sir Robert) Peel was appointed
chairman. On May 6 the committee presented their
report, which recommended the gradual return to cash
payments and a gold currency, to be completed by
May 1, 1823. This report was adopted with some
trifling modifications, and has ever since remained the
law of the land.
C
Kinnear.
In April 1819 a rather remarkable trial took place in Trial of
the Court of King's Bench, The King against Kinnear
and others' for conspiracy to defraud. John Kinnear
had been a merchant in Liverpool. He was said to have
transacted business to a greater extent than any merchant
hitherto known. He had agents for the receipt and
remittance of goods in almost all parts of the world.
His precise returns in trade were never accurately known :
some saying that he returned one million every year,
some two millions, and others even as far as three
millions in the year.
These extensive transactions being based on little or no
capital, and maintained by a system of floating bills, at
length came to an end. He became bankrupt, with
assets almost nil. When he came to attend the meeting
of creditors he drove up in a chariot and four, stating in
reply to remonstrance that his time was too valuable for
paltry economies of that kind.
He then left Liverpool for London, where he joined a
gang of swindlers, who by false pretences defrauded mer-
chants in Manchester, Glasgow, and elsewhere to a large
amount. The charge in the indictment was that the
defendants had combined to set up certain persons who
i
408
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1819.
Atlantic
steamers.
Clyde
steamers.
Orange
riots.
were mere beggars, as merchants of credit and opulence;
that they had placed funds in their hands in order to
enable them to pay ready money in the first instance, to
induce various subjects of his Majesty to give them
credit; and that they intended to convert the goods so
obtained to unfair ends, and to deceive those who had
entrusted them to their care.' Three of the defendants,
Kinnear, Woolf, and Levy, were convicted. Kinnear was
sentenced to imprisonment for two years in the gaol at
Ilchester; Woolf to imprisonment in Coldbath Fields for
two years, and to pay a fine of 10,000l.; Levy to be im-
prisoned in the gaol of Gloucester for two years, and to
pay a fine of 5,000l. It was stated that the conspira-
tors had realised very large amounts by these nefarious
transactions.
On Sunday, June 20, 1819, the first steamer which ever
crossed the Atlantic arrived in Liverpool. She was called
the 'Savannah,' commanded by Capt. Rogers, brother of
Commodore Rogers, and made the passage from Savan-
nah in twenty-six days. She was on her voyage to St.
Petersburg, intended as a present to the Emperor Alex-
ander. Although only 319 tons burthen, she was consi-
dered a splendid specimen of naval architecture. The
leviathans of modern days were at that period altogether
beyond conception. A steamer was launched at Greenock
in June of this year, of the burthen of 200 tons, said to be
the largest hitherto built in Britain.
C
6
In August 1819 the Robert Bruce' steamer was adver-
tised to sail regularly between Liverpool and Greenock,
and the Waterloo' between Liverpool and Belfast, being
the first steam communication between these places. The
latter boat was shortly afterwards transferred to convey
passengers between Liverpool and Dublin.
On July 12 in this year a serious riot took place, in
consequence of a public procession of the Orange societies.
The procession, accompanied by music and banners, with
the usual Orange insignia-the lamb, the ark, the Bible,

LIVERPOOL
MARSEY, 1994.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
409
IV.
1819.
riots.
men dressed in ermine, pontifical robes, leopard skins, CHAP.
&c.-attended divine service at the parish church of St.
Peter, where a sermon was preached, and afterwards
paraded the principal streets. At the east end of Dale Orange
Street a large party of Irish were assembled, armed with
brickbats and stones, and at a given signal a violent attack
was made. The members of the society, not numbering
more than a hundred, were knocked down and trampled
on, the banners torn, and the staves broken into cudgels.
No lives were lost, but many of the Orangemen were
seriously injured. The police arrangements at this time
were weak and imperfect. The town was kept in a state
of uproar and alarm for a great part of the day. The
ringleaders of the mob were, however, secured. At the
Borough Sessions in July eleven of them were tried for a
misdemeanour, and sentenced to three months' imprison-
ment. The Whig party took up the cause of these men,
and opened a subscription for their wives and families.
On October 19, on the expiration of their term of
durance, they were received with acclamations by an
assembled crowd, and decorated with green cockades
and ribbons.
head.
The whole of the Cheshire coast up to this period Rise of
remained in a rural and pastoral condition; but the Birken-
introduction of steam gave such facilities for intercourse,
that enterprise soon found opportunity for its exercise.
On Monday, July 26, the first stone of St. Mary's Church,
Birkenhead, was laid by Lord Kenyon. The building was
designed by Thomas Rickman, and erected at the expense
of Mr. Francis Richard Price, of Bryn-y-Pys, Flintshire,
lord of the manor of Birkenhead. The same paragraph
which gives this information also announces that a com-
modious hotel was in course of building, and would
shortly be opened, surrounded by luxuriant scenery and
beautiful gardens, with an adjoining building for baths,
and a commodious pier and landing-place. Half a cen-
tury has since elapsed. The hotel has run its course, and
410
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1819.
Birken-
head.
Peterloo
massacre.
has been removed off the face of the earth. The gardens
are converted into the world-famed ship-building estab-
lishment of Messrs. Laird, and the beautiful scenery is
now the site of a large, busy, and dingy town. The
ruins of the old Priory still remain, shut up in a corner,
as if retiring from the strange aspect of the modern up-
start world, only serving to remind us of the England that
has passed away.
August 16, 1819, will be rendered ever-memorable in
the history of Lancashire as the date of what is called by
one party the Peterloo massacre, and by another the
Manchester riots. Political opinions would be quite out
of place in a work like the present; I only allude to the
facts for the purpose of recording the manner of their
reception in Liverpool. A large concourse of people
assembled in the then open fields round St. Peter's
Church, Manchester, to consider, as stated in the an-
nouncement, the most legal and effectual means of
obtaining a reform in the Commons House of Parlia-
ment.' The great demagogue, Hunt, was present as
leader and chairman. According to one account the
meeting had just commenced, and was proceeding peace-
ably and quietly, when, without previous warning, the
Manchester Yeomanry Cavalry, about one hundred in
number, charged upon the unarmed multitude, sabre in
hand, and cut down all within their reach. The opposite
account attributes to the assembly all the preparations
and aspect of a riot, and alleges that the attack of the
cavalry was provoked, and that it really prevented
greater mischief. The latter version was adopted by
the Government, who thanked the Manchester magis-
states for their judicious conduct in suppressing the
alleged riots. A very painful state of excitement was
caused throughout the country by this untoward event.
In Liverpool a requisition was presented to the mayor
on August 23 to call a public meeting, 'to consider the
meeting. propriety of addressing his Royal Highness the Prince.
Public
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
411
CHAP.
IV.
Regent; vindicating those who are friendly to the consti-
tutional measure of a reform in Parliament from the
calumnies which the Ministry and many of the magis- 1819.
trates of the county have lately thrown out respecting meetings.
them; and earnestly exhorting his Royal Highness
to pay the earliest possible attention to the rights of an unre-
presented people.' The mayor refused to call the proposed
meeting, which was then called together by public adver-
tisement, and was held in Clayton Square on Monday,
August 30, Colonel Williams in the chair. The mayor
issued a placard suggesting that, to avoid tumult and dis-
order, those who disapproved of the objects of the meeting
should refrain from attending. The Liverpool Light Horse
were mustered, and a multitude of special constables sworn
in, to guard against a possible breach of the peace. The
rain fell in torrents, but the public excitement was so
great, that a very large number of people were in
attendance. The meeting was addressed by the chair-
man, by the Rev. W. Shepherd, and Messrs. Ottiwell and
John Wood, Egerton and John Smith, and Rushton. An
address was voted to the Prince Regent calling for a reform
in the Commons House of Parliament.
Public meetings were held in London and in most of
the principal towns in the kingdom condemnatory of the
proceedings of the magistrates in Manchester, and calling
for a rigid enquiry. A requisition was presented to the
mayor of Liverpool to call a public meeting for this pur-
pose, which was refused. On September 29 a meeting
was held in Clayton Square, according to announcement,
'to consider the propriety of presenting a petition to the
Prince Regent, praying his Royal Highness to institute a
strict, solemn, and efficient enquiry into the proceedings
which took place at Manchester on and subsequent to the
16th day of August last.'
The Earl of Sefton took the chair, and strongly recom-
mended that no other topic should be introduced but the
necessity of a full enquiry into the lamentable occurrence.
Public
412
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
IV.
1819.
Contests
for the
The meeting was addressed by the Rev. W. Shepherd,
Messrs. Joseph Sandars, Edward Rushton, William Rath-
bone, Colonel Williams, Dr. Crompton, and others. Dr.
Crompton endeavoured to diverge into a disquisition on
reform, which caused some disturbance, which was
quelled by the chairman ruling that the subject was irre-
levant to the purpose of the meeting. An address to the
Prince Regent was adopted, which received 10,400
signatures.
During several successive years about this time the
mayoralty. mayoralty seems to have been an honour somewhat
highly coveted, the five elections from 1817 to 1821
having been all contested ones. On St. Luke's day, 1819,
two candidates were proposed, Mr. (afterwards Sir John)
Tobin and Mr. Thos. Leyland, banker, who was put for-
ward by the Whig party on every possible occasion,
whether for mayor or member of Parliament. A brisk poll
ensued, which was terminated within the day in favour
of Mr. Tobin, by 722 votes to 683. A statement was
made at the time, and not contradicted, that every free-
man who voted for Mr. Tobin received a ticket which
entitled him to six shillings on demand.
This was pro-
bably considered as compensation for the loss of a day's
work.
Cobbett.
6
In November 1819 William Cobbett returned from
America by way of Liverpool. He arrived on Sunday
the 21st, but was detained in the river by the quarantine
regulations until Tuesday the 23rd. He was received on
the quay by a great crowd, who hailed his landing by
loud cheers. The following statement is very charac-
teristic: On Wednesday morning he proceeded to the
Custom-house, whither his luggage had been brought up
from the vessel to undergo the usual inspection, and
where a great number of persons had congregated to see
him. When the last trunk was opened, and sundry
deeds and manuscripts removed, a division of woollen
appeared; and Mr. Cobbett, standing up, said to the sur-
413
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
CHAP.
IV.
1819.
rounding spectators, "Here are the bones of the late
Thomas Paine !" This intelligence excited a sudden and
visible sensation, and the crowd pressed forward to see
the contents of the package. Mr. Cobbett remarked, Cobbett.
that "Great indeed must that man have been whose very
bones attract such attention." The officer took out the
coffin-plate inscribed, "Thomas Paine, aged 74, died 8th
June, 1809;" and having lifted up several of the bones
replaced the whole and passed them.'
On Friday, the 26th, Mr. Cobbett attended at a public
meeting in Clayton Square, and addressed a considerable
multitude from an open carriage. In the evening he was
entertained at a public dinner, to which about sixty gen-
tlemen sat down, the beverage drank being chiefly water:
Cobbett himself being a water-drinker long before the
profession of teetotalism was customary. Mr. Cobbett
spoke in his usual racy style. The meeting was also
addressed by Mr. Edward Rushton, Mr. John Smith, and
others of his admirers.
In consequence of necessary improvements in Water Demolition
Street, the corporation resolved to demolish the venerable of Tower.
old Tower, which had been identified with the history of
the town for 500 years. The record of its history is
reserved for a future chapter. The materials were sold
by auction for 2007. on Friday, December 10, 1819, and
the building was soon afterwards removed.
On December 27 a meeting of the Whig party was
held for the purpose of adopting an address to Mr. John
Cam Hobhouse (Sir J. C. Hobhouse, afterwards Lord
Broughton). Mr. Hobhouse, in addressing a public
meeting at Westminster, held to remonstrate against the
so-called Manchester massacre, had made use of very
strong language on the Parliamentary proceedings. This
was held to be a contempt of Parliamentary privilege,
and on the Speaker's warrant he was arrested by the
sergeant-at-arms and committed to Newgate. The Liver-
pool address was numerously signed and presented, which
Address to
Hobhouse,
414
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
IV.
CHAP. brought forth a suitable reply. Owing to the demise of
the Crown, and the consequent prorogation of Parlia-
ment, Mr. Hobhouse was set at liberty on February 28.
1820.
Suffering
of the
poor.
Presenta-
tion to
Blundell
Hollins-
head.
Death of
During the winter of 1819-20, owing to want of
employment and the severity of the weather, the poor
suffered greatly. A subscription was entered into for
their relief, which realised 1,460l. 13s. 3d.
In January 1820, Mr. Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead,
who had filled the civic chair in 1818-19, was presented
by public subscription with a handsome testimonial of
plate, consisting of a candelabrum, a pair of soup tureens
and covers, and a pair of wine coolers, bearing the follow-
ing inscription: To Jonathan Blundell Hollinshead, Esq.,
Mayor of Liverpool, in grateful remembrance of his public
services, and particularly of his improving the principal
approach to the centre of the town by the widening of
Dale Street, these five pieces of plate are respectfully
presented by a considerable number of his fellow towns-
men, 1819.'
6
On January 29, 1820, old King George III. departed
George III. this life, and was succeeded by the first gentleman in
Europe.' The day of the deceased monarch's interment,
February 16, was observed in Liverpool with great so-
lemnity. The shops were closed, and business of all
kinds was suspended. Divine service was celebrated in
all the places of worship.
Reign of
The close of the reign of George III. is coincident with
George III. an important change in our commercial history. The
reign had been on the whole a prosperous one for the
country, though marked with some serious disasters. We
had lost our British American Colonies; but had gained
in their stead Canada, many of the West India Islands,
and the Cape Colony. India, where the commencement
of the reign recognised only a few penal settlements held
on sufferance, had grown at its close into a mighty
empire. British manufactures had subsidised a powerful
ally in the force of steam, which opened the way to un-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
415
CHAP.
IV.
1820.
progress.
limited dominion over the powers of nature; and com-
merce had begun experimentally to test the capacity of
the same force for dominion over the ocean.
The popu-
lation had more than doubled, and wealth had increased General
in more than an equal proportion. All this, however, was
on what might be called the old lines. These were soon
to be overstepped, and a wide and boundless domain
opened up to British enterprise. The locomotive powers
of steam, both by sea and land, aided by the facilities of
the electric wire, were soon to revolutionise all commer-
cial operations, and to give an impulse ever accelerating
to British industry. Nor was progress confined to the
material elements of prosperity. Improved laws, better
fiscal regulations, oppressive duties repealed, restrictions
on commerce abolished, defects in our constitution
amended, religious disabilities swept away-these are a
few of the directions in which public opinion was soon to
advance. The remainder of our story will indicate the
part taken by Liverpool in aiding and contributing to
these onward movements.
416
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
CHAPTER V.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.-REIGNS OF GEORGE IV.
AND WILLIAM IV.-1820-1837.
СНАР.
V.
1820.
ON Saturday, February 19, the ceremony of proclaiming
the new monarch was performed with all suitable splen-
dour. The bells struck up merry peals, flags floated on
George IV. all the public buildings, and a new royal standard, pre-
pared for the occasion, waved from the town-hall. All
the ships in the docks and harbour displayed their na-
tional flags, and brought out every strip of bunting. A
procession was organised on a very extensive scale. It
was headed by the Liverpool Light Horse and a detach-
ment of the 71st Regiment, at that time quartered in the
town. The various trades and societies followed, with
their flags and insignia, accompanied by bands of music.
Proclama- The mayor was accompanied by the magistrates, clergy,
tion.
council, and principal inhabitants, who vied with each
other in the exuberant display of loyalty. The pro-
cession paraded the principal streets, the proclamation
being read at the town-hall, at the market-place (at
that time round St. George's Church), and at the Custom-
house. On the return of the procession the military
formed in two lines along Castle Street and fired four
volleys, after which the bands struck up God Save the
King,' amid the huzzas of the people.
6
On Thursday, February 24, a meeting was called by the

LIVERPOOL, PROM THE MERSEX, 19 11.
THE PRINCE S
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
417
•
CHAP.
1820.
address
mayor at the town-hall, pursuant to a requisition, for V
the purpose of considering the propriety of addressing
his present Majesty, condoling with him on the death of
his venerated parent, and congratulating him upon his Meeting to
own accession to the throne of these realms.' The the King.
meeting was very numerously attended by persons of
all political parties. A loyal and dutiful address was
moved by Mr. J. B. Hollinshead, seconded by Mr.
William Rathbone, and unanimously adopted. A scene
then took place of a somewhat tumultuous and rather
ridiculous character. It had been arranged that one
gentleman of each party should be united with the
mayor in the presentation of the address, and Messrs.
Adam Lodge and Richard Rawson were nominated for
the purpose; but-Dis aliter visum est.' A Quaker
gentleman in the body of the meeting wore his hat on
his head, which was rudely knocked off by one of his
neighbours. This brought up Mr. Rushton, the fiery
Hotspur' of the period, who protested warmly against
the interference, and called on the mayor for protection.
Mr. Rathbone-himself a Quaker-stood up before the
mayor, and placing his hat on his head, indignantly in-
sisted on the right of every sect to maintain their own
conscientious opinions. Mr. Adam Lodge took the oppo- Adam
site view, and loudly exclaimed: If people will not con-
form to the decorums of society, they ought to keep out
of that society.' This was received with a storm of disap-
probation; and when Mr. Lodge's name was proposed it
was negatived, and the names of Messrs. Hollinshead and
Rathbone agreed on.
6
This incident gave rise to the following epigram :—
THE FALL OF ADAM,
Big with the prospects of his future fate,
Lo! polished Adam, as he sits elate,
Chuckles to think how soon, 'midst plaudits loud,
The vote shall pass from the discerning crowd,
VOL. I.
EE
Lodge.
418
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1820.
Election.
Nomina-
tion.
That he shall bear our homage to the throne,
Present the town's address, and show his own;
How soon 'mong lords and ministers he'll range,
And how much longer he will be on change;
Nay, who can tell (delightful thought to Madam)
If Tobin rise 'Sir John,' he may-'Sir Adam.'
O! ill-starr'd mortal, that a Quaker's hat
Should blight thy harvest, lay thy honours flat,
And doom thee 'stead of bows from knights and earls,
To stay at home, and mind thy pots and pearls.'
The address was presented in due course; and at the
levée, on May 11, Mr. Tobin received the honour of
knighthood.
The new Parliament was called for April 21, 1820;
the election was fixed for March 8.
The friends of Mr. Canning were early in the field,
having summoned a meeting for February 18, two days
after the funeral of the deceased king. His address soon
after appeared. General Gascoyne's address is dated
February 18. The Whigs were sadly at a loss for a can-
didate. They first presented a requisition to Dr. Cromp-
ton, signed by 1,000 inhabitants, to which he favourably
replied on March 3. Not content with this, a meeting
was held at the Tennis Court, Gradwell Street, on March
7, when it was resolved, notwithstanding all their pre-
vious disappointments, again to put forward the name of
Mr. Leyland. Two other addresses were issued, one in
the name of Watkin Llewellyn Jones, Bampton House,
Glamorganshire; the other in the name of Constantine
Wyvill, Blechington Park, Yorkshire. Whether these
were genuine, or mere political squibs, I have no means
of ascertaining; most probably the latter.
On Wednesday, March 8, the election began. Mr.
Canning was proposed by Colonel Bolton, seconded by
Mr. H. B. Hollinshead; General Gascoyne was nomi-
nated by Mr. J. B. Aspinall, seconded by Mr. John
Leigh. Dr. Crompton had for his proposer Colonel Wil-
liams, seconded by Mr. R. E. Harvey; Mr. Leyland was
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
419
proposed by Mr. John Harvey, seconded by Mr. Edward
Rushton.
CHAP.
V.
1820.
The contest was hopeless from the first. The whole
was a mere farce, or rather it was considered by the Election.
Whigs as a protest against corruption and influence. Mr.
Rushton concluded a vigorous philippic on the hustings
against Mr. Canning with the following words :- The
Right Honourable gentleman, since his arrival in Liver-
pool, has added another title to those he has already
acquired. He has waved the wand and muttered the
spell of the magician; and that phantom, which in 1816
he thought to treat with contempt, again appears before
him. No wonder he should be appalled by its reappear-
ance, for it is the ghost of that freedom which he and his
coadjutors have so basely murdered; and whenever he
presents himself at the bar of the public, this awful shade
shall appear before him; nor shall it be appeased until
strict justice be administered between the oppressor and
the oppressed.'
Mr. Canning's wit and skill in repartee never shone
brighter than in his speeches at this election. It was
meat and drink to this consummate master of fence to
receive the attack of some rash and inexperienced poli-
tical opponent, whose furious lunge he would quietly
parry, and in the twinkling of an eye transfix him with
his merciless wit. At this election he had ample scope
for this propensity. Dr. Crompton, of Eton House, one
of the candidates (father of the late Mr. Justice Cromp-
ton), was one of the class preferred by Cæsar
Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights.
His jolly, rotund person was the incarnation of good
humour. His proposer and principal supporter, Colonel
Williams, was of the very opposite character. Of a
lean, wiry person, the milk of human kindness in him
seemed to have turned sour. As a magistrate he was
EE 2
420
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
Dr.
1820.
the terror of small delinquents, and the bête noire of the
country waggoners. His election addresses partook of
the acidity of his temperament. The rasp and the file
were the weapons the readiest to his hand. It will
easily be seen what a temptation this par nobile
fratrum' presented to the exercise of Canning's tren-
chant weapon. I will quote an instance or two.
Dr. Crompton, in his speech on the hustings after his
Crompton. nomination, remarked: A rumour has been spread
abroad that my opposition to the return of our late
representatives is wholly vexatious. Fool indeed should
I be to come forward and put myself to every inconve-
nience in a place where I live, to such a purpose; and
still greater fool to expose myself thereby to the severe
censures of Mr. Canning, whose exquisite wit and humour
can turn into ridicule everything, both sacred and human.
The impartial page of history informs us that Nero fiddled
while Rome burned. Mr. Canning smiled when Colonel
Williams flashed his crimes in his face."
The mayor here interposed, requesting the worthy
doctor not to indulge in personalities, and assuring him
of his protection. The doctor continued:
I thank you, Mr. Mayor, for the offer of your pro-
tection, but I fear not the face of man. I was observing,
when I was interrupted, that while Rome fiddled Nero
burned. (Laughter.) I meant to say, that while Rome
burned Nero fiddled. But I cannot smile amidst the
ruins of my country. When I look at what England
was in the days of her glory, when there was plenty in
every cottage of the realm, and look at what she now is,
my heart sinks within me. When I see Englishmen op-
pressed in the manner they are, then my indignation is
roused. I am indignant at seeing their hard earnings
squandered away on useless placemen and pensioners.'
To this Mr. Canning replied, at the close of his speech,
as follows:
'My new antagonist has touched upon a variety of
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
421
CHAP.
1820.
Canning's
speeches.
general topics into which I am not disposed to follow V.
him; but he has addressed nothing personally to me,
except some vague and, I do assure him, most exagge-
rated apprehensions of the treatment which he may ex-
pect at my hands. I have already assured you, sir, that
on the present occasion I had no intention of saying any-
thing; but even my silence was not safe from the scruti-
nising jealousy of the worthy doctor, for it seems he dis-
cerned something in my looks while the honourable colonel
was speaking which alarmed him for the colonel's safety
and his own. I smiled! If I did so, I assure him it was
a smile of complacency, or perhaps of amusement, but in
no degree of contumely or evil intention. The honour-
able doctor, indeed, has tempted me somewhat high with
his references to ancient history-with his allusion to the
conflagration of Rome, and to the Emperor Nero's musical
accomplishments. Of that allusion I have not, to this mo-
ment, made out the application; but if he intended (which
seems the most probable solution of it) to compare the
honourable colonel's eloquence to a conflagration, and his
own to a musical instrument, I have only to hope that if
I offended by smiling at the colonel's fire, I may have
made atonement by looking grave at the doctor's
fiddling.'
During the progress of the election it had been an-
nounced that Colonel Williams was to stand for the
representation of the county, to be proposed by Dr.
Crompton. In his closing speech, after his election and
chairing, Mr. Canning thus alludes to the circumstance:
It was surely no small presumption, especially on the
part of those who are continually declaiming against the
undue interference of powerful individuals, and against.
the servile surrender of the freedom of election-it was
no small presumption, I say, for any such party to think
that they might with one hand grasp the representation of
Liverpool, and with the other indicate the representative
of the county. Gentlemen, the process by which this
422
CHAP.
V.
1820.
speeches.
66
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
""
twofold operation was to be brought about was one of a
curious kind. It reminds me of what I have read, in
some of the political pamphlets of, I believe, the reign of
Canning's Queen Anne, of an empiric, who, not liking to sound his
own praises, but wishing to have them sounded, hit upon
a notable expedient of obtaining the benefit without in-
curring the reproach, of such a proclamation A youth
preceded him in the crowd, crying with a loud voice,
My father cures all sorts of diseases. The doctor
marched behind him, with a sedate and solemn step,
simply declaring, "The youth says true." Now, Colonel
Williams appears to have acted, on our hustings, the part
of the ingenuous youth, when he proposed Dr. Crompton
to you as a healer of all the diseases of the political con-
stitution. Dr. Crompton followed, with a modest and
measured pace, not singing his own praises, but admit-
ting the truth of the praises which had been sung.
But one good turn deserves another; and the opera-
tion in hand was, as I have described it, twofold. The
peculiar inducement held out to you to receive Dr.
Crompton as your representative was, that he was
in possession of some great specific which would enable
him to restore peace to the community, and to heal the
differences by which the nation is unfortunately dis-
tracted. What this panacea was we could never ex-
tract from the doctor on the hustings. Thus much only
could we learn, that it was some cabalistic name which
he was to pronounce upon the hustings at Lancaster,
which would still the popular storm and diffuse liberty
and contentment throughout the country. Well, when
the time arrived, and Dr. Crompton departed for Lan-
caster, we found that the scene exhibited a few days
before at Liverpool was to be acted over again at the
county town, with a change only in the order of the
dramatis persona. Dr. Crompton was now to be the
herald of the praises of his proposer; and the name of
Williams, pronounced in the Shire-hall, was the charm
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
423
by which the county was to be lulled into peace and
exalted into glory. Colonel Williams's election for the
county was the prescription by which all diseases were to
be healed. Pity that the county should reject the dose;
but natural enough that, after that rejection, you should
upon his return to you reject the doctor.'
There were a considerable number of squibs issued,
but none of any very special merit. The prose portion
was principally distinguished either by dulness or scur-
rility. One or two of the poetical ones may be picked
out for notice. It must be remembered that scarlet was
Mr. Canning's colour; blue, General Gascoyne's; and
pink and green, those of the Whigs.
UP WITH THE PINK.
Britannia's sun, not yet gone down,
Through many a garish cloud is gleaming,
With lightning glance, and louring frown,
On hostile flag and pennon streaming.
'Ah woe,' she cries, 'my vaunted blue,
Hath joined the warrior's scarlet hue,
To girdle round corruption's crest,
Or badge the fallen bondsman's breast.'
She deems it hard, those colours bright,
Of glory erst a joint partaker,
Should, when the foe has leagued his might,
In peril's trying hour forsake her.
She mourns the gallant soldier's dye
Should bloom on Freedom's enemy;
Or that her veteran navy blue,
Should blossom 'midst corruption's crew.
'My sons,' she cries, 'the hour is meet,
The bribe or threat, if nobly spurning,
Thoul't crush the hydra 'neath thy feet,
Which busy coalition's forming.
Go drain the gold from every vein,
Till not a fang or head remain ;
Arise an infant Hercules,
And robe thyself in mightiness.'
CHAP.
V.
1820.
Canning's
speeches.
Whig
song.
424
CHAP.
V.
1820.
Election
squibs.
Tory song.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
Then freemen rise for victory,
And prize the boon your fathers gave you,
For when the hour of danger's nigh,
No earthly power but that can save you.
Then raise the rose, and let it tower,
Enwreathed with green o'er every flower,
Up with the pink the rallying cry,
A glorious fall or victory.
The discomfiture of the Whigs was celebrated by the
Tories in the following triumphant strain, probably from
the pen of Mr. Richmond:
Good Doctor, I fear we shall make a bad bout of it,
Indeed, from the poll there can be little doubt of it,
Our mob are so downcast they can't make a shout of it,
Before, I ne'er knew them to fail.
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
1
Dennison ¹ tell me, what can the matter be?
Where can cadaverous Harvey the hatter be?
We can never get on without ale.
Of Canning beware, he's confounded satirical,
Your plans of reform he pronounces empirical,
If you get off scot free 'twill be next to a miracle,
At retort he was ne'er found to fail.
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Radicals tell me, what can the matter be?
Where can Egerton's 2 puns and his clatter be?
I fear that all will not avail.
Billy Shepherd 3 they say is laid up with the gout again,
And none left but impudent Rushton to spout again ;
Vagabond Ryley declines to come out again,
Because he can't get any ale.
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Skeleton Ryley never will fatter be;
4
Where can Ottiwell's son with his chatter be?
In vain he may bluster and rail.
1 Henry Denison, attorney, Castle Street.
Egerton Smith, editor of the 'Mercury' newspaper.
' Rev. William Shepherd, of Gateacre.
This refers to Mr. John Wood, M.P. for Preston, son of Ottiwell Wood.
425
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
George Williams has vanished since Canning so cut him up,
The Preston pot-wallopers won't even put him up,
Unless he grows cooler 'tis better to shut him up,
Instantly nought can avail.
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, Peter Woods, declare what can the matter be?
Where can our friends so used to bespatter be?
All absconded for want of some ale.
CHAP.
V.
1820.
Election
squibs.
The poll continued open seven days, and at the close Poll.
the numbers stood: Canning, 1,635; Gascoyne, 1,552;
Crompton, 345; Leyland, 125.
The chairing took place the day after the election. Chairing.
After parading the principal streets, Mr. Canning ad-
dressed his supporters from the windows of Colonel
Bolton's house, Duke Street.
On Saturday, March 18, Mr. Canning was entertained
at a public dinner in the Music Hall, Colonel Bolton in
the chair. On this occasion the great orator expounded
his political faith in one of the most finished and elaborate
speeches he ever delivered.
and
During the election, amongst the many bitter attacks Canning
made on Mr. Canning, he was charged with serving under Sidmouth.
Lord Sidmouth, whom in earlier years he had lampooned
in his powerful satiric vein. The reference was to a
jeu d'esprit, perpetrated by Canning in his youth on
Lord Sidmouth (then Mr. Addington), who commonly
went under the sobriquet of the Doctor.' I append i
here as a matter of curiosity. There can be no doubt
of its authenticity, as its authorship was publicly attri-
buted to Canning by Mr. Ponsonby in a debate in the
House of Commons and not denied. It is entitled
A PARODY.
My name's the Doctor; on the Berkshire hills
My father purged his patients—a wise man,
Whose constant care was to increase his store,
And keep his eldest son-myself at home.
426
CHAP.
V.
1820.
Canning
and
Sidmouth.
Rushton.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
But I had heard of politics, and longed
To sit within the Commons House, and get
A place, and luck gave what my sire denied.
Some thirteen years ago, or ere my fingers
Had learn'd to mix a potion, or to bleed,
I flatter'd Pitt; I cringed, and sneaked and fawned,
And thus became the Speaker. I alone,
With pompous gait, and peruke full of wisdom,
Th' unruly members could control, or call
The House to order.
Tir'd of the chair, I sought a bolder flight,
And grasping at his power, I struck my friend,
Who held that place that now I've made my own.
Proud of my triumph, I disdained to court,
The patron hand which fed me—or to seem
Grateful to him who raised me into notice.
And when the king had called his Parliament
To meet him here convened in Westminster,
With all my fam'ly crowding at my heels,
My brothers, cousins, followers, and my son,
I show'd myself Prime Doctor to the country.
My end's attained, my only aim has been,
To keep my place—and gild my humble name.
This was the last appearance of Mr. Canning on the
hustings at Liverpool. Before finally taking leave of the
scene, let me record a circumstance which manifests the
kindness of heart and generosity of the great statesman.
I have often mentioned above the name of Mr. Edward
Rushton as a leading speaker of the Reform party, and
an especial antagonist of Mr. Canning. He was at this
time in the vigour of youth, with a noble presence, a fine
voice, and an excitability of manner which acquired for
him from Cobbett the epithet of Roaring Rushton.'
Mr. Canning was capable of appreciating capacity and
promise even in his opponents. He strongly advised
Mr. Rushton to go to the bar, for which his qualifications
seemed especially adapted. He was at this time a printer
and stationer. He took the advice, and in due course
was called to the honourable position of an advocate.
It cannot be said that he quite realised the sanguine
6
brawn by
Zoustin. Haq,
LIVERPOOL, FROM THE MERSEK, NO II.
COMMENCING AT THE NRIF BATHS KING CAORGE S A
Bobi Wall. din.

NINETEENTH CENTURY.
427
V.
1820.
expectations of his friends. Probably he entered the CHAP.
profession too late in life. He was employed by the Whig
Government on several royal commissions, and ulti-
mately was appointed stipendiary magistrate for the
borough, in which office he was much respected, and
which he retained till his decease in April 1851.
On May 24 a public meeting was held in the town- Meeting on
hall, pursuant to a requisition to the mayor, ' to consider pauperism.
the alarming increase of pauperism, and to petition the
Legislature to take the subject into its most serious con-
sideration, and to adopt measures to remedy the evil.'
Although it was expressly stated that no party politics
were to be introduced, the whole of the speakers belonged
to the Whig party. It is a curious fact that for a number
of years before and after the period we are considering,
the oratory of the town was almost entirely in the hands-
of the reformers. The mantle of Mr. Canning had cer-
tainly not fallen on the shoulders of any of his supporters.
Public meetings were held at short intervals on all
manner of subjects, and in all, the same names per-
petually recur; when the opposite party did put in an
appearance, they sometimes came to grief, as in the case
of Mr. Adam Lodge noticed above. On the present
occasion the mayor (Sir John Tobin) presided. The meet-
ing was addressed by Dr. Crompton, Colonel Williams,
Messrs. Booth, Egerton and John Smith, Rushton, and
others. Mr. Dutton delivered a noble and manly speech.
Some startling facts were brought forward as to the
increasing poverty of the working classes, attributing it
in great measure to the high price of provisions. A
string of resolutions was carried, several of which com-
plained of the corn laws and restrictions on commerce as
a main cause of the evil.
Soon after the accession of George IV., the public
mind began to be greatly excited on the subject of the
unfortunate Queen Caroline. In few places was greater Queen
sympathy felt for her and expressed than in Liverpool. Caroline.
428
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1820.
Queen
CHAP. May 17 being her birthday, the bells of the parish
churches rang a merry peal. A holiday was observed at
the custom-house; flags were hoisted on the churches,
on the shipping in the harbour, and on most of the public
buildings, but not on the town-hall. Amongst the elec-
tion squibs the following stanzas were circulated:
Caroline.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen.
Britons who her adore,
Reserve your joy in store,
Hail her to Albion's shore,
God save the Queen.
Pepare her golden crown,
Place her on England's throne,
Long may she reign.
Sound her praise to the skies,
Loud mingle with your cries,
Scorn for her enemies,
God save the Queen.
Oh God, thy mercies send,
Be thou her guide and friend,
As thou hast been.
Great George our king incline,
To smile on Caroline,
May all her cares be thine,
God save the Queen.
From this time until the withdrawal of the bill of
pains and penalties in November, the people of Liverpool
continued to take an intense interest in the proceedings.
Public opinion was to some extent divided, but the great
majority, without pronouncing any decided opinion as to
her guilt or innocence, sympathised with her as an op-
pressed and injured woman, more sinned against than
sinning.' The lead was of course taken by the Whig
party, but the Tory party kept aloof from any hostile
demonstration, probably influenced by the conduct of
Mr. Canning, who separated himself from his colleagues
6
429
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
V.
in their prosecution of the Queen,¹ and shortly afterwards CHAP.
resigned his office in the Ministry.
1820.
Public
On August 15 a public meeting was held in the
Tennis Court, for the purpose of considering the pro- meeting.
priety of presenting an address to her Majesty. Colonel
Williams took the chair. The meeting was addressed by
Mr. Egerton Smith, Mr. Ottiwell Wood, and others. An
address of allegiance and attachment was adopted, and
received in a few days 24,300 signatures. It was for-
warded to her Majesty, who returned a suitable reply.
imme-
•
of the
The news of the withdrawal of the bill on November 9, Acquittal
was received in Liverpool with great rejoicings. The Queen.
day of its arrival being Sunday, prevented any
diate demonstration; but placards were issued calling a
meeting in Queen Square on the following day, to
consider the best mode of celebrating the victory of her
Majesty by a general illumination and other demonstra-
tions of joy. On the appearance of the placards the
mayor sent for the printer and enquired the names of
the parties who gave him instructions. Having requested
their attendance, he expressed his fears lest some dis-
turbance might be caused by their intended proceedings,
and requested that discretion and caution should be
observed, which was promised. The meeting was duly Public
held, and attended by a dense crowd. Colonel Williams meeting.
took the chair. The assembly was addressed by the
usual Reform orators, and resolutions were passed ex-
pressive of abhorrence of the late persecution to which
the Queen had been subject, with joy at its defeat.
With respect to the celebration, the following deter-
mination was come to:
That as we cannot recommend, without the sanction
of the public authorities, the usual mode of demonstrat-
ing our joy on great occasions by a general illumination,
we recommend all the friends of her Majesty to join in
1 Mr. Canning on a former occasion had passed a warm eulogium on the
queen, whom he had designated as 'the life, grace, and ornament of society.'
430
V.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. public procession, to take place on Monday next, at
twelve o'clock, to proceed through the different parts of
the town.'
1820.
Queen's
procession.
Public
dinner.
The procession took place on Monday, November 20,
and was probably the most numerous which ever pro-
menaded the town. The church bells were rung; the
shipping displayed their flags, and a royal salute was
fired from a battery of seven carronades extemporised
for the occasion. Clayton Square was the starting-place,
whence the procession perambulated the principal streets,
returning to the same point. The van consisted of 125
gentlemen on horseback, carrying white silk bannerets,
preceded by the British standard with four trumpeters on
horseback. Then followed the members of the various
trade societies, to the number as stated of 7,000, with
their insignia and bands of music, and after these a
miscellaneous following of those interested. The total
number taking part in the procession is stated to have
been not less than 35,000 persons, and occupied an hour
in passing any single point. On their return to Clayton
Square a version of God save the Queen' was sung in
full chorus, and after a series of hearty cheers, the multi-
tudes dispersed.
6
In the evening a public dinner was held at the Neptune
Hotel, Colonel Williams in the chair, and on Thursday,
November 23, another dinner took place at the York
Hotel, Mr. Thomas Booth in the chair; Messrs. Joseph
Birch, M.P., Arthur Heywood, William Rathbone, Joseph
Sandars, John Ashton Yates, and other Liverpool mag-
nates on the Liberal side, being present.
The agitation soon subsided, and the instinctive loyalty
of Liverpool again awakened with the Coronation, and
the King's visit to Ireland in the following year. The
feeling on behalf of the Queen was kept alive in Liver-
pool by the conduct of the Rev. Richard Blacow, the
A.D. 1821. incumbent of St. Mark's. On January 27, 1821, he
preached and subsequently published a sermon, in which
Blacow.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
431
V.
he used the grossest terms in speaking of the Queen. The СНАР.
following is an extract:
The Radicals have one feature about them, even 1821.
more hideous and disgusting than the Jacobins them- Blacow.
selves. They fell down and worshipped the Goddess of
Reason, a most respectable and decent sort of being, com-
pared with that which the Radicals have set up as the
idol of their worship. They have elevated the Goddess
of Lust on the pedestal of shame-an object of all others
most congenial to their taste, the most deserving of their
homage, the most worthy of their adoration. After
exhibiting her claims to their favour in two distant
quarters of the globe-after compassing sea and land
with her guilty paramour, to gratify to the full her im-
pure desires, and even polluting the Holy Sepulchre with
her presence, to which she was carried in mock majesty
astride upon an ass¹-she returned to this hallowed soil,
so hardened in sin, so bronzed with infamy, so callous to
every feeling of decency or of shame as to go on Sunday
last, clothed in the mantle of adultery, to kneel down at
the altar of that God "who is of purer eyes than to
behold iniquity," when she ought rather to have stood
barefoot in the aisle, covered with a sheet, as white as
"unsunned snow," doing penance for her sins.'
prose-
with much more to the same effect. For this Blacow
libel Mr. Blacow was prosecuted by Mr. Brougham, the cuted.
Queen's Attorney-General, and on November 26, 1821,
he was sentenced by Mr. Justice Holroyd to pay a fine
of 100%., to be imprisoned in the Marshalsea for six
months, and afterwards to find sureties to keep the peace
for five years. A subscription was entered into by some
of his friends to reimburse him, but it was discouraged by
1 Foot-note in the original :-
"Enter Jerusalem on an ass,
Then on the stage act columbine;
Attend with Bergami at mass,
Then to St. Paul's-Oh! Caroline.'
432
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1821.
Ball.
Pauper-
ism.
Edmund
Kean.
a letter from the bishop to the churchwardens, strongly
disapproving of the course.
On October 12, 1820, the large ball-room at the town-
hall, then recently finished, was opened by a ball and
supper given by the mayor (Sir John Tobin) for which
about 1,000 cards of invitation were issued. Amongst
the company were Lord Stanley (13th Earl of Derby),
Lord Molyneux (3rd Earl of Sefton), Sir Thomas and
Lady Stanley of Hooton, Mr. and Lady Georgiana
Grenfell, &c.
The affairs of the parish attracted considerable atten-
tion about this time, the increase of pauperism having
led to a considerable advance in the rates. The amount
expended on the casual poor had increased from 5,5881.
in 1814-15 to 18,5197. in 1819-20. A meeting of
merchants and other inhabitants was held on July 12,
1820, to consider this alarming state of affairs, when an
influential committee was appointed to investigate the
accounts and report generally on parochial matters.
This committee issued several reports, and on their recom-
mendation a memorial was addressed to the church-
wardens and overseers, signed by most of the leading
business firms, requesting the adoption of the acts recently
passed, called Sturges Bourne's Acts for the improved
management of parish affairs, and amending the laws for
the relief of the poor.
On October 6, 1820, Edmund Kean, the great tragedian,
took his leave of the Liverpool public on the eve of his
departure for America. He performed in the character
of Othello in his very best style. After the fall of the
curtain, he delivered an address in which he said: 'I
should not fully do justice to my feelings if I did not
remark most respectfully that in this town I have not
experienced that warmth of approbation and that alacrity
of attention with which I have been honoured in other
large cities and towns of the three kingdoms.' This
naturally gave considerable offence. The coldness of
433
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
V.
which the great actor complained, was not the want of CHAP.
appreciation of the artiste, but the disapprobation of the
conduct of the man.
On St. Luke's Day (October 18), Mr. Thomas Leyland
was elected mayor for the third time, having previously
served the office in 1798 and 1814.
1820.
On December 22 Mr. Canning addressed a letter (in- Canning.
tended for publication) to Colonel Bolton, announcing his
retirement from office, and his intention to go abroad for
a time, until the agitation of this calamitous affair (the
Queen's trial) shall be at an end.'
6
6
address
On December 27 a public meeting was called by the Meeting to
mayor at the town-hall, pursuant to requisition, to con- the King.
sider the propriety of voting a loyal and dutiful address
to the King, expressive of their sentiments and feelings
upon the present exigencies of the times.'
After the excitement which had existed during the
agitating events of the Queen's trial, and which had not
yet subsided, it was hardly to be expected that a meeting
to occupy such debateable ground would pass off without
great difference of opinion. The court-room in which
the meeting was held, could not accommodate more than
about 400 persons. The mayor admitted privately ten
gentlemen of each party and seven reporters for the
press. The doors were then thrown open and a general
scramble ensued for possession of the room, so as to gain
a majority for their respective parties. Each party of
course accused the other of packing the room. The
leaders of the Whigs occupied the grand jury box,
whilst the petty jury box accommodated the Tory
magnates.
<
The business of the meeting was opened by Mr. Public
Thomas Booth, who proposed an address to the King meeting.
embodying the sentiments that the rights and liberties
of the people have been daringly violated; that the
recent proceedings against the Queen were odious and
unconstitutional; that the people are labouring under an
VOL. I.
FF

434
V.
1821.
Riotous
conduct.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. oppressive and intolerable load of taxes.' These senti-
ments were received by the cheers of one party and the
hisses and groans of the other. When Mr. Shepherd
rose to second the motion, the tumult swelled into a
general uproar. The mayor directed the peace officers
present to take the most conspicuous disturbers into
custody, but they were so wedged in the crowd that it
was impossible to act. After a continuance of this tur-
bulent scene for some time, the mayor found it hopeless
to proceed, and during a slight lull rose and said: 'I
am perfectly satisfied that it is out of the power of any
man to preserve order in this meeting, and therefore I
pronounce it to be dissolved;' and after a general chorus
of mingled cheers and groans the meeting separated.
Second
meeting.
Census.
Trade.
The promoters, however, were not satisfied to be thus
summarily put down. They immediately got up another
requisition to the mayor to call a meeting in some
larger place; with which his worship did not see it fit to
comply. The requisitionists, therefore, called a public
meeting in the Tennis Court on Wednesday, January 10,
1821. Mr. Thomas Booth occupied the chair.
The
meeting was addressed by Mr. William Rathbone, Col.
Williams, Mr. (afterwards Sir Hardman) Earle, Messrs.
William Wallace-Currie, Charles Lawrence, Joseph Brooks
Yates, Joseph Langton, Thomas Fletcher, Edward Rushton,
and others. A series of resolutions was passed, and an
address to the King founded thereon was agreed to.
In the meantime the Tory party had not been idle. They
met without the formality of a public demonstration and
adopted a loyal address which was extensively signed,
presented, and published in the 'London Gazette.'
The year 1821 opened under auspices of a somewhat
improved character. The census was taken during this
year, and showed a population in the borough proper of
118,972, which, with the necessary additions for seamen
and the out townships, would present a total of about
135,000 inhabitants. The number of ships entering the
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
435
port had increased to 7,810, with a tonnage of 839,848, CHAP.
and the amount of dock-dues 94,5567.
V.
Caxton
press
On January 31 the extensive premises near Copperas 1821.
Hill known as the Caxton Printing Offices, belonging to
Messrs. Fisher & Co. were destroyed by fire. I shall burnt.
have occasion again to refer to this building in the de-
scription of the locality.
coronation.
The year 1821 contributed no very stirring incidents
to the annals of Liverpool. The principal event of a
public nature was the celebration of the King's coronation, King's
on July 19, with which was connected the opening of the
Prince's Dock. The inhabitants generally entered into the
preparations with characteristic ardour. A numerous com-
mittee was formed of persons of all parties to get up a
procession on a magnificent scale. A subscription was
entered into to enable the poorer classes to partake of the
festivities. The corporation signalised the occasion by
presenting to the various charities the sum of 1,500l.
of Prince's
The Prince's Dock was the centre of attraction on the Opening
day of the celebration, to which the multitude finally con- Dock.
verged. The quays round the dock, the area of which is
500 yards by 106, presented a very brilliant scene, being
lined by the long array of the procession, with their ban-
ners and bands of music. The high grounds on the east,
formerly the Ladies' Walk, were covered with a gay
assemblage, principally ladies, in light summer costume.
At twelve noon the dock gates were thrown open.
The first ship which entered was a Liverpool-built West
Indiaman, called the May,' followed by the Majestic'
steamship, and an American vessel called the Martha.'
6
6
In point of splendour this display exceeded anything Proces-
previously seen in the town. The various trades vied sion.
with each other in the expensive and gorgeous nature of
their equipments. Some were whimsical enough. The
glassmakers wore hats of glass, with glass feathers, and
each man carried a glass sabre. The Herculaneum pot-
ters carried beautifully-painted china vases and models
FF 2
436
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1821.
New
decorated with leaves. The Company of Whalers had an
Esquimaux canoe mounted on wheels; and so on almost
ad infinitum.
The following lines were printed at a press borne on a
car in the procession, and distributed as it proceeded:
Not 'mid the distant clash of arms,
The waste of war, the widow's tears,
Nor Disaffection's near alarms,
The pageant of to-day appears.
But Plenty hovers o'er the land,
A nation's homage guards the throne;
On Victory's loftiest heights we stand,
The triumph and the pride our own.
No heartless pomp, no forced huzza,
No slavish fears our feelings move,
With ardent joy we hail the day,
That consecrates the king we love.
In the evening a public dinner took place at the Liver-
pool Assembly Room, and the mayor gave a grand ball
and supper at the town-hall.
On July 27 the first stone of the New Infirmary, Brown-
Infirmary. low-street, was laid by Lord Stanley, after a sermon at St.
Peter's Church by the rector of Winwick, and a collection
thereafter of 368l. 10s.
6
Not long after these festivities the public mind was
deeply saddened by the occurrence of a shipwreck of a
more than usually distressing character. The King having
visited Ireland soon after his coronation, there was a great
influx of people to be present at the rejoicings in Dublin.
Steam navigation had not yet entirely superseded sailing
Wreck of vessels, and a sloop-rigged packet, called the Earl Moira,
set sail from Liverpool for Dublin on the morning of
Wednesday, August 8. The number on board was never
exactly ascertained, but it was believed to consist of 100
to 110 souls, including the crew of six men. The wind
was blowing fresh at the time, and after rounding the
Rock Perch, at the entrance of the river, in attempting
to tack, the vessel missed stays and drifted on Burbo
the Earl
Moira.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
437
Bank. An anchor was carried out in a boat, and by this
means the sloop was warped into deep water. The cap-
tain and part of the crew were said to be intoxicated.
The passengers now requested the captain to bear away
for Liverpool, but he obstinately refused. In tacking
again the sloop again missed stays, and grounded on the
Wharf Bank, off Mock Beggar. The tide setting in, the
vessel was lifted, and striking the bank, soon became a
total wreck. The most heartrending scenes then en-
sued. The
The passengers and crew clung to any portion of
the wreck above water, whence they were washed away
one after another by the violence of the waves.
alleged that a boat and crew lay-to a short distance from
the wreck and refused to render any assistance, or pos-
sibly were unable to do so. The Hoylake lifeboat at
length put off to their aid, succeeded by other boats,
which took off the survivors from the wreck. The num-
ber of corpses afterwards recovered was thirty-one, the
remainder of the number on board, about seventy-one,
having been saved.
6
6
It was
CHAP.
V.
1821.
On September 12, 1821, a meeting was held in the
town-hall, under the presidency of Admiral Murray, for
the purpose of establishing an institution for the religious Bethel
and moral improvement of seamen. The public mind Union.
had been called to the subject by the energetic appeals
of the celebrated Boatswain Smith,' a quondam sailor
turned cleric, who preached on the quays and elsewhere,
and attracted considerable attention. The institution was
formed, and took the name of the Seamen's Friend So-
ciety and Bethel Union,' which has continued its useful
labours to the present time with considerable acceptance.
More than usual interest was excited by the election for Contest
the mayoralty on St. Luke's Day, 1821. The candidates for the
were Mr Richard Bullin, banker, nephew of Mr. Thomas
Leyland, mayor the previous year; and Mr. William
Molyneux, merchant. Why the rivalry should have
been so intense it is difficult to say, as the defeated
mayoralty.
438
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1821.
Bribery.
Great
storm.
A.D. 1822.
Joseph
Hume.
candidate succeeded to the civic chair the following
year; but so it was, that the most intense eagerness was
exhibited on each side. The poll was prolonged for four
days, and at the close the numbers stood: Bullin, 1,619;
Molyneux, 1,567. 3,186 freemen polled, being a larger
number by 310 than had ever previously recorded their
votes at any election, municipal or parliamentary. There
was a slight attempt at importing political feeling into the
contest, but it fell flat, the whole resolving itself into the
power of the purse. There were all the paraphernalia and
display of a general election: committee rooms, banners,
music, and free drink. The payment commenced at the
modest sum of six shillings per man, but the market price
of votes soon advanced, in consequence of the competition,
to half a sovereign, a sovereign, and even upwards, until
about noon on the fourth day a placard was openly put
forth at the committee-room of one of the candidates
offering 1007. for a tally of ten votes! The contest was
said to have cost Mr. Bullin the sum of 3,100. Mr.
Molyneux's expenses were not known.
On the night of Friday, December 1, the town was
visited by one of the heaviest storms hitherto expe-
rienced. Much damage was done, both in the river and
on shore. Houses were blown down, many unroofed,
and much injury caused by the fall of chimney-stacks.
A lady and gentleman residing in Scotland Road (Mr.
and Mrs. Barton) were killed by the fall of part of the
house on the bed in which they were sleeping. Many
hairbreadth escapes occurred. The old mill on Bidston
Hill caught fire and was burnt, in consequence of the
friction from the rapid motion of the machinery, the mill
sails having broken loose.
On January 25, 1822, a public meeting was held to
sympathise with Mr. Joseph Hume in his attempts at
retrenchment and economy in the House of Commons.
Mr. Thomas Booth filled the chair. The meeting was
addressed by Colonel Williams and Messrs. Hardman
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
439
Earle, Ottiwell Wood, Fletcher, and Rathbone. An CHAP.
address of thanks and sympathy was agreed to.
V
Market.
The new market (St. John's), to which the business 1822.
which had been transacted time out of mind in Derby St. John's
Square and Castle Street was removed, was opened on
Thursday, March 7. Some dissatisfaction was expressed
by the tradesmen and shopkeepers in Castle Street and the
neighbourhood at the removal; but as it was a matter of
absolute necessity the agitation soon subsided.
6
on Irish
On Monday, May 13, an influential meeting, com- Meeting
prising persons of all parties, was held in the town- distress.
hall, the mayor in the chair, for the purpose of con-
sidering the distress of the unfortunate peasantry of
Ireland, suffering under the pressure of famine, and the
best means of contributing to their relief.' The meeting
was addressed by Mr. Alderman Case, Sir John Tobin,
Colonel Williams, and Dr. Crompton. A committee was
formed and a subscription entered into, aided by collec-
tions at the churches and chapels, which ultimately
realised the amount of 7,4321. 18s.
at the
In June the Liverpool Theatre was the scene of some Riots
noisy demonstrations almost amounting to a riot, arising theatre.
out of the rival claims of Messrs. Vandenhoff and Salter.
The latter gentleman had been dismissed to make room
for his rival; and on the evening of June 3, when Van-
denhoff appeared in the character of Coriolanus, he was
received with uproarious applause by the one party and
vociferations of displeasure by the other. This continued
during the whole of the performance, not a syllable of
either play or farce being heard. Some of the forms
were torn up in the gallery and thrown into the pit, but
fortunately without injury to anyone. The following
night the same scene was repeated with greater violence;
but several of the ringleaders having been taken into cus-
tody and required to find bail to answer the charge at
the Assizes, the excitement gradually subsided, and the
affair blew over.
440
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1822.
East
India
trade.
Canning
appointed
Governor-
India.
Public
dinner.
In July 1822 an able report was issued by the Liver-
pool East India Association on the subject of the vexatious
restrictions imposed on the intercourse with India, by the
regulations as to tonnage, by the limitation of trade to cer-
tain selected ports, by the system of requiring licences both
for ships and persons, by the prohibition against British
merchants trading direct with China, and by the restric-
tions laid on the importation of sugar from the East.
The influence of the East India Company was still too
strong to be overcome, and it required a further period
of eleven years before it was finally surmounted.
In July 1822 Mr. Canning was selected by the East
India Company for the appointment of Governor-
General of General of India. In August he paid a visit to Liver-
pool for the purpose of taking leave of his friends and
constituents. He was received by his party with the
greatest enthusiasm. On Friday, August 23, he was en-
tertained at dinner by the Canning Club, Mr. John
Gladstone in the chair. On Friday, August 30, a public
dinner was given in his honour in the Lyceum News-
room, which was attended by between four and five hun-
dred gentlemen, Mr. Henry Blundell Hollinshead in the
chair. The speeches at both these meetings, especially
the last, were in the great orator's happiest vein. Argu-
ment (from his own point of view), cloquence of lan-
guage, sparkling wit, alternated with each other, and
must have afforded a rich treat to those who listened.
In the first of the speeches, in alluding to the principles
of the club which was called after his own name, he pro-
ceeds: In northern climes the existence of a generous.
vintage is often preserved in a small liquid nucleus, which
remains unfrozen amidst the surrounding congelation;
that nucleus, when the time of thaw comes, diffuses itself
through the whole, and communicates to the whole its
spirit and its flavour. So I trust that in all times-even
in times such as the worst we have seen, and such as I
hope we are not likely soon to see again-in this club
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
441
will be constantly preserved the spirit of loyalty and
constitutional freedom, to be diffused when the occasion
shall arise amongst the community with which you are
surrounded.'
CHAP.
V.
1822.
speeches.
At the close of his speech, after recounting his own Canning's
political career and the motives which had induced him
to accept the office he was about to take, he thus con-
cludes: " 6
If, gentlemen, you and I are separated by
space, let us continue united by sentiment and by kind-
ness. I leave here, in your keeping, a name, insignifi-
cant as it belongs to an individual, but consecrated by
the principles of which you have made it the symbol.
Guard it, not for its own sake, but for the sake of those
its accompaniments. While it may be my lot to admin-
ister a government of necessity in a great measure discre-
tionary, I shall reflect that there is, in my own country, a
community in which my name is cherished, as associated
with rational liberty, with the principles of a free govern-
ment, and with the institutions of a free people. Guard
you my memory, and I shall cherish yours. Removed
from you by thousands of miles, it will be a pleasure to
me to think that I am occasionally remembered by you;
and be assured that in whatever part of the world I may
be stationed, the members of this society will have a place
in my remembrance and regard.'
In the second speech he gave his own political creed at
considerable length. He avowed himself an advocate of
Catholic emancipation; but on the subject of Parlia-
mentary reform he made merry with his opponents,
introducing his celebrated story of the painter and the
red lions; and the often-quoted eulogy on the power of
public opinion embodied in a free press. He finally took
his leave in the following noble words:
"Gentlemen, wherever my lot may be cast, may this
great community continue to flourish in the prosperity
now happily beginning to be restored to it, after the fluc-
tuations of war and peace; in the principles from which
442
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1822.
Canning's
speeches.
tion of
plate.
it has never swerved since I have had the honour to be
acquainted with it; in the honourable and liberal spirit
which pervades all classes of its society, and which marks
even its political divisions; and in that cordial union
which binds all its members together, without distinction
of party, in anything which relates to the interest of your
town, or to the benefit of the humbler part of its popula-
tion. May it flourish, an image of splendid greatness,
unalloyed by the besetting vices which sometimes cling
to such greatness; an image of those princely merchants
whose history one of your own body has illustrated,
mixing, like them, with the pursuits of trade the cultiva-
tion of liberal science; decorating your town with the
works of art as much as it is enriched by enterprise and
industry; placing it, by the variety of its useful and the
munificence of its charitable establishments, among the
most celebrated of the cities of the world. May you
flourish in the happiness and renown to which these
qualities entitle you; and when you look for another
individual to occupy the station which I have for ten
years filled, may you find one more competent to the
task than I have been-one more devoted to your inte-
rests, more anxious for your prosperity, or more thankful
for your kindness, I am sure you cannot find.'
On the same day, at Seaforth House (Mr. Gladstone's
residence), a deputation from the various associated com-
mercial bodies presented an address to Mr. Canning,
expressive of the high sense they entertained of the
services he had rendered them since he had been their
Presenta- representative in Parliament.' As a further mark of
respect, it was resolved to present him with a valuable
piece of plate, as a testimonial of the high appreciation
in which he was held by his constituents. Though dated
July 1822, it was not actually completed, owing to its
elaboration, until March 1823. It consisted of a centre
ornament, or candelabrum, 42 in. in height, and about
60 in. in circumference at the base. It was of silver
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
443
V.
.1822.
gilt, and weighed 1,000 oz. The description is too long CHAP.
to quote, but it contained bas-reliefs of various incidents
in the elections and in Parliament, and a number of em-
blematical and allegorical statuettes and devices. The
inscription was the following:
Presented
To the Right Honourable
GEORGE CANNING,
By a numerous body of his friends,
Freemen and inhabitants of
Liverpool,
On his being appointed Governor-General of India,
July 1822,
In grateful acknowledgment
Of his zealous and impartial attention.
To the interests of all his constituents
For a period of ten years,
In the course of which
He has been four times elected
Their Representative in Parliament;
And in testimony of their respect,
As well for his private virtues
As for his disinterested and independent
Publick conduct;
And of their admiration
Of those transcendent talents,
As a statesman and an orator,
With which he has uniformly and fearlessly
Maintained the true principles of
The British Constitution.
The plate was designed by Chantrey, and executed by
Rundle & Bridge.
Presenta-
tion to
Canning.
Whilst these proceedings were in progress the death of
the Marquis of Londonderry by his own hand, on Mon-
day, August 12, entirely changed the state of affairs.
Overtures were immediately made to Mr. Canning to join Canning
the Ministry as Foreign Secretary. To these rumours
he alluded in his speech on August 30 in somewhat
vague terms, not having then determined his course.
minister,
444
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1823.
Retire-
ment of
Huskis-
son.
Although not leaving the country, Mr. Canning per-
sisted in his resolution to retire from the representation
of Liverpool, considering this position inconsistent with
the proper performance of his duties as Foreign Secre-
Canning. tary. He did not retire till February 1823, when he
strongly recommended as his successor Mr. William Hus-
kisson. This gentleman, so well known as an able finan-
cier and a strenuous advocate for gradually striking off
the fetters with which he found our commerce tram-
melled on his entry into office, was born in Worcester-
shire, in 1770, and was destined for the medical pro-
fession. Whilst studying medicine at Paris accident
brought him acquainted with Lord Gower, the English
Ambassador, who made him his private secretary, and on
their return to England introduced him into Parliament
and into office. He took an active part in the Bullion
Committee, advocating the return to cash payments.
After filling various subordinate offices, on Mr. Canning's
retirement he succeeded him, in 1822, as President of the
Board of Control.
Election.
Poll.
The election for Mr. Canning's successor took place on
February 14, 1823. Mr. Huskisson was proposed by
Colonel Bolton, seconded by Mr. Hollinshead. Mr.
Edward Rushton, who seems to have taken the lion's
share in the proceedings of the day, after a long and
animated speech directed against Mr. Huskisson and his
party, concluded by proposing Lord Molyneux, who was
seconded by Mr. Mather. Mr. Huskisson addressed the
assembly at considerable length, principally defending
himself from the attacks of Mr. Rushton, and going very
little into public affairs. This called up Mr. Rushton
again, who delivered a second harangue, which was
replied to by Mr. Huskisson in a second speech. The
poll then proceeded. The whole affair was a mere farce.
In two days Lord Molyneux only polled 31 votes.
supporters then withdrew, the numbers being: Huskisson,
236; Molyneux, 31. The whole affair was so tame and
His
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
445
V.
flat that scarcely any addresses or squibs were issued, CHAP.
and the practice was never revived of collecting and
publishing those which did appear.
1823.
of the
On April 1, 1823, another lamentable shipwreck and Wreck
loss of life took place. Notwithstanding the progress of 'Alert.'
steam navigation, sailing packets still plied between
Liverpool and Dublin. The 'Alert' sloop sailed on the
evening of the day above mentioned. The following
morning found her on the coast of Wales, near Holyhead;
and the wind going down with a strong tide running, the
vessel drifted in the direction of a detached rock, called
'the Mouse,' a mile and a half from the land, on which,
notwithstanding an effort to tow her off by means of the
boat, she struck with violence and soon went to pieces.
The number on board was variously estimated at from
100 to 140, of whom only 17 were saved. The reckless-
ness with which human life was imperilled is manifested
in the fact, that for the rescue of 100 to 140 human
beings in case of need in a public packet-boat, there only
existed on board one small shallop 12 ft. long! A little
before this time, Mr. Gladstone of Liverpool had obtained
the introduction into the Steamboat Act of an impera-
tive provision of boats sufficient for the number of pas-
sengers the vessel was licensed to carry. This humane
provision has been the means of saving many hundreds,
if not thousands, from a watery grave.
removal of
During the spring of 1823 the attention of the Liver- Proposed
pool public was called to the inconvenience sustained by s
the inhabitants of the commercial and manufacturing
districts of South Lancashire in the assize business being
conducted at Lancaster, situated at one extremity of the
county, nearly sixty miles from Liverpool and Manchester.
On April 11 a meeting called by public advertisement
was held in the town-hall, the mayor (Mr. William
Molyneux) in the chair, to adopt a petition to the Govern-
ment, praying that the Assizes for the southern district
might be removed to a more convenient locality. The
446
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1823.
CHAP. meeting was addressed by Aldermen Hollinshead and
Case, and others; a petition was adopted and an influen-
tial committee appointed. Other towns in the southern
district also petitioned; but it was not until 1835 that the
difficulties were overcome, and the Assizes first held in
Liverpool.
Strikes of
workmen.
Fires.
Sawyers
murdered.
In the latter part of 1823 and the spring of 1824 the
peace and good conduct of the town were seriously
affected by disputes between the masters and men in
several branches of trade, but particularly amongst the
ropemakers and sawyers. Messrs. Duncan & Co., who
had extensive ropewalks in Brownlow Hill, not being
able to agree with their hands as to the mode of carrying
on their trade, a strike took place, and fresh hands were.
introduced from Scotland and elsewhere. This produced
the usual results. The new comers were waylaid, and
threatened to such an extent that they were intimidated
and withdrew. The leaders of the trade club were in-
dicted for a conspiracy, and tried at the Liverpool Quarter
Sessions on August 1, 1823, when, after a long inquiry,
they were all acquitted. The disputes and alienation
still continued, and on January 7 following a fire broke
out on the premises under very suspicious circumstances.
This was got under; but on February 14, 1824, another
fire took place, breaking out in two places at once, by
which the premises were totally destroyed. Two rewards,
of 300l. and 1007. respectively, were offered for the con-
viction of the offender, who ultimately turned out to be a
youth named Sylvester Thornton, fourteen years of age,
an apprentice. He was tried and convicted at the Assizes.
The punishment for arson at that time was death; but in
consequence of his youth it was mitigated to transporta-
tion for life, and ultimately commuted to seven years.
The case of the sawyers was still more serious. Dis-
putes had existed for many months. In 1822 a sawyer,
while at his work, was shot by one of the turn-outs, for
which he was tried, condemned, and executed at Lan-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
447
CHAP.
V.
1824.
caster. On February 9, 1824, another sawyer was way-
laid and brutally murdered in Vauxhall Road, by a gang
of ruffians, one of whom, named Henry Griffiths, was
taken, tried at Lancaster on March 20, and condemned
to death. He was executed on Monday the 22nd. Whilst Fires.
these proceedings were going forward, on Sunday morn-
ing February 28, the ship-building premises of Messrs. C.
and J. Smith, in Baffin Street, where the murdered man
had been employed, were found to be in flames, and
from the attendant circumstances there could be little
doubt that it was the work of an incendiary.
On March 21 the carpenters' and joiners' shops of
Messrs. J. and B. Slater, in Seel Street, were also de-
stroyed by fire, which from the time when it commenced,
being Sunday evening, there was no other conclusion to
be arrived at but that of incendiarism.
6
in aid of
On Wednesday, August 13, 1823, a public meeting of Meeting
the Reform party was held, for the purpose of consider- Spain.
ing the propriety of promoting subscriptions to assist the
constitutionalists of Spain to repel the atrocious aggres-
sion of the French.' Colonel Williams was called to the
chair. The meeting was addressed by the chairman, and
Messrs. Egerton Smith and Rushton. A subscription was
entered into, and a committee formed to promote the
objects of the assembly.
In August, Mr. Canning, accompanied by his friend Canning's
Mr. Huskisson, paid a visit to his old constituents, and last visit.
was received with great warmth and cordiality. On
Monday they took an excursion on the river, accompa-
nied by about three hundred gentlemen of all parties.
In the evening, the mayor (Mr. William Molyneux) gave
a dinner at the town-hall, at which were present, besides
Messrs. Canning and Huskisson, the Polish Prince Sapieha,
Lord Blayney, Mr. Hughes the Chargé d'Affaires from the
United States to Sweden, and a number of Members of
Parliament and other gentlemen. Mr. Huskisson, in re- Huskisson.
turning thanks, expressed his earnest desire as a member
448
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1823.
Musical
festival.
Balloon
ascent.
of the Government to promote by every means in his
power the advancement of trade and commerce, and re-
quested the co-operation and advice of the merchants of
Liverpool on every question connected therewith. Mr.
Canning proposed the health of Mr. Hughes, then on
his way to represent the United States in Sweden, and
spoke in terms of the utmost cordiality of the friendly
union of the two nations.
With this réunion Mr.
Liverpool came to a close.
Canning's intercourse with
During the few remaining
years of his life he never revisited the town; but left
behind him memories which will ever remain while
Liverpool has a history.
A
In September 1823, the triennial musical festival was
celebrated on a scale of great splendour. The names of
the performers bring up memories of departed excellence
and popularity, such as will rarely be found again united
on the same orchestra. F. Cramer as leader, Mori, Gries-
bach, Lindley, Dragonetti, Nicholson, Puzzi, and Harper,
amongst the instrumentalists; and amongst the vocalists,
Mrs. Salmon, Miss Goodall, and Miss Stephens (after-
wards Marchioness of Exeter), Braham, Bellamy, Phillips,
Knyvett; with Signor and Madame Ronzi de Begnis for
the evening performances. Two grand balls were given,
one on Monday, September 29, at the Wellington Rooms;
and a fancy dress ball at the town-hall, on Friday,
October 3.
The most novel feature was the ascent of Mr. Sadler in
his balloon, on Tuesday, September 30, from the area of
the Workhouse, Brownlow Hill. The day was showery,
with a tolerably fresh breeze. The neighbourhood at
that time was open and unbuilt on, and vast crowds con-
gregated to witness the spectacle, with all the usual
accompaniments of a holiday and fair. Mr. Sadler took
a companion in the car. As the balloon arose, the force
of the wind prevented it properly clearing the adjoining
houses, and the car struck violently against a stack of

Robt Wallis, direxit
Drawn by 8. Austin, Esq.
LIVERPOOL, FROM THE MERSEY, NO IV.
COMMENCING AT THE SHIP-BUILDING YARDS AND ENDING AT THE HERCULANEUM POTTERY
FISHER SON & CO LONDON, 1829
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
449
chimneys. The balloon descended slowly in the middle
of the dense crowds assembled, and being relieved by Mr.
Sadler's friend getting out it again rose, and was soon
lost to sight amongst the distant clouds. He descended
in safety beyond Warrington, about 22 miles from
Liverpool.
The nett proceeds of the Festival amounted to the
handsome sum of 2,2001., which was divided amongst
the public charities.
CHAP.
V.
1823.
Party spirit and political rancour had been for some Political
time on the decline in Liverpool. Mr. Canning had been agreement.
recently welcomed by all parties in the most cordial
manner. His political enemies could not but acknowledge
that he had rendered essential services to the port of
Liverpool; that his influence had been successfully and
impartially exerted for the benefit of many townsmen,
who had been involved in critical and embarrassing cir-
cumstances.' Even the old General' came in for his
meed of praise, as having served the town during the
greater part of his life with unremitting and exclusive
zeal.' 2
6
6
Another manifestation of this feeling was exhibited in
the election on St. Luke's day (October 18), for the first
time during many years of a Whig mayor. Mr. Charles Whig
Lawrence, proposed by Mr. Arthur Heywood, seconded mayor.
by Mr. John Gladstone; and of two Whig bailiffs, Messrs.
William Earle, jun., and William Wallace Currie.³
On Friday, January 16, 1824, a very interesting meet- A.D. 1824.
ing of all political parties was held at the town-hall for
the purpose as stated in the requisition, ' of receiving and
1 Twelve months after this, the daring aëronaut came to an untimely end.
On September 29, 1824, he made an ascent from Bolton, and was thrown
out of the car and killed on the spot.
2 Liverpool Mercury,' August 29, 1823.
3 The two latter gentlemen were elected members of the first council
under the Municipal Reform Act, Mr. W. W. Currie being the first mayor
so elected.
VOL. I.
G G
450
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1824.
CHAP. adopting as a public institution the mechanics' and ap-
prentices' library, which has been successfully commenced
in the town by private exertion, and which is now offered
to public acceptance and control.' This institution had
been commenced in the year 1821, and so far conducted
mainly through the efforts of Mr. Egerton Smith, the
proprietor and editor of the 'Liverpool Mercury.'
Mechanics'
library.
Meeting to
assist the
Greeks.
The mayor took the chair, and the meeting was ad-
dressed by Mr. Smith, Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Glad-
stone, Rev. Robert Philip, Messrs. Ottiwell Wood, William
Wallace Currie, and others. Mr. Smith had always been
eminently a party man, and had hit hard, especially at
Mr. Gladstone, whom he looked upon as a renegade from
the Liberal camp. It was pleasing on this occasion to
witness the friendly approximation of the opponents. Mr.
Gladstone in the most handsome manner, both in his
speech and in a letter to Mr. Smith, bore willing testimony
to his worth and valuable public services. Resolutions
were passed taking over the institution and making ar-
rangements for its future management.
It cannot be said that this undertaking ultimately
proved a success. Its maintenance depended on volun-
tary subscriptions, which fell off, and its friends became
lukewarm and indifferent. The time was not quite ripe.
After pursuing a quiet career of usefulness for some
years, it was merged in the Northern Mechanics' Insti-
tution,' which in its turn fell into decay; but was revived
in a scheme for Saturday evening concerts and entertain-
ments at the Lord Nelson Street Rooms, which are still
carried on. What became of the library of books I am
unable to say.
6
On February 14, 1824, a public meeting was held in
the town-hall, the mayor in the chair, for the purpose
of considering the best means of assisting the Greeks in
their present important struggle for independence.' The
uprising of the Greeks was at this time very popular.
The adherence of Lord Byron to the cause had thrown
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
451
about it a halo of poetry and romance which was very CHAP.
attractive.
V.
Although not limited to one party, the speakers mainly 1824.
belonged to the Whigs, though Mr. Gladstone addressed
the meeting very warmly in favour of the cause. The
other speakers were the Rev. W. Shepherd, Colonel Wil-
liams, and Messrs. W. Wallace Currie, Rushton, and
Egerton Smith. Appropriate resolutions were passed,
and a subscription list opened which raised a considerable
sum.
6
recognise
colonies.
On Saturday, June 5, another public meeting was held Meeting to
at the town-hall, the mayor in the chair, for the pur-
pose of petitioning his Majesty's Ministers to advise the Spanish
King's most excellent Majesty in Council to recognise
such of the Governments of the late Spanish and Portu-
guese Colonies in North and South America as have
established their independence.'
The meeting was numerously attended, and was ad-
dressed by Messrs. H. Booth, Cyrus Morrall, Frank Jordan,
Col. Williams, Mr. Egerton Smith; and Col. Stevenson
and General Devereux from South America. A petition
embodying the object of the meeting was agreed to.
After no very long period Mr. Canning, whose liberal
tendencies in the latter period of his life were beginning
to manifest themselves, as Foreign Secretary carried out.
the wishes of the nation in admitting the emancipated
colonies into the comity of nations, and thereby opening
a vast field for the expansion of the British commerce.
The rights of the freemen and the question of a Freemen's
common hall were this year mooted for the last time. rights.
The corporation of Liverpool were at this time and long
after, the ex-officio trustees of the Dock Estate. Reports
had got abroad that in the execution of the large dock
works then in progress, there had been irregularities if
not frauds in the supply of the materials to a large Frauds on
extent. At a meeting of the dock rate-payers, the audit the Dock
commissioners appointed under the Dock Acts were re-
Estate.
G G 2
452
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1824.
CHAP. quested to investigate the matter and to report thereon.
Their report was presented to the annual meeting held
on June 24, 1824, and fully confirmed the suspicions
that had previously existed. The conclusions at which
they arrived were either that great mistakes had been
committed, or that frauds had been practised upon the
trustees, and strongly recommended that a more efficient
system of control should be adopted.
Call for
common
hall.
Mr.
Gladstone
The general subject of the management of municipal
affairs was taken up by the reforming party as illustrated
by these transactions, and a requisition was presented to
the mayor and bailiffs, signed by 778 freemen, request-
ing that a common hall might be called for the purpose
of instituting an inquiry into the management of the
corporate estate. This requisition was refused by the
Whig mayor and bailiffs. At the election of the mayor
on St. Luke's day (October 18, 1824), the subject was
brought prominently forward by Mr. Rushton, who re-
flected bitterly on the conduct of the mayor and bailiffs
in rejecting the prayer of the requisition. He said
this had been done by men who had stood before the
freemen as the friends and advocates of popular rights.
Had men of different political sentiments done this, their
conduct would not have excited much surprise; but that
they should have so failed in fulfilling the just expecta-
tions of the public, conveyed to his mind both regret
and astonishment.'
6
These sentiments met with support from a somewhat
Supports unexpected quarter. Mr. John Gladstone, in seconding
the nomination of Mr. J. B. Hollinshead to the chair,
supported warmly Mr. Rushton's views. He said that,
had he had the honour of filling the office of mayor,
he should for various cogent reasons have been disposed
to meet the wishes of the freemen by complying with
their requisition for calling a common hall.' . . . He
'was of opinion that there had been on the part of the
Corporation a certain degree of negligence which he
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
453
V.
1824.
could not but regret, and from which much incon- CHAP.
venience and great mischief appeared to have resulted.
From the best opinion he could form founded on the
charter, the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgesses were autho-
rised conjointly to make by-laws; and if that opinion
were correct, how, he would ask, could those by-laws be
legally made unless the burgesses were assembled in
Common Hall?'
The question of the rights of the burgesses under the
old system was not again mooted. Ten years afterwards
the monopoly was broken down by the Municipal Re-
form Act.
tion to Mr.
On October 18, 1824, a public tribute of respect was Presenta-
paid to Mr. Jno. Gladstone by the presentation of a Gladstone.
magnificent service of plate of 28 pieces, bearing the
following inscription:
To John Gladstone, Esq., M.P., this service of plate was
presented MDCCCXXIV by his fellow-townsmen and friends,
to mark their high sense of his successful exertions for the
promotion of Trade and Commerce, and in acknowledgment
of his most important services rendered to the town of Liver-
pool.
Mr. (Sir John) Gladstone was one of the most eminent
in the long succession of the enterprising merchants of
Liverpool. Far-seeing, sagacious, and clear-headed, hist
views were at once comprehensive and practical. As a
mercantile man, he was looked up to as the leader; 'facile
princeps' on the Liverpool Exchange. By his industry
and intelligence he realised a large fortune. Politically
he looked at the practical rather than the theoretical
side of every question. In the early part of his career
he had adopted Whig principles, and had been a sup-
porter of Roscoe in the election of 1806. His sagacity
led him to the conclusion that Mr. Canning, who, though
taking part with the Tories, was on many subjects a
man of expansive and enlightened views, would be the
454
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1824.
Rev.
Edward
Irving.
A.D. 1825.
Tunnel
under the
Mersey.
Ship-
canal.
Meeting
on the
window-
tax.
most suitable representative to promote the interests of
Liverpool. His foresight was amply justified by the
result, but for a time it brought down upon him the
bitter animosity of his former associates.
This feeling had now softened down, and the many
services which he had rendered the town, and his liberal
sentiments on many subjects had restored his popularity.
In December 1824, public curiosity was excited by
a visit from the Rev. Edward Irving, then in the zenith
of his short-lived popularity. He preached at the Scotch
Church, Oldham Street, on Friday, December 3, and on
Sunday, 5th, he officiated at the opening of the new church
in Rodney Street. The crowds which attended or en-
deavoured to attend his ministrations, were almost with-
out parallel. The general opinion was one of admiration
for his talents and character, with a little criticism of
his extravagances and peculiarities.
In January 1825 a proposal was made for a tunnel
under the Mersey, but, for want of encouragement, it
soon died away. The scheme has frequently since been.
revived, but hitherto without success; nor is it likely to
be carried out until it is found to harmonise with the
interests of some of the great railway systems, which
alone have the capital and influence for a work of this
description.
Soon after this the idea of a ship-canal to Manchester
was broached, and excited great ridicule in the Liver-
pool newspapers. Whether it was ever seriously enter-
tained does not appear, but the railway scheme then in
progress effectually disposed of it.
On Friday, March 11, 1825, a public meeting was
held in the town-hall, the mayor in the chair, for the
purpose of agitating for the repeal of the obnoxious
window-tax. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Wm.
Rathbone, Mr. J. A. Yates, Mr. Rushton, and other
gentlemen. Resolutions were passed, and a petition to
parliament adopted.
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
455
V.
Two questions at this time claimed special public CHAP.
attention. They have both long been disposed of, but
it is interesting to observe the progress of public opinion 1825.
concerning them in any given locality. One was Catho- Catholic
lic Emancipation. The association in Ireland was be- tion.
ginning to assume alarming dimensions. In the session
of 1825 the Catholic question took a very prominent
place.
On February 25, Mr. Canning made a noble speech in
support of the Catholic claims. In the beginning of
March petitions were presented from Liverpool on behalf
of the Emancipation Bill then before the House.
On May 10 the Bill passed the Commons by a majority
of 21, but was subsequently thrown out in the Lords.
The Liverpool members took opposite sides in the division,
Mr. Huskisson voting for the Bill, and Gen. Gascoyne,
true blue' to the backbone,' supporting Protestant
ascendency. Three years of further turbulent agitation
elapsed before Wellington and Peel yielded to the force
of circumstances, and conceded to pressure what their
wiser predecessor Canning would have granted as a boon.
emancipa-
The other question which began to assume an im-
portant aspect was the Repeal of the Corn Laws. Mr. Corn-laws.
Huskisson was one of the earliest advocates of free
trade, but crippled as he was by his official position, he
could not give free scope to his convictions. On April
21 he intimated to the House of Commons his intention
of moving early in the following session for an inquiry
into the whole subject of the laws relating to corn. On
the 28th he moved certain modifications in the law as
it then stood to enable the corn in bond to be brought
into the market. On March 3 a meeting was convened
by the Boroughreeve of Manchester to consider the sub-
ject of the Corn Laws; and on April 14 the Lord Mayor
of London, at the request of some of the leading city
firms, called a public meeting, which petitioned parlia-
ment for a revision.
456
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
Public
meeting
on the
corn-laws.
On April 8 a public meeting was held in the Liverpool
Town-hall 'to consider the propriety of petitioning the
1825. legislature to make an alteration in the existing laws
relative to the importation of corn.' The mayor (Mr.
J. B. Hollinshead) presided. Considerable difference of
opinion prevailed amongst the speakers, both sides being
fairly represented, and being patiently listened to. Messrs.
W. Wallace Currie, Thomas Case, Wm. Rathbone, Rush-
ton, John Smith, and Mozley pleaded for relaxation of
restrictions, and Messrs. Lafone and Bryans upheld the
cause of the farmers and the landed interest. It is re.
markable that neither in the speeches nor in the resolu-
tions is a total repeal of the duties even hinted at. All
parties seemed satisfied that some import duty should be
levied; the only question was as to the scale of the
impost. A string of resolutions was adopted, and a
petition was agreed to, praying for an inquiry, and a
revision of the laws relating to the import of corn.
Mechanics'
institute.
Public
meeting.
About this time the exertions of Dr. Birkbeck and
others in the establishment of Mechanics' Institutes had
begun to tell on the public mind with considerable effect.
The subject was ventilated in Liverpool, and met with a
warm response. A public meeting convened with the
concurrence of the leading men of all parties, was
held in the Music Hall, Bold Street, on Wednesday,
June 8. Mr. Alderman Thomas Case was voted into the
chair. The meeting was crowded to excess, and most
enthusiastic in its demonstrations. The subject was
introduced by Dr. Traill,¹ in a clear and lucid speech,
and was pursued by Messrs. W. W. Currie, Egerton
Smith, Samuel Hope, Rushton, Adam Hodgson, and
others. Probably the most telling address was delivered
by the Rev. Andrew Wilson, minister of the Scotch Church,
Rodney Street, a man full of fire and enthusiasm, whose
1 Dr. Traill practised as a physician in Liverpool for a number of years,
and afterwards filled one of the professional chairs in the University of
Edinburgh.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
457
career of usefulness was cut short by his premature de-
cease in the prime of life. A letter was read from Mr.
Huskisson highly approving of the institution, and pro-
mising his support. An influential committee was formed,
Mr. Case being the president, Messrs. John Gladstone,
M.P., and John Moss, with Dr. Traill, being appointed
vice-presidents. The institution was immediately or-
ganised, first in St. Thomas Buildings, then removed to
Slater Street, and subsequently to the spacious buildings
in Mount Street, erected for the purpose, where, under
the name of the Liverpool Institute, it still pursues its
useful career.
CHAP.
V.
1825.
mercial
inflation.
In the session of 1825 was passed the Improvement Improve-
Act (7 Geo. IV. c. 57), by which Castle Ditch and its ment Act.
tortuous approaches were swept away, Lord Street
widened, and Dale Street greatly improved. I shall
have again to refer to this in describing the localities.
The winter of 1825 was a memorable period, both in
Liverpool and in the country generally. Many causes
had conspired to produce a state of factitious prosperity
and commercial inflation of an entirely abnormal charac- Com-
ter. The natural and healthy reaction after a long and
expensive war, during which trade had been crippled
and commerce restricted, gave the first impulse to pro-
gress. The opening of fresh outlets by the revolt of the
Spanish American provinces, with the anticipations of
boundless mineral treasures to be found there, increased
to an enormous extent the development of our national
industry. This increase of trade required an increase in
the circulating medium, and this was not slow to be
provided. The return to cash payments in 1821-2 was
succeeded by a restriction in the currency, which was
felt as an inconvenience. To remedy this an Act was
passed in 1822 permitting the circulation of small notes
beyond the date originally fixed. This extension of
time tempted the bankers to increase their issues, instead
of providing for the withdrawal of some of their paper.
458
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1825.
Fictitious
capital.
Wild
specula-
tion.
State of
trade.
In 1825 there was from 30 to 40 per cent. more paper
out than in 1822. Just at that time the Bank of Eng-
land, followed by other banks, lowered the rate of inte-
rest. Thus there was money in abundance, which the
owners did not know what to do with. Prices had been
so low for two years, that they were sure to rise, sud-
denly and vastly, while so much money was abroad; and
the opportunity for speculating was one which few men
of enterprise engaged in trade were able to resist."1
Then followed a repetition, on a much larger scale, of
the madness of the South Sea bubble, of about a cen-
tury before. Joint stock companies for every imaginable
purpose―steam ovens, steam laundries, milk and egg com-
panies, butter companies, &c.-were brought out, and the
shares eagerly grasped at and speedily sold at a premium.
Gold, pearls, and precious stones were to be found in
America in such abundance, that the value of money
would be essentially changed, and the glittering heir-
looms of our noble families put to shame. It is recorded
that a single share of the Real del Monte mine, on which
701. had been paid, yielded a profit of 2,000 per cent.,
having speedily risen to a premium of 1,400l. per share.
The trade of Liverpool was naturally stimulated by this
state of things. The tonnage of the shipping rose from
892,902 in 1822, to 1,180,914 in 1824; but as it was
undoubtedly of a more legitimate character than the spe-
culative schemes afloat in the country, it did not suffer so
much when the reaction arrived.
Down to October 1825 coin and bullion continued to
be exported, and the Bank of England, followed by the
provincial banks, went on increasing its issues. As the
winter came on uneasiness began to be felt. Exports to
an enormous extent had left the country, but few returns
came in exchange for the vast sums sent abroad. Credit
was exhausted, bills became due. Then the Bank of Eng-
1 Martineau's 'History of England during the Thirty Years' Peace,'
vol. i. 355.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
459
From CHAP,
V.
1825.
land, to protect itself, began to draw in its issues. From
June 1824 to October 1825 between ten and twelve mil-
lions, in coin and bullion, had been exported, and left
nothing in their place but promises to pay. Suspicion Panic.
and alarm now began to set in, soon deepening into
panic. The run upon the banks commenced in the
country, and very soon spread to London, to which the
provincial banks looked for supplies. On December 5
the banking-house of Sir Peter Pole & Co. stopped pay-
ment, followed the next day by that of Messrs. Williams,
Burgess & Co. A general crash then set in, and in five General
or six weeks nearly seventy banks had stopped payment.
crash.
It would be out of place here to enter into a general A.D. 1826.
account of these transactions. I am only concerned with
the effects they produced in Liverpool. The only local
bank which succumbed to the pressure was that of Mr.
Joseph Hadwen, which suspended payment on January
24, 1826. The newspapers of the day are full of com-
plaints and forebodings. The number of bankruptcies
gazetted between January 3 and February 14, 1826,
was 514. On the whole the Liverpool mercantile com-
munity, though suffering great embarrassment, weathered
the storm much better than could have been expected.
Nor did the trade of the port materially suffer.
The three years 1825, 6, and 7 continued about sta-
tionary, after which the rate of progress resumed its
course with an elasticity which has never given way in
the most adverse times.
kisson's
In the midst of these disastrous circumstances all par- Mr. Hus-
ties in the town united in paying a deserved compliment services.
to their representative, Mr. Huskisson. During the short
time which he had sat for Liverpool, between 1823 and
1825, he had won golden opinions from the commercial
community by his attention to their interests, and by the
liberal and enlightened policy which he had adopted and
was engaged in carrying out. The Canning party of
course stood by him, and the Whigs were quite won
460
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1826.
Presenta-
tion to
•
over. In an article on the coming election in the Mer-
cury' of May 13, 1825, it is stated: Mr. Huskisson does
not require our panegyric. His public conduct is gene-
rally known and approved of. He is of all men we
know the most proper person for the representative of
this town; and we venture to predict he will continue
to be returned its member without the necessity of sub-
mitting to half the humiliation inseparable from the can-
vass of any other candidate for Liverpool.'
About this time a subscription was commenced for the
Huskisson. purpose of presenting Mr. Huskisson with a service of
plate, to which all parties contributed. On February
14, 1826, the presentation was made, through Colonel
Bolton, the chairman of the committee of subscribers,
Mr. Huskisson not being able to come down to Liver-
pool through the pressure of Parliamentary business.
Service of
plate.
Mr. Huskisson, in his reply, which is too long for in-
sertion here, touches on the commercial distress then
prevailing, and points to the changes in progress likely
to have a beneficial effect. The principal piece in the
service bore the following inscription :
The Service of Plate,
Of which this candelabrum is a part,
Was presented to
The Right Honourable WILLIAM HUSKISSON,
By a numerous body
Of the Merchants, Freemen, and Inhabitants of
Liverpool,
As a testimony
Of their sense of the benefits
Derived to the nation at large from the enlightened
System of Commercial Policy
Brought forward by him,
As President of the Board of Trade,
And of their gratitude
For the zeal and ability with which,
As Member for Liverpool,
He has watched over the interests of his constituents,
1825.

Dravm by C. & C. Pync.
www.
BIR NHEAD HO
BIRKENHEAD FERRY, OPPOSITE LIVERPOOL,
Fisher, Sen & CL Lenden, 1829
Engraved by John Davies.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
461
V.
1826.
On March 31, 1826, the first stone of the Rock Bat- CHAP.
tery, at the entrance of the river, on the Cheshire side,
was laid by the mayor (Mr. Peter Bourne), with all the
usual honours. It was designed and carried out by Capt.
Kitson, of the Royal Engineers.
Rock
battery.
slavery.
The agitation against negro slavery, which had been Negro
carried on ever since the slave-trade was abolished, was
now drawing to a head, and all parties looked forward to
its abolition at no distant period. To aid in this good
work a public meeting was held, of a very enthusiastic
character, in the Music-hall, on Monday, April 24, Mr.
James Cropper in the chair. The business was intro-
duced by an interesting letter from the venerable Roscoe,
who had for some time retired from taking a part in public
proceedings. The meeting was then addressed by the
chairman, and Messrs. William Rathbone, Isaac Hadwen,
Samuel Hope, Adam Hodgson, Wallace Currie, and others.
Resolutions were passed favourable to the object, and a
petition founded thereon was adopted.
meeting.
On Monday, May 1, a meeting of the inhabitants was Public
held in the town-hall, under the presidency of the mayor,
for the purpose of promoting a subscription to alleviate
the sufferings of the unemployed weavers, manufacturers,
and others, in the manufacturing districts in this country.'
The speakers were Mr. Alderman T. Case, Messrs. Samuel
Hope, Rushton, Heyworth, B. A. Heywood, and others.
Several of the speakers, particularly Mr. Rushton, attri-
buted a large portion of the distress to the restrictive
legislation, and especially to the Corn Laws, and ulti-
mately succeeded in carrying a resolution recommending
to the Government the adoption without delay of some
measures for the mitigation of the sufferings now existing,
and for effectually preventing the recurrence of those
scenes which cannot be contemplated without exciting
feelings of the most painful description.'
Parliament was dissolved in the beginning of June Election.
1826. In anticipation of this, on May 1 a requisition,
462
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1826.
Meetings.
freemen.
very numerously signed by persons of all parties, was
presented to Mr. Huskisson, thanking him for his past
services, and earnestly requesting him again to come
forward. To this he sent a cordial reply.
On June 1 a meeting of Mr. Huskisson's friends was
held at the King's Arms Inn, to make preparations for
the coming election; at which Mr. John Gladstone pre-
sided. The proceedings went on harmoniously until near
the close. Three cheers being proposed for Mr. Huskisson,
some hisses were mingled with the applause. A mau
named Allen, a shipwright, then claimed to be heard, as
a freeman of the borough, and considerable confusion
ensued, during which the chairman and his friends left.
the room. Allen then got upon the table and read from
a newspaper the report of a speech by Mr. Huskisson in
the House of Commons on the subject of combinations.
amongst the shipwrights, in which Mr. Huskisson had
said that if these were persevered in they must be met.
by admitting the foreign shipbuilding trade to come into
competition with the ship carpentry trade at home.
Three groans were given for Mr. Huskisson, and the
meeting dispersed.
6
The passing of the combination laws, in the previous
session, had given great umbrage to the artizan class, and
Mr. Huskisson was accused of having supported them.
Meeting of On Friday, June 2, there was a meeting of freemen and
others in Mosslake Fields, to take into consideration the
propriety of supporting a gentleman of their own choice,
who should oppose the combination laws.' Nearly 2,000
persons assembled, the greater part out of mere curiosity.
Mr. Thomas Green, auctioneer (the General Green of
Brougham and Creevey), being present, was voted to
the chair, on a pile of bricks; and various opinions were
taken as to a candidate to be sent up with the old
General' to oppose the combination laws. The choice.
Mr. C. W. ultimately fell upon Mr. Charles Wye Williams, barrister,
who had recently come to Liverpool to manage the affairs.
Williams.
•
NINETEENTH CENTURY
463
V.
1826.
of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company. A requi- CHAP.
sition was accordingly improvised on the spot, and the
meeting adjourned to the following evening, in Clayton
Square. At this meeting the requisition was signed by
about 500 freemen. Mr. Williams, as soon as he heard
of these proceedings, declined the proffered honour.
The requisition was then forwarded to Mr. Houldsworth,
of Manchester, with the same results.
tion to
During all this time neither General Gascoyne nor his
friends made any public sign. A short time previously Presenta
the trades of Liverpool had subscribed 120/. for a piece Gascoyne.
of plate to be presented to the General, as a token of
their gratitude for his opposition to the repeal of Mr.
Hume's bill respecting combinations. For some unex-
plained reason the presentation was private, and did not
find its way into the newspapers till some time after-
wards. The plate consisted of a large, massive silver
cup, holding seven quarts, 18 in. high, weighing 16 lb.,
beautifully embossed, and bearing the following in-
scription:
Presented to General Isaac Gascoyne, M.P., by the under-
mentioned Societies of Operative Mechanics in Liverpool, as a
token of gratitude for his decided opposition to the re-enact-
ment of the Combination Laws, 1825.
A very handsome silver gold-lined snuffbox accompa-
nied the cup.
On June 8 the General attended a meeting of the True Meeting.
Blue Club, at the Golden Lion, where he addressed his
friends. The day following he was escorted into the
town by a large number of the operatives, whom he ad-
dressed from the balcony of the Adelphi Hotel. On
Saturday, June 10, Mr. Huskisson arrived in the town, Huskisson
and on visiting the Exchange room he was welcomed by on Change.
loud and long-continued cheering by a crowded assem-
blage of gentlemen of all parties, whom he addressed;
and alluding to the complaints which had been made of
464
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP
V.
1826.
Nomina-
tion.
Poll.
Deaf and
dumb
his conduct, hoped his censors would meet him at the
hustings on Monday, when he would be prepared to
prove that he was in fact their friend.
On Monday, June 12, the election took place. The
General was evidently the favourite with the working
classes, who attended in great numbers. The first nomi-
nation was that of Major Gascoyne, son of the General,
proposed by William Allen, boat-builder, seconded by
John Robinson, slater and plasterer. Alderinan Bourne
proposed and Alderman Bullin seconded the nomination
of the General. Mr. Huskisson was received with
mingled hootings and applause. He was nominated by
Colonel Bolton, seconded by Alderman Lawrence. Mr.
Rushton, in a most animated and eloquent speech, com-
mended Mr. Huskisson for his free trade principles, but
complained that he did not go far enough: that he did
not apply to corn, the prime necessary of life, the same
freedom that he pleaded for the other commodities. He
then denounced the conduct of General Gascoyne in a
tone of withering scorn.
Mr. Huskisson delivered a long and argumentative
speech in defence of his conduct and principles. The
poll was then opened and continued for about two hours,
when by common consent it was closed with the num-
bers as follow: Huskisson, 113; Gascoyne, 103; Colonel
Bolton, 21; Major Gascoyne, 13. The members were
then chaired with the usual display.
In July of this year, steps were taken for the establish-
institution. ment of an institution for the education of the deaf and
dumb. It was originally commenced by Mr. William
Comer and carried on for some time at his sole expense;
but at the meeting in question a committee was formed
and the undertaking handed over to them. The insti-
tution has continued its useful career in a modest unos-
tentatious way to the present time, and has been the
means of rescuing and placing in useful positions many
hundreds of those labouring under the infirmity for which
it provides.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
465
V.
1826.
cemetery.
The old quarry between St. James's Road and Hope CHAP.
Street, from which stone for the Liverpool buildings had
been extracted during the previous century, remained
a rough and unsightly valley of desolation. Schemes had St. James's
at different times been propounded for utilising it. Public
attention had recently been directed to the disgraceful
state of the graveyards in large towns and to the neces-
sity for some better provision for interment. This feel-
ing in Liverpool was stimulated by the opening of the
Necropolis early in 1825, which was established by the
Protestant Dissenters. A plan was soon after proposed
to convert this quarry into a Church of England ceme-
tery. The site was admirably adapted for picturesque
effects, and catacombs could easily be excavated in the
scarped precipices which bounded the land.
A pro-
minent mass of rock at the entrance afforded a fine
position for a Greek temple, being a sort of acropolis in
miniature. The land belonging to the corporation, the
council agreed to appropriate it for the purpose, and to
take a certain proportion of the shares of the joint-stock
company formed to carry out the plan. The first stone
was laid on August 28, 1827. The cemetery was con-
secrated on January 13, 1829. The first interment took
place June 11 the same year.
6
on
corn-laws.
On November 15, a public meeting was held in the Meetings
town-hall, pursuant to a requisition, for the purpose of oth
taking into consideration the expediency of presenting
petitions to the legislature for the repeal of the Corn
Laws or for their modification.' The mayor (Mr. T.
Littledale) occupied the chair. The meeting was ad-
dressed by Messrs. Henry Booth, W. Wallace Currie,
James Brancker, Thomas Thornely, Adam Hodgson and
others. Resolutions were passed deprecating restrictions.
on the free intercourse of trade, and pleading for some
relaxation of the existing stringent legislation. There
was, however, a timidity in grappling with the essence
of the question, a fear of boldly denouncing any
VOL. I.
H H
466
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1827.
interference with the importation of food, which it required
years of agitation to remove. It seemed to be taken for
granted that some amount of duty must be imposed, the
only matter for discussion being the proportion.
On March 2, 1827, another meeting on the same sub-
ject was held by the working classes, at which a petition,
to Parliament was agreed to, denouncing the Corn-laws
and praying for their abrogation. Mr. Canning's Ministry,
under the able guidance of Mr. Huskisson, soon after this
began to move in the direction of free trade; the last
words of the last speech ever delivered by Mr. Canning,
corn-laws. being a pledge that in the succeeding session the Govern-
ment would deal with the question, an alteration towards
a more liberal system passed by the Commons having
been defeated in the Lords on the motion of the Duke of
Wellington.
Canning
on the
Canning,
Prime
After the retirement of the Earl of Liverpool, in
Minister. April, 1827, Mr. Canning received the King's com-
mands to form an administration. The difficulties he
met with from the hostility of the ultra-Tory party are
matters of history on which it is unnecessary to dilate.
His old constituency to a great extent sympathised with
him, supported by all the influence the Whig party, so
long the bitter opponents of Mr. Canning, could bring to
bear. For the purpose of giving expression to the public
feeling on the subject, a meeting was convened by the
mayor (Mr. T. Littledale) pursuant to a numerously-
signed requisition, at the town-hall on Wednesday, May 9.
The meeting was crowded and enthusiastic, principally
consisting of the mercantile classes. The absence of a
large number of those who had been Mr. Canning's prin-
cipal supporters was very significant. Mr. John Glad-
stone was true to his allegiance, and took a prominent
the King. part in the proceedings, by moving that a dutiful and
loyal address to his Majesty be transmitted from this
meeting, congratulating his Majesty on the formation of
his present Ministry.' This was seconded by the Rev.
Public
meeting to
address
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
467
6
William Shepherd. Mr. Cyrus Morrall, a quondam sup-
porter of Mr. Canning, opposed the adoption of the
address, commenting severely on several points of Mr.
Canning's conduct, and concluded by moving, 'That this
meeting do adjourn to this day six months.' Mr. Thomas
Tinley animadverted in strong terms on Mr. Canning's
advocacy of Catholic Emancipation, and on his com-
mercial legislation, stating that he doubted his honesty
and disapproved of his measures.' Colonel Williams,
who never missed an opportunity of pouring out the
vials of his wrath, after round abuse of the late Ministry,
declared that he did not care for Canning or Brougham,
or any other man for Minister; but when he found him
acting on principles which he conceived to be calculated
to advance the good of the country, he would support
any man, or even the devil himself.' Mr. Canning was
eloquently defended by Mr. Rushton and Mr. Wallace
Currie, and the address was carried by acclamation.
A very short time after this meeting, Mr. Brougham,
Canning's former rival but now his close ally, visited
Liverpool as counsel in the trial of an important claim
for land taken by the trustees for dock purposes, which
CHAP.
V.
1827.
will be mentioned hereafter. The opportunity was Dinner to
availed of by his admirers to entertain him at a public Brougham.
dinner, which took place at the Music Hall on Monday,
June 18, Mr. Francis Jordan in the chair. Mr. Brougham
was most enthusiastically received. The speech which
he delivered is not included amongst those collected and
published by himself, but some parts of it are in his
happiest vein. The burden of it was naturally an expla-
nation of his position as a supporter of Mr. Canning's
Government, into which he went very elaborately. I
will give a few of the passages which possess the most
1 The approximation of these two gentlemen on the present occasion was
very remarkable. During the election of 1812, Mr. Shepherd had penned a
bitter satire on Mr. Gladstone for his support of the very man he now came
forward to eulogise.
HH 2
468
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1827.
Brougham's
speech.
interest in connection with Liverpool. After referring
to the election of 1812, he proceeds: It does so happen,
that from that day to this, I have never had the happi-
ness of visiting Liverpool, and, as the last day that I was
here I was occupied in speaking against Mr. Canning-
not personally, but against the side on which he appeared
—the very next time I raise my voice amongst you is to
avow to you that he and I are, at the present moment,
acting together; he in office, and I out of office; he in
power and in place, and I supporting that power, and
helping, with the humble mite of my assistance, to pre-
serve to him that place, because I conscientiously believe
that I cannot render a greater service to my country than
by humbly but disinterestedly tendering him such my
assistance.'
After a eulogium on Mr. Canning personally, he goes
into a history of previous parliamentary coalitions, which
for the most part he denounces as unprincipled. He
then shows that the present emergency requires the public
support of Mr. Canning, as being far in advance of his
late colleagues, and fighting the battle of progress, for the
country, for liberty, and for mankind. Alluding to the
Duke of Wellington's recent opposition to the relaxation
of the Corn Laws, he says:
'I speak on a day when it becomes me to express the
highest gratitude an Englishman can feel to an illustrious
warrior, who on this day twelve years led our country-
men to the most glorious of all their victories. I wish
to express my gratitude to that distinguished Captain for
those services, which all the gratitude of his country (and
it has been all but boundless) never can repay. Still
I cannot help feeling for his fame and for his character,
which is public property; I cannot but express my
regret, with all that good humour which is called for
by such a day as this, that he had not found some other
antagonist and some other field than the late ques-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
469
tion, since none but himself could have been his own
conqueror.'
CHAP.
V.
1827.
Towards the close of his address he spoke as follows:
'Gentlemen, I have entered into this explanation, which Brougham's
speech.
I have purposely made minute, detailed, tiresome if you
will, because I almost look upon myself as rendering an
account of my public conduct to my own constituents.
(Loud cheers.) Accidents have severed us for many
years, but I have never ceased to remember your kind-
ness, and I have never ceased to feel that the first time
I came amongst you it was as much my sacred duty to
render you an account of my public life as if you had
conferred the trust of a representative upon me.
It was
no fault of yours that I was not your representative; it
was my own fault that I was not. I know that I might
have been, if upon that memorable Sunday I had listened
to what was then propounded; but we refused that
which would have made me in 1812 the colleague of
Mr. Canning, instead of being his supporter in 1827. We
preferred trying for two members and we failed; as we
should have failed in the late negotiations, if we had
followed the Liverpool policy in 1812; for then, instead
of having a government composed of liberal men, and
established on sound principles, we should have strained
at what we could not possibly have achieved; and should
have let in men of no light, no knowledge, no liberality.
In casting my eye back on the scenes through which
we have passed, and of which I have been a nearer
spectator than yourselves, I feel that if I had acted another
part I should have been sacrificing my most sacred duty
to my country, to my principles, and to mankind—if I
had allowed one moment's time or place for the action
of mean, paltry personal feelings, and had refused my
sanction to the measures which placed Mr. Canning at
the head of affairs, merely because it was giving a great,
a signal, an illustrious triumph to a personal rival. I
do not look upon power as a thing to be envied by any
470
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
wise man. Power in itself-mere power, is anything
rather than either (I fear) a friend to virtue, or a test of
1827. merit. The bloated despot enjoys it by the accident
Brougham's of his birth; the unprincipled usurper, the ferocious
speech.
conqueror wades to it through blood; the defects that
degrade him below the rank of a man confer it upon the
despicable inmate of the seraglio. But power, to be of
use to mankind-the power of doing good to our country
-the opportunity of scattering blessings over the land
of our birth or of our adoption-the power to enable you
to root out ignorance, to diffuse the lights of knowledge,
to break the chains of enslaved men, of whatever colour,
of what cast, of what sect soever they may be-power,
to benefit mankind, and to illustrate our country, and to
ennoble our age, and to amend our race; that is a power,
which a man-aye, which an angel might stoop from his
height to take up. (Loud cheers for several minutes.)
I do believe from the bottom of my whole heart, that in
lending my feeble aid to establish power in the hands
of the men who at this moment wield it. I have enabled
many to hold it for these sacred purposes; and I care
not whether I have it in my own hands, or have the
happiness of strengthening the honest hands of others.
(Loud cheers.) I feel assured that he who does so, while
his life here is spared, doing good to his fellow-creatures
in his own humble sphere, and to the best of his own
feeble powers, has that heartfelt satisfaction which he
would dearly purchase any miserable promotion in the
state, or in the judicature, or in a foreign mission, or in
the command of his country's forces, by giving up; that
heartfelt satisfaction which arises from cultivating the
minds of his fellow men; from living a life of integrity,
pure and disinterested; and from entitling himself to
bequeath a name, when he ceases here to exist, to count-
less ages, as one of the greatest, though it may be one.
of the humblest benefactors of mankind.'
This noble peroration was received with the most
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
471
rapturous applause, the whole assembly rising and cheer-
ing, with waving of handkerchiefs for several minutes.
CHAP.
V.
death.
for a monu-
The alliance here so eloquently illustrated was of 1827.
very short duration. Early in August rumours of Mr. Canning's
Canning's serious illness got abroad, and on the 8th of
the month the noble heart which had borne up with
such courage against a host of difficulties and enemies,
ceased to beat. The news was received in Liverpool
with a deep feeling of regret and sympathy amongst
all parties. On the 27th of the same month a public Meeting
meeting was held at the town-hall, pursuant to a requi- ment to
sition to the mayor, for the purpose of taking into Canning.
consideration and determining upon the propriety of
showing some mark of respect to the memory of the
Right Honourable George Canning.' The mayor took
the chair, and the meeting was addressed by Mr. Joseph
Birch, M.P.; Mr. John Moss, who attended in the ab-
sence of Mr. Gladstone; Messrs. Charles Turner, Wallace
Currie, Edward Rushton, Mr. William Courtenay, M.P.
for Exeter, and others. Suitable resolutions were passed,
amongst others- That a monument be erected to the
memory of the late Right Honourable George Canning,
and that a subscription be entered into to defray the cost
and contingent expenses of erecting such monument.'
The result was the statue by Chantrey which now
decorates the landing of the grand staircase in the town-
hall, one of the finest which ever proceeded from the
studio of the artist, and every way worthy of its great
subject. The sum paid to Mr. Chantrey for the statue
was three thousand guineas. It was first exposed to
public view on September 28, 1832. A replica of this
statute in bronze was subsequently erected in New Palace
Yard, Westminster, but by no means with the same
happy result as in the marble one. The delicacy of the
features and the graceful lines of the form are in great
measure lost in the dark-coloured metal.
On June 8, 1827, the foundation-stone of the
472
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
CHAP. lighthouse erected on the site of the old Rock Perch was
laid by the mayor. The structure is built on the prin-
ciples of the Eddystone lighthouse, and shows a series
of revolving lights, two white to one red.
1827.
Rock
Light-
house.
Musical
festival.
The Musical Festival of 1827 was celebated in the
first week in October with more than usual splendour.
The Duke and Duchess of St. Albans (née Miss Mellon,
afterwards Mrs. Coutts), the Derby, Grosvenor, and Wilton
families, with most of the Lancashire and Cheshire
gentry, attended the proceedings. The principal vocal
attraction was Madame Pasta, then in the first flush of
her brilliant career. Besides the musical performances
there was a balloon ascent by the veteran aeronaut
Green, and two balls, one at the Wellington Rooms, the
other a fancy dress ball of more than ordinary mag-
nificence. In order to accommodate the large number
of guests, the Exchange Newsroom was pressed into the
service, with a covered way extemporised from the town-
hall rooms across the quadrangle-an expedient which
has since been resorted to more than once on state
occasions.
The handsome amount of 4,2007. was realised clear of
all expenses; which was divided amongst the charities
of the town.
I have recorded above the particulars of several con-
tested elections for the mayoralty, culminating in that
between Messrs. Bullin and Molyneux in 1821, with the
Contest for lavish expenses and the prices paid for votes. All these
Porter and were, however, thrown into the shade by the contest of
Robinson., 1827, between Messrs. Thomas Colley Porter and Nicholas
Robinson.
mayor:
The reasons and grounds for the contest were of the
most trivial and personal character. There was no poli-
tical question at issue, nor any municipal point to be
decided. Even Mr. Disraeli's Tadpole and Taper would
have felt it difficult to find a subject on which to estab-
lish a good cry.' The most probable origin of the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
473
J
CHAP.
V.
1827.
Election
struggle was the jealousy between the tradesmen and
the mercantile interest. Mr. Porter was a thriving and
prosperous plumber and painter, who had by industry
raised himself to affluence, and by means of some of mayor.
family connections had obtained admission into the ruling
municipal clique. Mr. Nicholas Robinson was a respect-
able merchant of standing and position. Previous to the
election the friends of each candidate held a meeting, at
each of which some feeble attempt was made to disparage
their antagonist and to eulogise the man of their choice;
but there was no salient point to take hold of. Every
person could see that it was simply a question of money.
The office of mayor was to be put up to auction and
knocked down to the highest bidder. In anticipation
of the good things to come, no fewer than 540 new free-
men put in their claims and were enrolled in the burgess
list.
At the nomination it clearly appeared that the corpo-
ration influence was with Mr. Robinson, whilst probably
from the reaction-Mr. Porter was the popular candidate.
According to custom the poll was kept open the first day
until midnight. The excitement was quite as great as at
a general election. Bands of music, preceded by flam-
beaux, escorted the voters to the hustings.
On the first day Mr. Porter's friends proposed to pay
to each freeman six shillings, which had been a usual
allowance for loss of time in coming to vote.
It was
stated that Mr. Robinson's committee paid ten shillings a
man to the first tally. This of course stimulated the
opposite side to bid higher; and so the auction for votes
proceeded for six days, until at the last the prices had
run up to 30%. or 40l. per vote. It must be understood
that there was not the least attempt at concealment.
There was no mysterious' Man in the Moon,' concealed
in a dark room, administering the so-called sugar' in
secret; all was open and above board. The price of a
vote was bargained for with as much keenness as a bale
6
Bribery.
474
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1827.
Election
of mayor.
Treating.
of cotton or a puncheon of rum. Nor were creature
comforts forgotten. The following paragraph from a
publication of the period will show the style in which
the whole affair was conducted: The arrangements of
Mr. Robinson's committee for the comforts of the can-
vassers and freemen evinced their considerate attention
and admirable management. This morning (the fifth
day) a table, the whole length of the room in the
King's Arms, was laid out and covered with joints of
meat and the most substantial refreshments. To this
sumptuous entertainment no fewer than 200 freemen sat
down at once to partake of the liberal fare. Several of
the gentlemen who acted as canvassers were in attend-
ance, and waited on the worthies, supplying all their
wants. It presented a scene of bustle and uproarious
merriment that defies all description. The canvassers
dined every day together at the King's Arms. We
question if an electioneering contest was ever conducted
in a more perfectly systematic style than by the committee
who managed Mr. Robinson's election.'
There, gentle reader, is a picture of Liverpool manners
and customs in the year of grace 1827, the magnificent
prize being the mayoralty of a provincial town for a
period of twelve months! Gambling and betting of
course followed in the wake of corruption. About the
middle of the sixth day, the Robinson party, both funds
and men being exhausted, gave in, as the contemporary
account euphemistically states-in the most handsome
and candid manner.' The procession of the winning
party after the close was of the most gorgeous descrip-
tion. The contest was wound up by a dinner of Mr.
Porter's friends at the York Hotel.
The whole affair was one of the most extraordinary
exhibitions of senseless folly on the one hand, and of
shameless greed and corruption on the other, which had
ever been witnessed. The expenses were estimated at
not less than 10,000l. on each side, and one of the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
475
candidates no doubt seriously embarrassed himself by CHAP.
the outlay.
V.
1827.
This state of things did not go unnoticed by the
public, amongst whom a general feeling of disgust and
indignation prevailed. The grand jury at the Quarter
Sessions then sitting made a presentment expressing
'their protest against the disgraceful system of bribery
practised at the elections for this borough, not only by
the friends of the candidates for the civic chair, but also
by the partisans of the candidates for the representation
of the borough in Parliament.' It was felt that an insti-
tution so thoroughly rotten to the core could not last. A Extension
public meeting was called, at which resolutions were franchise.
passed in favour of extending the franchise to house-
holders, which were vehemently resisted by a number of
the freemen. When it was put to them by one of the
speakers whether they would not be willing that their
fellow-townsmen should participate in their privileges, he
was met by loud cries of 'No, no, we won't.'
The numbers at the close of the poll stood as follows:
Porter, 1,780; Robinson, 1,765.
of the
tion.
After the formation of the Wellington and Peel Admi- a.d. 1828.
nistration, Mr. Huskisson, having accepted the office of Election.
Colonial Secretary, presented himself to his constituents
for re-election, on February 5, 1828. He was proposed Nomina-
by Colonel Bolton, seconded by Mr John Gladstone.
Some suspicion attached to Mr. Huskisson for taking
office under the party which had hunted his former
leader to the death. Mr. Charles Turner stood forward,
and said, that being one of those Whigs who had
signed the requisition to Mr. Huskisson again to become
a candidate for their representation, he hoped to be
indulged in stating some few points which appeared to
him to require explanation, of the conduct of the right
hon. gentleman subsequently to the signing of that
requisition.' Mr. Turner, however, was interrupted, on
the ground that, not being a freeman, he had no right to
476
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1828.
CHAP. address the burgesses. Mr. Wallace Currie then took up
the dropped thread of Mr. Turner's address, and pro-
ceeded to catechise Mr. Huskisson on the leading ques-
tions of the day, especially the repeal of the Corn Laws
and Catholic Emancipation. In his reply Mr. Huskisson
entered into an elaborate defence of his conduct in taking
office in the Tory Administration. The following passage
was rendered memorable by subsequent events:
Huskis-
Fon's
speech.
Rupture
lington.
C
In my interview with the Duke of Wellington I felt
myself called upon to look to three things: first, to mea-
sures; secondly, to the guarantees to those measures ;
and thirdly (what I have as much at heart as anything
else), that nothing should be done by me inconsistent
with my attachment and fidelity to my lamented friend,
Mr. Canning. As to measures, I first looked naturally
to the foreign policy of the country; and I looked also to
the commerce, the internal industry, and the colonial inte-
rests of the country. I was also bound to see to that
question which, whatever difference of opinion there
might be upon it, I think of vast importance to the per-
manent peace and security of the country, and to its
strength in war-I mean the footing upon which the
Catholic question should stand in the new arrangement.
If any man can doubt my sincerity, let him look at such
men as Lord Dudley, Mr. Grant (Lord Glenelg), and Mr.
Lamb (Lord Melbourne), whose continuance in office is
the most satisfactory of all guarantees that the general
principles of our foreign policy and commercial system
would remain unchanged, and that Ireland would be
governed with the strictest impartiality in respect to the
Catholic question.'
6
These expressions about his requiring guarantees
with Wel- before joining the Administration were commented on in
Parliament, and roused the ire of the Duke of Welling-
ton, who rejected with scorn the idea that any gentleman
would propose to him any guarantee of the sort, or that
he could for an instant listen to the proposal. Is it to
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
477
C
CHAP.
V.
1828.
and Wel-
be supposed,' said the Duke, that the right honourable
gentleman could have used the expressions ascribed to
him at the Liverpool election? If my right hon. friend
had entered into any such corrupt bargain as he was
represented to describe, he would have tarnished his
own fame as much as I should have disgraced mine.'
Huskisson's explanation was, that he meant to say that Huskisson
the composition of the Cabinet was itself a sufficient lington.
guarantee for the carrying out of a liberal policy. A
great soreness, however, remained; the Duke and Hus-
kisson did not take to each other kindly, and two months
afterwards, on the question of the disfranchisement of
East Retford, occurred the celebrated rupture which
exhibited in a painful light the contrasted characters of
the two men. Huskisson, morbidly anxious to stand well
with the party of his former leader, and evidently not
quite satisfied with his new position, feeble in health, and
sick at heart, having voted adversely to his party, in obe-
dience to what he considered a previous obligation, at
once placed his resignation in the hands of the Duke,
evidently without the least idea that he would be taken
at his word. The Iron Duke,' with his straightforward,
decisive habit of mind, had no sympathy with nice dis-
tinctions. He could not understand Touchstone's method
of making up a quarrel: 'If you said so, then I said so.
Your If is the only peacemaker; much virtue in an If.
Mr. Huskisson had sent in his resignation, and the Duke
hastened to lay it before the King. Mr. Huskisson sub-
mitted that his meaning had been mistaken; his resig-
nation was only conditional. No,' said the Duke,
'there has been no mistake, and there shall be no mis-
take;' and thus the services of the enlightened pioneer
in the cause of progress were finally lost to the country.
6
meeting,
On April 14, 1828, a public meeting was held to pro- Anti-
mote the anti-slavery agitation, Mr. W. Wallace Currie in slavery
the chair. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. James
Cropper, Adam Hodgson, Samuel Hope, and other
478
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. gentlemen; but the time was not yet fully ripe for
decisive action, which came a few years later.
V
1828.
Test Acts.
On June 19 the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Repeal of Acts was celebrated by a public dinner at the assembly-
room, King's Arms, the Rev. W. Shepherd in the chair.
dinner. The chairman's address was in a happy and rollicking
Public
spirit of humour. Alluding to the opposition of Lord
Shepherd's Eldon to the measure, he said: 'Gentlemen, there must
speech.
be great allowance made for this venerable statesman;
he had not then, nor has he yet recovered the shock of
the tumble down from political power which he expe-
rienced. Besides this, he saw that his successor (Lord
Lyndhurst) was a man in the prime of life, and in the
full vigour of his intellect; that he was possessed of such
happy pliability of political principle, that, like a glove,
he could accommodate himself to any Ministry; and
therefore, that having once got on the woolsack, he was
not likely to quit it. Gentlemen, I read in the records
of our corporation the account of a man named John
Dixon being fined five shillings, in the reign of Charles
II., for profanely swearing that, whoever the devil would
be mayor, he would be town clerk. So with Lord Lynd-
hurst-whoever may be Minister, he seems determined to
be Lord Chancellor. . . . As to the declaration, Gentle-
men, with which this boon to the Dissenters is accom-
panied, it reminds me of an old gentleman who, in the
plenitude of his liberality, put his hand into his breeches
pocket and gave a poor man sixpence; but suddenly
recollecting himself, he turns upon his heel and calls out,
Halloa, you sir, give me back a penny!" This precau-
tion on the part of the Church to protect herself from
the Dissenters is very much like that of a tall, strapping
Amazonian lady who should permit a pigmy to associate
with her, but first made him covenant that he would not
attempt to violate her honour.'
Revenue
buildings.
66
On Tuesday, August 12 (the King's birthday), the
first stone of New Revenue Buildings, on the site of the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
479
Old Dock, was laid by the mayor (Mr. T. C. Porter).
There was a grand demonstration, consisting of a
procession of the mayor and corporation, with the
trades and schools, with flags, banners, and music. A
Champion, in brazen armour, mounted on a charger,
attracted great attention. There were also boat races on
the river, and an exhibition of fireworks at night. In
the evening the mayor entertained about 200 gentlemen
at dinner in the town-hall.
CHAP.
V.
1828.
Peel.
In the month of October Sir Robert (then Mr.) Peel Visit of
paid a visit to Liverpool, and was received with great
distinction. On Tuesday, the 7th, accompanied by his
lady and daughter, he visited the various objects of
interest in the town and port. At the town-hall he was
presented with the freedom of the borough, after which
a cold collation was served.
In the evening a dinner was given by the mayor in
the town-hall. In the course of his speech, in response
to the toast of his health, Mr. Peel observed: 'I cannot Peel's
at all convey to you an adequate idea of the impressions speech.
excited by my visit to your great and flourishing town.
I have passed the day in witnessing the wondrous scenes
which Liverpool presents; and I have been gratified,
astonished, and, allow me to add surprised, at what
everywhere met my eye. I have frequently heard of
the rising greatness of Liverpool, but I never conceived
that it had risen to such an eminence as it now proudly
and magnificently holds. Belonging, as I do, to a family
intimately connected with the manufactures and com-
merce of the county, I was anxious to visit it; and I
now feel, that, as a public man, I should have been
guilty of a dereliction of duty if I had not inspected a
place which is so intimately connected with the interests
and prosperity of my country. I was desirous to see a
town where the interests of the commercial world con-
centrate, and where the intelligence, the spirit, the enter-
prise, and the worth of its inhabitants have ennobled the
480
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
√.
1828.
Mrs. Fry.
Presenta-
tion to
Porter.
New
sessions
house.
character of the British merchant and shed such a lustre
upon the country. Gentlemen, I have been gratified.
I have viewed your town: its noble institutions and
splendid monuments devoted to charity have been in-
spected, and I shall leave Liverpool under impressions
which cannot easily be erased.'
On October 17 the celebrated Mrs. Fry visited Liver-
pool on one of her benevolent missions; she preached
three times at the Friends' meeting-house in Hunter
Street, and subsequently met at the town-hall several
clergymen and others whom she endeavoured to interest
in her plans. Her manner, voice, and delivery in her
addresses seem to have charmed all who heard her.
At the close of Mr. Porter's mayoralty, for which he
had paid so dear, his quondam opponent Mr. Robinson
Mr.
was quietly elected, and reigned in his stead.
Porter won golden opinions from all parties during his
term of office. Soon after its close, it was determined
to present him with a testimonial in the form of a service
of plate. A subscription was entered into which realised
560l. The plate was presented on April 16, 1829. The
principal articles bore the following inscription:
Presented to
THOMAS COLLEY PORTER, ESQUIRE,
By his fellow-townsmen,
In testimony of their esteem,
And as a memorial of the
Assiduity, Dignity, and Hospitality
With which he discharged the duties of
Chief Magistrate
Of the Borough of Liverpool,
1828.
The day after his election the new sessions house,
Chapel Street and Rumford Street, was opened by the
new mayor, Mr. Robinson. To this I shall recur here-
after. It had not a very long duration, being taken
down in 1869, and the site absorbed into the New
Exchange.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
481
CHAP.
V.
She 1828.
On Friday, December 12, 1828, the celebrated Canta-
trice Madame Catalani took her farewell of the Liver-
pool orchestra preparatory to her final retirement.
reigned for many years as the queen of song, and Catalani.
although, perhaps, requiring rather more of effort, it is
stated that she was never more powerful or attractive
than in her final appearance. In giving Rule Britannia
and God save the King, with her wonderful bursts and
rich cadences, she appears to have quite taken the house
by storm.
emanci-
The year 1829 was memorable for the passing of the AD. 1829.
Catholic relief bill. Opinion in Liverpool was very Catholic
much divided upon the subject. No public demonstra- pation.
tions took place, but monster petitions were sent up on
both sides of the question; that against the measure
having received 33,000 signatures, and the one in favour,
about 30,000.
Religious controversy was naturally excited. On July
10 a meeting of the Reformation Society was held in Meeting.
the Music-hall, principally to hear an address from Capt.
Gordon, R.N. A number of Irish Catholics, chiefly
of the labouring class, were in attendance, and gave some
interruption to the proceedings, which were further en-
livened by a somewhat excited speech from a young
Irishman, Mr. Sharkey.
tion for
Public attention having been drawn towards corporate Requisi-
affairs by the contest for the mayoralty and certain pro- common
ceedings in the council, a movement was originated hall.
amongst the freemen to prevail on the mayor to summon
a common hall. A requisition to that effect was pre-
sented to the mayor and bailiffs in the beginning of
August, which was declined; whereupon a meeting of
the freemen-principally of the working class-was con-
vened, at which resolutions were passed, denouncing the
proceedings of the council, and expressing the intention
of the free and independent burgesses' to assert their
6
VOL. I.
I I
482
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1829.
CHAP. rights. Another meeting of a more public character
was held in the Music-hall on October 1, which was
addressed by Messrs. E. Rushton, Wm. Rathbone, Col.
Williams, and the Rev. W. Shepherd. At this meeting,
in addition to a series of resolutions maintaining the
rights of the burgesses, a committee was appointed to
carry out the objects of the meeting. Nothing, however,
came of the movement. Funds were not forthcoming.
It was generally felt that to mend a rotten and falling
system would be a more difficult task than to root it up
altogether. In six years from this time the whole was
Fancy ball. swept away.
mistakes.
6
Early in the year a grand fancy dress ball was given
in the town-hall rooms on behalf of the fund for the
relief of the Spanish and Italian refugees, attended by
about 1,200 guests. One or two incidents connected
therewith are worthy of mention. The ball was not
exclusively of a fancy dress character, and some ludicrous
mistakes occurred in the announcement and description
of the assumed personalities. Mr. Jas. Silk Buckingham,
Ludicrous well known for his travels in the east, presenting himself
in a foreign costume, was asked, in what character he
came?' Mistaking the word 'character' for carriage,'
he replied, 'in Mr. Theodore Rathbone's.' His inter-
locutor called out, Put down Mr. Buckingham in the
character of Mr. Theodore Rathbone!' Perceiving the
mistake, Mr. B. said, 'No; my costume is that of an
Egyptian Mameluke." The interrogator amended his
blunder by setting him down as 'Lalla Rookh!' and in
the next day's paper appeared amongst the other cele-
brities, Mr. J. S. Buckingham, in the character of that
liberality. peerless lady Lalla Rookh, well supported, and highly
interesting!!' A noble act of unostentatious generosity
was performed by the mayor, Mr. N. Robinson, at this
ball. Though he had nothing to do with the getting of
up, and none of the éclat accrued to him, he gave
quiet instructions that the whole of the expenses should
Mayor's
it
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
483
be debited to himself personally, leaving the entire pro-
ceeds to be devoted to the charity.
CHAP.
V.
1829.
China.
Another subject which attracted public attention in
Liverpool during this year, was the opening of the trade Trade to
to China and the far East, in prospect of the renewal of
the East India Company's charter.
A most numerously and respectably signed requisition
was presented to the mayor, requesting him to call a
town's meeting 'for the purpose of taking into considera- Meeting.
tion the best means of removing the restrictions imposed
upon commerce by the present charter of the East India
Company, and of prevailing on the Legislature to secure
to the public all those benefits which a free commercial
intercourse with India and China is capable of affording.'
The meeting was held in the new court room in the
Sessions House on Wednesday, January 28, 1829, the
mayor in the chair. The principal speakers were Messrs.
John Gladstone, Wm. Rathbone, Wm. Ewart, Henry
Booth, W. Wallace Currie, David Hodgson, Saml. Hope,
and Thomas Brocklebank. The meeting was one of the
most influential in a commercial point of view ever
held in the town. Strong resolutions were passed in
favour of opening the trade, and a petition to Parliament
founded thereon was adopted.
On Tuesday, September 15, 1829, Mr. Whitmore, M.P., Mr. Whit-
who had been an earnest and able advocate in the cause more.
of free trade with the East, was entertained at a public
dinner at the Adelphi Hotel, Mr. James Cropper in the
chair. Mr. Whitmore in his address strongly advocated
the general principles of free trade, especially in the
prime necessaries of life. It is my conviction,' said he,
'that until we re-establish that regular and habitual
trade in corn which the present state of the country
requires, we can look forward to no degree of permanent
prosperity.' Messrs. Rushton, Alston, and Radcliffe also
addressed the assembly.
6
At the end of the year, William Cobbett visited Liver- Cobbett.
II 2
484
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1829.
CHAP. pool and delivered in the Music-hall four lectures on the
political questions of the day, especially with reference
to the currency, and the lavish expenditure of the
country. The lectures were numerously attended and
well received.
Distress.
The winter of 1829-30 was severe, and the poor
suffered considerable distress for want of employment.
A.D. 1830. On January 4, a meeting of the operatives was held, at
which resolutions were passed, expressive of the want of
work and the low wages of labour. The establishment
of co-operative societies, or working and trading unions.
was advocated as a remedy.
Night
asylum.
Provident
District
Society.
Trade to
China.
Mr. Egerton Smith in the pages of the Mercury took
up the subject of providing a refuge or night asylum for
the houseless poor, and excited the public interest in the
benevolent undertaking. On March 2, 1830, a public
meeting was held of those favourable to the carrying out
of the plan; at which resolutions were adopted, and a
committee formed. Premises were rented and the asy-
lum established, which continued to be a refuge for the
friendless for many years, until superseded by the action
of the parish authorities under the amended Poor-law.
On February 3 the Common Council voted 500l. to be
expended in alleviation of the distress.
For the purpose of concentrating the efforts in the
relief of the poor and to prevent imposture, a Provident
District Society was established during the winter, into
which it was proposed that the various agencies all
working for a common object should merge. The
scheme met with general acceptance, and has been con-
tinued to the present day with very beneficial results.
The opening of the trade with the East was now
pressed vigorously on the attention of Parliament. Peti-
tions poured in from every quarter of the country, and
the government in deference to public opinion appointed
a committee of enquiry. Before this committee several
of the most eminent merchants of Liverpool gave evi-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
435
V.
dence against the restrictive policy. This bore its fruit CHAP.
in due time, though other matters of a more pressing
nature for a time took precedence.
1830.
of William
IV.
On Saturday morning, June 26, George IV. departed Accession
this life. His successor William IV. was proclaimed in
Liverpool on the 30th. In July the corporation voted
an address of condolence and congratulation to the king,
which was presented at the levée, when the mayor (Mr.
Geo. Drinkwater) received the honour of knighthood.
volution.
The stirring events of the three July days in Paris French Re-
caused great excitement, in which Liverpool took its
share. A very numerously signed requisition was pre-
sented to the mayor to call a public meeting to express Public
the sympathies of the people of England. This his Meeting.
worship declined to do. The meeting was nevertheless
held in the Music-hall under the presidency of Mr. W.
Wallace Currie. The meeting was addressed by the
Rev. W. Shepherd, and Messrs. F. Jordan, John Ewart,
H. Booth, Ed. Rushton, Thos. Thornely, and others.
Resolutions of a congratulatory character were adopted,
and a subscription opened for the relief of the sufferers.
This
On Monday, August 30, 1830, the new cattle market New cattle
Old Swan was opened, the traffic being removed from market.
Kirkdale, where it had previously been conducted.
market has since assumed colossal dimensions, a greater
amount of business being here transacted than at any
market in the kingdom, the metropolis excepted
The election for the first parliament under the new Election.
reign was held on August 2. Mr. Huskisson was no
longer in office, and was to some extent a defeated and
disappointed man. He was also in a very bad state of
health, and unable to attend. His friends, however,
rallied round him, if not with the enthusiasm of former
years, at least with a steady adherence. The committee
appointed to conduct his election consisted almost ex-
clusively of gentlemen of the Tory party. A meeting of
a very heterogeneous character was held, for the purpose
486
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1830.
Election
Meetings.
Nomina-
tion.
Liverpool
6
of getting up an opposition, consisting partly of the ultra-
Radical followers of Mr. Cobbett, and partly of the lower
class of freemen. One of these latter, addressing the
meeting, said he hated a puritanical election, without beer
or money, and they ought to get some one to stand who
would treat them well.' This loyal and sensible observa-
tion was greeted with loud cheers. After an indescribable
scene of tumult the meeting broke up in confusion.
<
On the hustings Sir John Tobin acted as Mr. Huskis-
son's locum tenens,' and read an explanatory address
from him, strongly advocating a reduction of taxation, a
more equal distribution of the burdens of the State and
the adoption of the system of free trade; in some-
what hazy language, he also pointed towards a reform
in Parliament.
6
General Gascoyne gave utterance to very liberal senti-
ments. He said he had always been the supporter of a
free trade to India. He also thought that the representa-
tion might be improved, and he was desirous of seeing the
elective franchise extended to such towns as Manchester,
Birmingham, Leeds, and Sheffield.' Judged by his sub-
sequent conduct, the liberality of the General was of very
short-lived duration.
The irrepressible Colonel Williams was put forward as
a candidate for form's sake, and delivered one of his biting
orations. The poll continued open for an hour or two,
when the Colonel withdrew, and Mr. Huskisson and
General Gascoyne were declared duly elected.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which had
and Man- been some years in progress, and had a host of difficul-
chester
railway.
ties to overcome, was now completed and ready for
opening, This is not the place to repeat the tale a
hundred times told of the history of the rise and pro-
gress of the railway system, but it is only bare jus-
tice to keep in remembrance the fact that it is to the
sagacity, enterprise, and perseverance of Liverpool mer-
chants that the world is indebted for the development of
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
487
CHAP.
V.
1830.
and Man-
railway.
railways in their present form. The subject was not new
in Liverpool; as early as the year 1812, immediately
after the construction of Blenkinsop's colliery railway
from Middleton to Leeds, a proposal had been made for Liverpool
the adoption of railways as a means of travelling, and in chester
1822 a scheme was laid down for a general network of
railways over the kingdom. These, however, were but
theoretical speculations. The Stockton and Darlington
Railway, the first actually worked for passengers, was
opened September 27, 1825. This could only be con-
sidered a tentative experiment. Public attention was
eagerly directed to the completion of the Liverpool
and Manchester line, which was to solve the great
problem of the future locomotion of the civilised world.
It is needless to say that the most sanguine expectations
have been realised a hundred-nay, a thousand-fold.
What the formation of the grand old highways through-
out Europe did for the Romans, the great road-makers of
antiquity, the railway system has done for modern society,
but in a far higher degree. It has changed the map of
Europe; it has altered the boundaries of states; it has
revolutionised the art and practice of war; it has given
new directions to trade and commerce. Practically it
has levelled the lofty summits of the Alps, and reduced
the distance between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to a
mere question of a few days. It has changed the centres
of industry, opened up new sources of wealth and employ-
ment, created populous towns where existed previously
only desolate wastes, brought the wild beauties of the
lakes and mountains within reach of the toiling multi-
tudes in populous city pent.' It is gradually softening
down prejudices, provincialisms, and peculiarities, and
paving the way for the access of that coming time-
When man to man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.
And all this we owe to the practical sagacity of a single
488
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1830.
Opening of
railway.
man-George Stephenson! It would not be too much
to say, that the genius of the Northumbrian miner has
effected more for the progress of the human race in fifty
years, than all the conquerors and statesmen had done in
the five hundred years preceding.
September 15, 1830, the day fixed for the opening,
was a memorable epoch for Liverpool and for the world.
There was a gathering of the noble and the celebrated
from all quarters. The Duke of Wellington, Prince
Esterhazy, Sir Robert Peel, Lords spiritual and temporal,
Members of Parliament, and celebrities of all kinds,
gathered in great numbers, amongst whom, alas! ap-
peared Mr. Huskisson, who had dragged himself from a
sick bed in his anxiety to assist in doing honour to the
occasion. The day was fine, and the assembled multi-
tudes probably exceeded in numbers any spectacle before
or since. All along the thirty miles of its course the rail-
way was lined by spectators from the surrounding coun-
try, many from great distances; here and there in dense
masses, on other points more sparse:
You would have thought the very windows spake,
So many greedy looks of young and old
Through casements darted their desiring eyes;
and when after a period of expectation strained to the
utmost the train appeared in sight, rolling along slowly
in its majesty of power, the excitement seemed almost
too great to exhibit itself in the usual British cheer.
Foremost on the gorgeous car prepared for the occasion
stood the hero of a hundred fights, the conqueror at
Waterloo, grave and impassive, with arms folded, en-
veloped in his military cloak, surrounded by the noble
and distinguished from all quarters. The real hero of
the day, the spirit at whose bidding all this mighty scene
had been conjured up-George Stephenson-headed the
train, driving with his own hands the locomotive, manu-
factured by himself, appropriately named 'The Northum-
brian.'

庭
​LIVERPOO-
Dravu by C& G. Fyne
Engraved by John Dames.
ENTRANCE TO THE TUNNEL OF THE LIVERPOOL & MANCHESTER RAIL-WAY, EDGE-HILL.
REINE
INN IRIBED TO JUK MARQUESM OF STAFFORD AND OTHEK SHAREHOLDERS.
BY THE POALISHER”.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
489
V.
1830.
Huskisson.
The lamentable accident at Parkside, by which Eng- CHAP.
land lost one of her most enlightened statesmen, and
Liverpool a most valuable representative, I will not
attempt to describe. Mr. Huskisson and the Duke here Death of
met for the first time since their rupture, and the oppor-
tunity was warmly embraced by both for a friendly re-
cognition, during a temporary stoppage of the train.
When the cry was raised, Take care, an engine is
coming,' Mr. Huskisson, with enfeebled body, and nerves
unstrung by sickness, became flurried, missed his footing
in attempting to ascend, and fell on the rails just as the
engine, The Rocket,' came up, passing over his leg,
from the effects of which accident he died in a few hours.
6
6
On September 24 his remains were interred in the Interment.
new St. James's Cemetery, after a public procession, in
which all sects and parties vied with each other in pay-
ing the utmost respect to the memory of the departed
statesman.
On November 3 a public meeting was held in the Monu-
Sessions House, Sir John Tobin in the chair, to take suit- ment,
able steps towards the erection of a monument to the
late member. About 3,000l. was subscribed besides the
expenses of the funeral. The monument took the form
of a circular mausoleum, enclosing a marble statue of the
deceased by John Gibson. The statue is a fine work of
art, but from the limited space round it, is not seen to
advantage. A duplicate of the statue, cast in bronze, was
presented by Mr. Huskisson's widow to the town, and
erected in the open space on the north side of the Custom-
house.
The triennial festival was held during the first week in Festival.
October. The principal vocal celebrity was Madame
Malibran, then in the zenith of her marvellous powers.
The selection of a successor to Mr. Huskisson in the Election.
representation, necessitated the election of November
1830, one of the most extraordinary in the annals of
electioneering.
;
490
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
Denison.
Ewart.
Party spirit did not run particularly high at the time,
the question of reform not having been yet prominently
1830. brought forward. The school of Canning and Huskisson
formed a sort of common ground on which the Liverpool
Whigs and Tories were content to meet. Sir Robert
Peel, Mr. Poulett Thompson, and Mr. Charles Grant,
were successively applied to, but each declined the pro-
posed honour. At length two gentlemen were pitched
upon as eligible to represent the town, and received
requisitions from their respective friends. Both were
young, highly educated, eager for public distinction, and
professed to belong to the same political school, anxious
to wear the mantle and walk in the footsteps of the late
lamented representative. Mr. John Evelyn Denison was
a scion of a highly respectable family, son-in-law to the
Duke of Portland, Mr. Canning's brother-in-law. Mr.
William Ewart was a native of Liverpool, son to Mr.
William Ewart, principal in the wealthy firm of Ewart,
Rutson & Co., who had graduated at Oxford, had been
called to the bar, and had already sat in Parliament for
the now disfranchised borough of Blechingley. Whigs
and Tories were singularly divided. Mr. Edward Rush-
ton and Mr. William Brown (afterwards Sir William)
were united with Colonel Bolton and Sir John Tobin in
support of Mr. Denison; whilst the veteran reformers,
William Rathbone and Rev. W. Shepherd, coalesced with
Messrs. Duncan Gibb and Captain Colquitt, R.N., on
behalf of Mr. Ewart. The preparations for the contest
began about the middle of October, and from that time
to the date of the election on November 23, there was
one incessant round of canvassings, attending meetings,
appearing on 'Change, and in every way making interest
for the sweet voices of the freemen. It is singular, seeing
how soon the storm was about to burst in all its fury, with
what a mild and gentle tone the question of Reform in
Parliament was approached. At a meeting of the Guar-
dian Society on November 2, Mr. Denison stated, ‘He
Prepara-
tions.
:
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
491
was favourable to a moderate system of reform; he would
be desirous to extend the franchise to rate payers of 201.
under Mr. Peel's bill, and would also be happy to see
representation given to Manchester and the other large
towns.'
CHAP.
V.
1830.
Mr. Ewart, in an address given on 'Change, alluded to Election.
'the absolute necessity of extending to our intelligent
neighbours in Manchester and other great communities.
the constitutional right of a free representation,' but
waived for the time being going into details.
Whilst these proceedings were taking place, very mo- Proceed-
ings in
mentous events were occurring elsewhere. Parliament Parlia
opened on November 2, and in the debate on the address ment.
the Duke of Wellington uttered the memorable words
which roused the whole country from John o'Groat's
House to the Land's End.
(
The revolution in France had excited the public mind,
and led to an expectation of some indication of a move-
ment in the direction of reform in the speech from the
throne. Nothing of the kind being even hinted at, but
on the contrary a sort of defiant pledge being given of
putting down all disturbance with the strong hand, great
disappointment was felt, which was given utterance to by
Earl Grey in the discussion in the Lords. To this the
Duke replied very decisively. He asserted that the
country possessed at the present moment a legislature
which answered all the good purposes of legislation;' and
that the legislature and the system of representation pos-
sessed the full and entire confidence of the country;
deservedly possessed that confidence.' 'He was not only
not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature,
but he would at once declare, that as far as he was con-
cerned, as long as he held any station in the government
of the country, he should always feel it his duty to resist
such measures when proposed by others.'
6
The gauntlet thus boldly thrown down was soon taken Defeat of
up. On November 15 Ministers were beaten on Sir Ministers.
492
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
Nomina-
tion.
CHAP. Henry Parnell's motion on the Civil List, and on the 16th
the Duke and his colleagues resigned, and the Grey and
1830. Brougham administration was formed. The new ministry
had not taken their seats at the time of the Liverpool
election on the 23rd, but their names were a guarantee
for the measures they intended to introduce. This could.
not but have a powerful influence on the tone assumed
by the candidates on the hustings. Mr. Denison said:
Gentlemen, I stand here as a true friend and firm
defender of the institutions of this country; not however
thinking that they have attained the full reach of perfec-
tion, but rather that one of their greatest merits is, that
they admit of improvement; that they adapt themselves
to the change of circumstances. I fearlessly declare that
I am prepared, in deference to the united voice of public
opinion, to give my feeble aid to review and to reform
the institutions of the country.'
<
6
Mr. Ewart said in reference to the same subject, after
passing a warm eulogium on Mr. Canning, It is true
that on one great subject, now the source of considerable
agitation in the country, the question of Reform, Mr.
Canning's opinions were not quite in unison with the
spirit of the present age. It was certainly quite con-
sistent with his views to transfer the franchi e of East
Retford to Manchester or Birmingham. This, however,
in my opinion, is not enough. It is not sufficient for the
legislature to give when forced. It must also give spon-
taneously. He who would infuse new life into the con-
stitution through East Retford or Old Sarum only, is like
the physician who would infuse blood into the system
through the fingers or the toes, instead of strengthening
the system itself, and adding vigour from within. On
this question, as on every other, I confess myself the
friend of sound and rational improvement. On this single
term improvement, as on a great principle, I base all my
opinions and views.'
Little did either of the candidates dream at this time.
493
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
CHAP.
V.
1830.
what point would be given to the words they had uttered
by the proceedings of their own friends during the next
few days. A great struggle had been prepared for, and
the organisation on each side was complete. A large Election.
expense might reasonably have been expected; but it
cannot for a moment be supposed that either side con-
templated the reckless waste of money which ensued, or
the scandalous manner in which it was expended. Both
candidates professed the same principles, and Whigs and
Tories were found in both camps. A political cry was
therefore impossible. Mr. Canning's friends had left
their leader's principles behind, and were advancing with
the times. It was soon found that the freemen would
not move without money, and money was accordingly
The
forthcoming-at first in a timid, hesitating way.
price of votes on the first day was from 51. to 61. Our
great dramatist says:
How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds,
Makes ill deeds done!
The polling continued for
So it was in the present case.
seven days. On the fourth day Mr. Ewart fell behind his
opponent twelve votes, and so continued until the seventh
day, when Mr. Denison's friends having exhausted their
strength, resigned. The numbers at the close stood-
Ewart, 2,215; Denison, 2,186. From the first day the Poll.
market price of votes rapidly rose, until it finally reached
about 407. per man.
Whilst I write these lines I have before me an authen- Bribery.
ticated list of the voters, with the amount of the bribe
paid to each. Out of 4,401 freemen, not 1,000 voted
without being bribed. The resident voters received sums
varying from 5l. to 40l. each. Some of the non-resident
freemen having to come from a distance received larger
sums.
The highest on the list is a person from Belfast,
styled a merchant,' who voted for Mr. Denison, and
received 807. A resident freeman in Liverpool, who
494
CHAP.
V.
1830.
Chairing
and
dinners.
Notice in
Parlia-
ment.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
voted for Mr. Ewart, received 501. The cost of the elec-
tion, it may well be supposed, amounted to a very large
sum. Mr. Ewart's expenses were estimated at 65,000,
the whole of which were defrayed by himself and family.
Mr. Denison's outlay was not reckoned at more than
50,000., towards which it was said Colonel Bolton con-
tributed 10,0007.
The chairing was a very gorgeous affair. The pro-
ceedings were wound up by public dinners to the suc-
cessful and unsuccessful candidates. The make believe
of political life was never more aptly illustrated than on
the occasion of the dinner to Mr. Ewart. What inward
scorn and loathing must he have felt in proposing the
following toast, which was actually drunk with three
times three cheers: The 2,215 freemen of this borough
who have so nobly supported the cause of their towns-
men, and rescued themselves from all fear of future domi-
nation and Townside for ever!' Out of the 2,215 who
had so nobly supported the cause,' at least 1,700 had
been paid on an average 201. each for their patriotic
exertions!
•
This election gave the coup de grâce to the system so
strongly upheld by Mr. Canning and the Duke of Wel-
lington. Lord Brougham in the debates on the Reform
Bill animadverted on it in very strong terms. He said,
'He had himself witnessed a contested election in a great
rotten borough, for he would so denominate Liverpool,
and place it at the head of all the rest; and although for
many months afterwards the candidates had no notion of
any corrupt or undue practices, the cost of the election
amounted to upwards of 40,000. He had been told
that three times 40,000l. would not be sufficient to pay
the expenses of the last election that had disgraced the
town of Liverpool; he hoped the last in every sense of
the word; for if the Reform Bill were torn to shivers,
1 In allusion to his own candidature in 1812.
495
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
another and a local bill would be necessary to deprive
parties of a franchise which they had abused.'
CHAP.
V.
The career of the two candidates thus inauspiciously 1830.
commenced, was one in every way creditable. Both of
them became decided reformers, prompt in supporting
every liberal measure. Mr. Ewart represented Liverpool
until 1837, and subsequently the Dumfries boroughs in
Scotland. He was a very useful member of the House
of Commons, and is entitled to grateful remembrance for
his indefatigable efforts in obtaining the several acts for
the promotion of public libraries and museums, which
are called by his name.
Mr. Denison's career has been one of honour and re- Denison.
nown, until it culminated in his appointment as Speaker,
the highest honour in the power of the House of Com-
mons to bestow.
Mr. Ewart's return was petitioned against by Messrs. Petition.
John Wybergh, Mark Rimmer, and Henry Haselden, of
Liverpool; and was referred as usual to a select com-
mittee, of which Mr. Benett was the chairman.
Parlia-
Parliament adjourned from December 1830 to February
1831. During the recess there was a sort of hushed
expectation throughout the country as to the measures
to be adopted by the Grey Ministry in redeeming their
pledge for Parliamentary Reform. At this time the Reform in
course of public opinion was comparatively smooth and ment.
gentle, and there were few indications of the mighty
torrent into which it swelled a few months subsequently,
bearing down all opposition with a force which nothing
could withstand. This was strikingly manifested by a
meeting which was held in Liverpool soon after the close
of the election (December 14) for promoting the cause
of reform in Parliament. The meeting, oddly enough, Public
was called by the churchwardens of the parish, and pre-
sided over by the senior warden, Mr. John Holmes
(mayor in 1849-50). It was commenced in St. Nicholas's
Church and thence adjourned to the music-hall. The
meeting.
496
CHAP.
V.
1830.
Vote by
ballot.
A.D. 1831.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
attendance was at first scanty, and the room—not a very
large one-was never full during the whole of the pro-
ceedings. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. William
Rathbone, Adam Hodgson, Leathom, and others. The
resolutions originally proposed were of a general cha-
racter, the petition founded thereon praying for a reform
in the representative system without going into detail.
Some gentlemen present were not satisfied with this; and
a resolution was proposed by Mr. John Taylor, that it
is the opinion of this meeting that the adoption of the
mode of voting by ballot is essential to the useful opera-
tion of any change, whatever may be its degree, in the
representative system of the British empire.' This led to
a very animated discussion, the more moderate reformers,
whilst agreeing generally in the principle of the Ballot
deprecating its introduction as premature. Some of them
opposed the Ballot, Mr. Thomas Blackburn (surgeon)
observing that a man ought to vote openly and boldly,
and if the right of voting were given to the wealthy and
intelligent members of the community, the vote by ballot.
would be quite unnecessary. No reform of the House of
Commons would have any good effect, which did not
render the vote by ballot absolutely unnecessary.' Mr.
Rushton delivered a very eloquent speech strongly ad-
vocating the Ballot, and ultimately the resolution in its
favour was carried with very trifling dissent. Some
credit may be given to the prescience of these gentlemen
when we find that after forty years' experience of the
extended Parliamentary franchise, the Ballot in the
session of 1872 was made a Cabinet question.
6
The public mind during the year 1831 was almost
exclusively devoted to the question of Parliamentary
Reform, which now agitated the country through all
its length and breadth to the exclusion of every other
topic.
On January 19, 1831, a public meeting of the mercantile
community was held in the Sessions House, the mayor
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
497
V.
1831.
Trade to
(Mr. Thomas Brancker) in the chair, 'to consider the CHAP.
propriety of again petitioning both Houses of Parliament
on the subject of opening the trade to China and India.'
The meeting was addressed by Messrs. James Cropper, Chada
George Grant, Alston, Thornely, John Ewart, S. Hope,
and others. Strong resolutions were passed, demanding
the opening of the trade to the East as an act of justice
to the British merchant, of undoubted policy to the
country at large, and of a generous and enlightened
philanthropy to the nations of the Eastern world.' Peti-
tions to both Houses of Parliament were agreed to, and
a subscription opened in furtherance of the object.
stock
The system of joint-stock banking was introduced into Joint-
Liverpool in 1831, the Bank of Liverpool being the one banks.
first established. The Bank of England had opened a
branch in the town in 1827. So successful has the joint-
stock system proved, that out of twelve banks existing in
Liverpool in 1871, only two were private concerns.
Bill.
The Reform Bill was introduced into the House of Reform
Commons by Lord John Russell on March 1, and on the
23rd, the second reading was carried by a majority
of one.
The Liverpool election was an unlucky event for the
opponents of reform. It could not be ignored, for the
inquiry by the select committee was conducted during
the exciting debates on the bill, and the frightful dis-
closures of corruption and venality were naturally held
up as the strongest possible arguments in favour of a
total change. Lord Chancellor Brougham in the House Lord
of Lords, on March 23, alluded to the subject. He said: Brougham
'He was ashamed to say, that by a recent decision of a
Committee of the House of Commons, the great, the
enormous, the overgrown delinquency of Liverpool was
made apparent, and the member, the most innocent of all
the parties, was unseated. The corruption and bribery
practised there surpassed in openness and audacity all
VOL. I.
K K
498
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. that had ever been recorded in the annals of elec-
V.
1831.
Ewart
unseated.
Reform
Bill.
motion
carried.
tioneering.'
6
On Monday, March 28, the special Report of the Com-
mittee on the Liverpool Election was brought before the
House of Commons, declaring that Mr. William Ewart
had not been duly elected, and that gross bribery and
treating had prevailed at the late election for Liverpool.'1
On the following day it was resolved on the motion of
Mr. Benett that the issue of a new writ should be sus-
pended until April 18.
On
Before that time arrived great events had happened
which threw the Liverpool election into the shade as
a matter of no importance. The country was roused in
all its length and breadth. Public meetings were being
held in all large centres of population, and petitions on
both sides of the question poured into Parliament.
March 18, the Common Council of Liverpool adopted a
petition praying for such modification of the Reform Bill
as would not interfere with the rights and privileges of
the corporation. On the day previously, a meeting of
those opposed to reform was held at the Clarendon
Rooms, when a petition for a similar modification was
agreed to and left for signature at the Exchange News-
room and other places, but it met with little encourage-
ment.
On April 18, the day appointed for Mr. Benett's motion
relative to Liverpool, the question of going into com-
Gascoyne's mittee on the Reform Bill took precedence. On this
occasion General Gascoyne, who had sat for Liverpool
for thirty-five years as a mere Parliamentary cypher,
suddenly emerged into a notoriety which has coupled
his name with the history of a great measure in all time
to come. Like Lord Byron, he awoke one morning
and found himself famous.' He moved a resolution in
that the total number of
opposition to Ministers,
•
C
1 It was stated at the time that the cost of the proceedings before the
committee amounted to £4,000.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
499
members for England and Wales ought not to be
diminished.'
On the following night, this motion was carried by a
majority of eight against the Ministry. The gallant old
general has had rather hard measure meted out to him
for his conduct in this affair. That the motion was
eagerly adopted by the opposition as a defiance to the
Ministry, is quite certain; but the resolution itself was a
very harmless one, and was practically adopted by the
Ministers themselves as Sir Robert Peel tauntingly
reminded them—in the Reform Act as finally passed.
C
C
CHAP.
V.
1831.
On April 21, the day but one before the abrupt disso-
lution consequent on the defeat of Ministers, Mr. Benett
moved a resolution, That the system of bribery and Inquiry.
treating which prevails in the election of burgesses to
serve in Parliament for the borough of Liverpool, de-
mands the attention of the House.' General Gascoyne Gascoyne
warmly opposed the motion, and caused great laughter protests.
by asserting that he could truly say that if there was a
spot in all the world free from corruption it was the
borough of Liverpool! The laugh showed great pre-
judice, but not sense.' He continued: If any man can
put his hand to his heart and say that he has been
returned for a populous place, and that it had not cost
him a shilling, I am that man, so help me God! I
have been returned for thirty-five years, and I can tell
the honourable member that if there is bribery, that
bribery is from the constituents to the representative. I
have received plate to an amount that I should be sorry
to boast of, I have received the general thanks and
approbation of this town from time to time above a
hundred and twenty times. Ale might be given to the
electors, but so help me God! I have not paid for it.
If any man cares less than another for being sent back
to his constituents I am that man. If there is any change
in the elective franchise, I am sure of coming in again,'
KK 2
500
LIVERPOOL.
MEMORIALS OF LIVE
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Reform
meeting.
Address
to the
King.
Ewart.
Freemen.
The events of the next few weeks furnished a curious.
comment on the boasts of the worthy general.
Any further action in the matter was barred by the
dissolution.
On April 27, a public meeting on behalf of the reform
cause was held in the Music-hall under the presidency
of Mr. William Earle. The principal local speakers were
Messrs. Wallace Currie, John Ewart, John Taylor, T.
Thornely, Rev. W. Shepherd, and Colonel Williams, but
the greatest excitement was caused by the presence of Mr.
William Ewart, who had now thrown himself into the
Reform ranks with all the ardour of a new convert. He
made a bold and eloquent speech in defence of the Bill.
Strong resolutions were passed, and an address to the
King adopted, thanking him for his support of the Minis-
terial scheme, and pledging themselves loyally to maintain
the authority of the Crown, in his efforts to promote the
liberty and happiness of the people.
The writs for the new Parliament were immediately
issued. The friends of the candidates were not idle.
Immediately after Mr. Ewart was unseated, a meeting of
his supporters had been held on March 31, Mr. James
Brancker in the chair, when a resolution was adopted
pledging the party to use every effort to restore him to
the seat, whenever the House should decide to issue the
writ.
6
On April 15 a meeting was called of the unbribed'
freemen, at the York Hotel, Mr. Charles Grayson in the
chair, to protest against the proposed disfranchisement
of the whole of the freemen on account of the delin-
quencies of only a part. A petition to Parliament em-
bodying these views was agreed to. At this meeting a
ludicrous circumstance occurred. Two or three of the
'free and independent' who had either not received the
whole of their stipulated wages of corruption, or who
fancied they had been underpaid, seeing the placards,
imagined that the term 'unbribed' applied to them, and
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
501
that they were invited to receive payment of their
arrears. On presenting themselves at the meeting and
making known their expectations, they found themselves
greeted with more vigour than politeness, and were
summarily ejected from the room.
CHAP.
V.
1831.
dates.
Parliament was dissolved on April 22. On the two Candi-
following days addresses were issued by Mr. Ewart and
General Gascoyne. Mr. Ewart's address was of a thorough
character, though he was scarcely warranted in announc-
ing his principles as fixed and unchanged.' General
Gascoyne plumes himself on the many occasions on which
he had stood up for the rights of the freemen threatened
with attack.
Little time was given for preparation, as the election
took place on Monday, May 2. On the Saturday pre-
vious a meeting of Mr. Denison's friends was held, at Meetings.
which it was announced that in the prospect of being
returned for Nottinghamshire, he declined being a can-
didate for Liverpool. On Friday, April 29, General Gas-
coyne's party held a meeting, at which the modicum of
reform principles admitted by himself was utterly scouted
and repudiated by his followers. Mr. Cyrus Morrall gave
great offence by a speech in which he said: Our insti-
tutions are once more to be put in jeopardy, for the
purpose of transferring the franchise from the blue-
jackets of this town-men who knew the stem from the
stern of a ship, and whom the Ministers did not like, to
the shopkeepers, a set of Cockneys who came down from
London to vend haberdashery and other such trash, who
suited the purposes of Ministers better.'
As the important day of election drew on a wonderful Election.
revulsion of public feeling was manifest. It was clear
that, carried away by sympathy and impulse, nothing
would be tolerated by the people but the Bill, the whole
Bill, and nothing but the Bill.' Poor General Gascoyne
had reckoned without his host. From being the favourite
and friend of the Liverpool blue-jackets he had suddenly
502
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Nomina-
tion.
Poll.
sunk to be their loathing and detestation. It had been
intended to give him a public entrée into the town on
Saturday, April 30; but in consequence of unmistakably
threatening signs, it was thought wise to abandon it.
On the morning of the election a most enthusiastic
reception was given to Mr. Ewart at the hustings, whilst
the groans, hisses, and yells, which greeted the General,
were perfectly deafening. General Gascoyne was pro-
posed by Alderman Leyland, seconded by Alderman
Bourne. Mr. Ewart was proposed by Mr. James Brancker,
seconded by Captain Colquitt, R.N. A letter was then
read from Mr. Denison, declining to stand, and so the
election seemed likely to terminate. Mr. John Formby
then stepped forward and said: 'He was determined the
freemen of Liverpool should have an opportunity of
showing their disinterestedness and patriotism, and he
would therefore propose that John Evelyn Denison, Esq.,
was a fit and proper person to represent Liverpool in
Parliament.' This was seconded by Mr. Tomlinson. The
candidates did not address the electors on the hustings.
The poll commenced on Tuesday morning. The free-
men came up in crowds unsolicited to record their votes
for Ewart and Denison, and at the close of the day
the numbers stood: Ewart, 1,384; Denison, 1,374;
Gascoyne, 405.
It was evident that the General was in sporting phrase
'nowhere.' Popular excitement this day rose to a high
pitch. When General Gascoyne appeared at the entrance
to the Town-hall about half-past twelve, the fury of the
Gascoyne populace exceeded all bounds. One wretch diabolically
insulted. spat in the face of the general, and had it not been for
the protection of a posse of special constables aided by
the cooling influence of a heavy shower of rain, it seemed
as if he would have been torn in pieces.
It would seem at first view difficult to account for the
extraordinary change which had passed over the freemen
in a few short months. The very men who in November
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
503
V.
had sold themselves to the highest bidder totally irre- CHAP.
spective of principle or politics, were in May heaping
curses and denunciations on the head of the man who
1831.
defeat.
had done his utmost to maintain their privileges intact, Gascoyne's
and who had expected to be received with open arms.
Several causes combined to produce this result. It is
only fair to suppose that the exposure of the bribery and
corruption at the previous election had touched even the
venal freemen with some tinge of shame, and that they
had in some degree partaken of the national enthusiasm.
Along with this, Ewart and Denison brought with them
agreeable recollections of benefits received, which natu-
rally produced a favourable impression towards their
benefactors. A third motive might be derived from the
threatened disfranchisement, which loomed darkly before
their eyes, but which possibly might yet be averted by
timely repentance, which in fact proved to be the case.
One cannot help feeling sympathy with the gallant old
soldier who together with his brother had between them
represented the borough for half a century, being dis-
carded and treated with contumely by those whom how-
ever mistakenly he had tried to benefit.
The chairing took place on Friday, May 6, and was of
the most gorgeous and ornamental character.
Mr. Denison having been elected for Nottinghamshire
elected to sit as the county member. A vacancy there-
fore arose in the representation of Liverpool. The
unanimity which had existed in the return of Ewart and
Denison no longer prevailed. The most radical of the
Whig party selected Mr. Thomas Thornely, a merchant Thorncly.
of high standing, who afterwards represented Wolver-
hampton in Parliament for many years with great ac-
ceptance. The Tories and moderate Whigs invited Lord
Sandon (afterwards Earl of Harrowby), to become their Sandon.
candidate. Public meetings were held at which both
candidates expounded their views and an active canvass
set in. The Noble Lord was decidedly the popular
504
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1831.
CHAP. candidate. He was young, of agreeable manners, and
had the prestige which aristocracy can give. In making
the amiable amongst the tenants of St. John's Market,
some of whom were freemen, his Lordship gallantly
imprinted a kiss on the lips of a comely market-woman,
hight Hetty Taylor, which brought him thunders of
applause, and no doubt gained him votes. The following
jeu d'esprit appeared at the time:
Election
squib.
HIS LORDSHIP.
Oh peerless market queen fair Hetty!
Deign to bestow on me a kiss;
And if your charming daughter Betty
Would do the same, 'twould crown my bliss.
HETTY (with a blush and curtsey).
Thank you my Lord, with all my heart,
You're kindly welcome to a buss;
Betty and I will take your part,
You may do what you please with us.
HIS LORDSHIP.
Oh Hetty dear, my hopes 'twould crown,
If women young and fair prove steady,
For all old women in the town,
Are in my interest already.
HETTY.
Keep up your heart, for (barring slips)
I swear your cause I'll ne'er abandon ;
HIS LORDSHIP.
Let's seal the contract on those lips.
HETTY.
With all my heart' Huzza for Sandon!'
On July 8, Mr. Denison moved for a new writ for the
election of a member for Liverpool. This was opposed
by Mr. C. Wynn and other members, who wished the
writ suspended until the evidence on the November clec-
tion was laid before the House. Mr. Benett, M.P. for
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
505
CHAP.
V.
1831.
suspended.
Wiltshire, the chairman of the committee, proposed to
bring in a bill to alter the franchise in Liverpool, and
pending this, the issue of the writ was suspended from
time to time. On September 5 a division was taken, and Writ
the writ was further suspended. The writ was ulti-
mately granted on October 12. During this period of
suspense, the election proceedings were necessarily post-
poned.
On Monday, May 30, the King's birthday was cele-
brated by a public dinner at the York Hotel. Although
ostensibly intended to do honour to the reigning monarch,
in reality it was a demonstration on behalf of Mr. Thomas
Thornely, the Whig radical candidate who was present
and addressed the assembly.
Roscoe.
On June 30, the venerable William Roscoe expired Death of
at his house in Lodge Lane in the seventy-ninth year of
his age. I shall have occasion again to refer to Mr.
Roscoe in a future chapter; but it may here be observed
in passing that no native resident of Liverpool has done
more to elevate the character of the community, in
uniting the successful pursuit of literature and art with
the ordinary duties of the citizen and man of business.
His remains were attended to the grave with the respect
of all parties.
On August 1 a public meeting was held in the
Assembly Room, King's Arms, Mr. John Foster in the
chair, to consider the most appropriate mode of doing
honour to the memory of Mr. Roscoe. Dr. Traill, and
Messrs. Wallace Currie, J. B. Yates, William Rathbone,
and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting. A com-
mittee was appointed and a subscription entered into for
the purpose. This resulted ultimately in a marble statue Statue.
by Chantrey, which was placed in the Gallery of Art
connected with the Royal Institution, in 1841.
buses.
Amidst the stirring events of this year, a modest Omni-
newspaper paragraph of a few lines, dated July 15,
announces the commencement of an institution which
506
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1831.
"
Omni-
buses.
Census.
Trade.
Wreck of
Castle.*
has almost become as essential to the inhabitants of a
6
large town as the air we breathe. It is to this purport,
Omnibuses have commenced running between the north
and south ends of the town, and vice versa, for the ac-
commodation of persons whose business may require a
speedy conveyance from one place to the other. Similar
vehicles have been long established in London, where
they have been found extremely useful. The object of
the proprietors of the present omnibuses is to facilitate
intercourse between the distant parts of the town, the
great extent of which renders such vehicles extremely
desirable.' ¹
1
The omnibus doubtless owes its origin to the railway,
of which it is a sequel and corollary. It is difficult to
realise in the hurry and rush of modern life a state of
things in a large town like Liverpool under which there
were no means of locomotion except walking or hiring a
coach.2
The census was taken this year. The population
including the suburbs, now amounted to 205,572; being
an increase of 73 per cent. in ten years. The statistics
of the commerce were as follows: ships entering the
port, 12,537; tonnage, 1,592,436; dock dues, 183,4557.
This gives an increase in ten years of 90 per cent. on the
tonnage, and 93 per cent. on the dues.
The summer of 1831 was saddened by a lamentable
Rothsay shipwreck, which carried sorrow and desolation into
many homes in Liverpool and Lancashire. The story
has been so often told, that I will only briefly sketch its
outlines.
The Rothsay Castle' steamer, a Clyde-built vessel, had
1 Omnibuses had actually commenced running in May 1830, but this is
the first date of their being advertised in the newspapers.
2 There is nothing new under the sun. On a bas-relief of unquestionably
the Gallo-Roman period, preserved in the Museum of Antiquities at Dijon,
there is represented a veritable omnibus, rather clumsy in construction, with
the driver on the box and passengers shown inside, looking out of the
windows. It is drawn by a pair of horses.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
507
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Castle.'
plied between Liverpool and Beaumaris from the month
of May 1831. She left Liverpool on Wednesday, August
17, at 11 in the forenoon, with a crew of twelve men and
109 passengers. She had to contend with a head-wind Rothsay
and a heavy sea, so that her progress was very slow; her
steaming power, it would appear, being but feeble. It was
between 9 and 10 at night before she reached the Ormes
Head. The sea here became very rough, and the wind
right ahead. The boat strained very much, and took in
water through the seams. The captain, it was stated, got
intoxicated, and refused to take any steps towards seeking
shelter, which he might have done. The water gained
rapidly in the engine-room, and the steam-power became
so reduced as hardly to propel the boat at the rate of a
knot an hour. By midnight she arrived at the mouth of
the Menai Strait, about five miles from Beaumaris, when
the tide, which had hitherto been against them, turned in
their favour. By the force of the tide the vessel drifted
upon a shoal off Puffin Island called the Dutchman's
Bank and struck. After various attempts to get her off
she fell broadside on, with a mountainous sea breaking
over her. For two hours she lay in this position, the
unfortunate passengers realising all the horrors which
despair could inflict:
Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell,
Then shrieked the timid and stood still the brave,
Then some leaped overboard with dreadful yell,
As eager to anticipate their grave.
The boat broke up by degrees. The poop was the first
to give way, with between thirty and forty passengers.
About eight clung to the rudder, some of whom were
ultimately saved. About an hour and a half afterwards
the remainder of the ship broke up, and the survivors.
were nearly all precipitated into the waves. About four
in the morning the wreck first became visible to those on
shore. Without any delay a boat was put out, which
508
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Inquest.
Corona-
tion.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
picked up three men alive. Some had reached the shore
in safety on broken pieces of the wreck. About twenty-
one were saved out of the whole company. About fifty
dead bodies were washed ashore. The remainder were
never recovered.
6
The coroner's jury, after a rigid investigation, pro-
nounced the vessel to have been unseaworthy, and re-
corded in their verdict that they therefore cannot
disguise their indignation at the conduct of those who
could place such a vessel on this station, and under the
conduct of a captain and mate who have been proved,
by the evidence brought before them, to have been in a
state of intoxication.'
Few events of the kind ever made a deeper impression
on the public mind than this. Most of the sufferers and
their families were well known in Liverpool and South
Lancashire. Books and pamphlets were written, sermons
preached, and memoirs issued, illustrative of the event,
which cast for a time a deep shadow over the community.
The coronation of King William IV. and Queen Ade-
laide took place on September 8. On the occasion of the
coronation of George IV. the Liverpool Corporation had
taken a prominent and active part in getting up the festi-
vities, and had contributed 500l. towards the expenses.
In the present instance they made no sign whatever of
any interest in the proceedings. When the time ap-
proached within a week a meeting was called at the
Clarendon Rooms, to see what steps could be taken for
the due celebration of the day. The Tory party were
perfectly passive in the matter, the meeting consisting
exclusively of Reformers. Mr. William Rathbone was
called to the chair. Resolutions were passed 'that it is
a duty which the inhabitants owe to their King and
country to express their joy at the coronation of his
Majesty and his royal consort.' A deputation was ap-
declines to pointed to wait on the mayor, requesting him to call a
meeting, to consult the inhabitants as to the best mode
Mayor
act.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
509
6
CHAP.
V.
1831.
of expressing their loyal feelings. The deputation ac-
cordingly waited on the mayor and laid before him the
request of the meeting. With this his worship refused
to comply, on the ground that the deputation presented
something of a party appearance, and that he could not
lend himself to party objects,' suggesting that it would
be better to prepare a requisition. This was done, and
in a few hours a requisition, signed by nearly 100
respectable names, was presented. On Monday a meet- Meeting.
ing was called together to receive the mayor's reply,
which was, that as I see the requisition does not em-
brace a decided union of all parties, I must respectfully
beg to decline complying with the request.' The meet-
ing received this communication with decided marks of
disapprobation, and passed a series of strong resolutions
condemning the conduct of the mayor, and proposing to
hold an open air meeting, to determine the propriety of
a grand procession on the coronation-day. This meeting
was held on Wednesday, September 7, in Clayton Square,
Mr. John Ewart in the chair. The meeting was addressed
by Messrs. Francis Jordan, J. Ashton Yates, T. Thornely,
and others; and resolutions were passed condemning the
mayor's conduct, and appointing a public procession to
take place on the following day-that of the coronation.
The procession had its rendezvous in Dale Street, and Procession.
consisted of the trades and friendly societies. After
parading the principal streets of the town the procession
mustered in Clayton Square, and an open air meeting was
held, Mr. John Ewart in the chair, at which congratulatory
addresses to the King and Queen were adopted.
King.
Although the mayor and council declined to take any Addresses
public notice of the coronation day, they voted loyal and to the
dutiful addresses to the King and Queen. These were
confided to the mayor, accompanied by Alderman Bourne
and Sir George Drinkwater. The address from the town's
meeting was committed to Mr. John Ewart. These ad-
dresses were presented to the King in person at a levée
510
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Mayor
knighted.
Reform
Bill.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
on September 13. In consequence of the double pre-
sentation a little confusion occurred, and a laughable
mistake had nearly been perpetrated. Mr. Ewart, with
the town's address, was the first in the field. As he
knelt to present it the King seized the royal sword and
was about to confer the honour of knighthood on him,
under the impression that he was the mayor of Liver-
pool. Mr. Ewart, seeing the sword suspended, exclaimed
hastily, Not me; don't knight me!' on which the King
asked, 'Why, which is the Mayor of Liverpool?' and
was informed that his worship was behind. The scene
caused considerable amusement. The mayor and bailiffs
were then introduced by Lord Melbourne, and the acco-
lade was given in due form to the mayor, who rose Sir
Thomas Brancker.
(
The new Reform Bill passed the Commons on Septem-
ber 21, by a majority of 109. On Monday, the 19th, a
Meetings. public meeting was held in Clayton Square, to consider
the propriety of petitioning the Lords in favour of the
bill. Sir Joseph Birch, who had been created a baronet
by the Whig Government, took the chair. The meeting
was addressed by Lord Molyneux, Colonel Williams, and
Messrs. Wallace Currie, E. Rushton, William Rathbone,
James Cropper, James Aikin, Thomas Bolton, T. S. Glad-
stone, and others. Resolutions in favour of the Reform
Bill were adopted, and a petition to the House of Lords.
agreed to.
Bill
rejected.
Excite-
ment.
On Thursday, September 22, a similar public meeting
was held in Toxteth Park, Lord Molyneux in the chair,
with similar results. The Liverpool petition received
18,000 signatures, and that from Toxteth Park 4,607.
On October 7 the House of Lords threw out the bill
by a majority of 41. The country was convulsed from
side to side. Nottingham Castle was burnt by the en-
raged populace, and a large part of Bristol was laid in
ashes. An army of 100,000 operatives threatened to
march from Birmingham to London. The firm attitude.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
511
of the House of Commons tended much to calm down
the popular excitement. They passed a vote of confi-
dence in the Government by a majority of 131, and
Parliament was prorogued by the King in person on
October 20.
CHAP.
V.
1831.
On the reception of the news of the rejection of the
bill by the Lords, immediate action was taken by the
Reformers to give expression to public opinion, and an
open air meeting was held in Clayton Square, on Wed- Meeting.
nesday, October 12, Lord Molyneux in the chair. The
meeting was addressed by the chairman, and Messrs.
Rushton, Wallace Currie, T. Thornely, James Aikin, W.
Rathbone, Capt. Colquitt, R.N., and others. Strong reso-
lutions were passed in favour of the bill and of confidence
in Ministers, and an address to the King was adopted, and
entrusted for presentation to Lord Molyneux and Messrs.
James Brancker and William Rutson.
The election for the new member was held on Thurs- Election.
day, October 20, the very day that Parliament was pro-
rogued. Lord Sandon was proposed by Mr. Charles
Lawrence, seconded by Mr. John Moss. Mr. Thornely
was proposed by Mr. Wallace Currie, seconded by Mr.
Thomas Leathom. The electors were addressed by the
respective candidates. The scene was rather tumultuous,
but everything passed off with perfect good humour. The
polling commenced on Friday morning. From the first
Lord Sandon took the lead by a large majority, and it was
soon evident that Mr. Thornely had no chance of success.
At half-past three the poll was finally closed, when the
numbers stood-Sandon, 1,519; Thornely, 670.
The chairing took place on Saturday, the 22nd. There Chairing.
was considerable riot and disorder along the route. Se-
veral missiles were hurled at his lordship; one or two
might have been dangerous, but missed their aim. A
shocking bad' hat and a dead cat were more successful,
but the noble member bore it all with impervious good
temper. At the close of the procession he addressed his
C
512
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
V.
1831.
Captain
Colquitt.
CHAP. followers from the balcony of the Bull Hotel, Clayton
Square. After he had concluded, some surprise was
manifested at the appearance of Capt. Colquitt, R.N.,
who proceeded to address the crowd. The gallant cap-
tain had been an ardent partisan of Mr. Ewart, and had
hitherto acted with the Whig Radicals, having taken part
in the open air meeting, held eight days previously, to
address the Crown. In his address he now attacked Mr.
Thornely as an utterly incapable person, who had not
even the ability to address a public meeting. Amidst a
storm of uproar he eulogised Lord Sandon in the highest
terms, telling the electors that they would soon feel the
benefits of his lordship's high situation; and his lordship
had obtained that which would confer honour upon him
till the last moment of his life.'
Dinner to
Sandon.
Election
squib.
On Friday, October 28, Lord Sandon's return was cele-
brated by a public dinner at the Amphitheatre, which
went off with great éclat, about 650 gentlemen sitting
down to table. Mr. Charles Lawrence presided. Be-
sides the noble member the meeting was addressed by
Mr. J. E. Denison, M.P. Lady Sandon and Lady Char-
lotte Denison were present. The health of his Majesty's
Ministers was drunk amidst mingled applause and hisses,
amidst which the company were horrified by the band
striking up the Marseillaise Hymn.' So resolute and
persevering were they, that it was with the utmost diffi-
culty the music was stopped, one zealous Conservative
gentleman roaring out at the top of his voice, Stop,
b-t you!'
C
Election squibs had almost gone out of fashion, but a
humorous poetical account of this dinner was issued,
which displayed considerable wit. It is too long for
insertion, but I will give a stanza or two :
Oh come and listen every one, to what I've got to tell,
It is a tale which I am sure, will please you all full well,
If you're as fond of fun as I, come now and hear my story,
'Tis of a feast where Lynn and Radley gained immortal glory.
Sing, 'Sandon said,' and ribbons red, and all that sort of thing.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
513
Once on a time there was a very curious coalition,
Of fish and flesh and fowl and fair, and folks of all condition;
Who joined to ask for twenty things, some one of which each wanted,
Though not among the whole were two who wished that all were
granted.
Sing, 'Sandon said,' &c.
After describing the parties and the election, it
proceeds:
Their victory to celebrate they made a grand procession,
Where hisses trampled on the cheers in double quick succession,
The dripping lord, like drowning rat through rain and fear appearing,
The butt of stones, dead cats and groans, and mud and moans and
jeering.
Sing, 'Sandon said,' &c.
The dinner is then very graphically portrayed; after-
wards,
Talking of roast,—Oh Lynn and Radley! you're to blame I think ;-
How could you give to such a crew, such lots of grog to drink!
You don't know half the mischief that from out of it did come,
When all these people spoke their minds as they would do at home.
Sing, Sandon said,' &c.
Said one red cabbage is the best, another cried up green,-
A third would have a bit of each,-a fourth cross-bench'd between,
The only point to which all individuals did agree,
Was cabbage, cabbage of some sort, and the largest share for me.
Sing, 'Sandon said,' &c.
Then glasses flew, and all things grew additionally squally,
Until they closed their banquet with a general pully-hauley,
We give these facts without extenuation or addition,
For the benefit when next they meet, of the Sandon coalition.
Sing, 'Sandon said,' and ribbons red, and all that sort of thing.'
CHAP.
V.
1831.
Election
squib.
addresses.
On Monday, November 21, a meeting was convened by Meeting
circular at the Clarendon Rooms, to take into consider- and
ation the propriety of transmitting an address to his
Majesty on the subject of reform and the present state
of the country. The gentlemen present belonged prin-
cipally to the old Gascoyne party, though Mr. John
Liverpool Mercury, Nov. 4, 1871.
VOL. I.
1
L L
514
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
F.
1831.
Scene at
the
Mayor's
table.
Gladstone and one or two others of them had always
ranked amongst Mr. Canning's friends. Sir Thomas
Brancker was called to the chair. Mr. John Gladstone
was the principal spokesman. The drift of his argument
was, that the projected reform was going too far; that
due regard was not paid to the influence of property;
that qualifications for the franchise ought to differ in dif-
fering circumstances. Some divergence of opinion was
manifested by the Rev. E. Hull and Mr. John Eden, but
eventually an address to the King was carried by a large
majority, stating the objections of the subscribers to
the plan of reform proposed by the Government, and
'humbly imploring his Majesty not to listen to the
counsels of those who, for the purpose of carrying a
particular object, would urge upon your Majesty such an
exercise of the royal prerogative as would be a virtual
extinction of a most important branch of the Legislature.'
This address was signed by 1,500 persons, and was
presented to the King by Lord Skelmersdale, at a private
audience, on December 14.
6
Public opinion was at this time in a very feverish state,
and undesigned explosions occasionally took place. This
address led to one such at the mayor's table on Thursday,
December 8. Capt. Lyon, M.P. for Seaford, one of the
disfranchised boroughs, the captain of a troop of hussars
then stationed in Liverpool, was one of the guests, and in
responding to a toast expressed his pleasure at the poli-
tical reaction which had taken place in Liverpool, as
evidenced by the address alluded to. This reaction
was evident, from the number and respectability of the
signatures, which were not those of unwashed artisans
who signed their names at the corners of streets to
Radical petitions and addresses.' Many of the Whig
party were at the table, and mischief seemed to be
brewing. Mr. Joseph Sandars rose to reply to the gal-
lant officer, but was prevented, and a number of the
guests left the room.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
515
CHAP.
V.
1831.
There can be no doubt that a reaction had set in to
some extent in Liverpool, as evidenced by the result of
the election. In times of excitement such as that of the
two Reform Bills, parliamentary and municipal, Liver- Reaction.
pool has occasionally raised her voice along with the
rest of the country in the cause of progress; but directly
the effort has been attempted, like Fear, in Collins' ode-
Who back recoil'd he knew not why,
E'en at the sound himself had made,
public opinion has collapsed and settled down again on
the dead level of Conservatism.
And thus came to an end the year 1831, one of the
most momentous in the history of England, and one of
the most important in the annals of Liverpool.
The first notable event in the year 1832 was a visit A.D. 1832.
from the musical prodigy, Paganini. He gave three Paganini.
concerts in the Theatre Royal, at the beginning of the
month, and three others subsequently. All the extraor-
dinary rumours which had been circulated about his
performances were more than realised by the actuality.
Some exception was taken to what was considered his
rapacity in the charges for admission, the lowest price,
in the gallery, being five shillings. For this he made
some amends by giving his services gratuitously, on
January 30, at a concert for the relief of the poor.
The agitation respecting the Reform Bill had been New Re-
partially suspended during the recess, but now burst form Bill.
out with renewed vigour. The new bill was brought in
by Lord John Russell, on December 12,
1831, and
During the
passed the Commons on January 19, 1832.
debates in the Lords the country was in a fever of ex-
citement, though all the world knew how the matter
must ultimately terminate. On May 7 the Ministry were Ministers
defeated by the Duke of Wellington, and immediately resign.
resigned. The country was now fairly roused. Monster
meetings were held in various parts of the country. Sixty
LL 2
516
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
thousand Scotsmen met under the windows of Holyrood
Palace; and an aggregate meeting, probably the largest
ever held in Great Britain, took place in Birmingham,
citement. consisting of 150,000 persons, prepared, if necessary, to
march on London.
Public ex-
Great
meeting.
6
On May 14 Liverpool spoke out by the most numerous
meeting ever held in the town. Clayton Square began to
fill at an early hour; and when the proceedings com-
menced, soon after noon, the whole area was densely
packed, the throng extending into the neighbouring
streets. Lord Molyneux was called to the chair.
Strong and decisive language was employed. The
chairman alluded to the conduct of the King in hesi-
tating to support the Ministry in no measured terms.
His Majesty's name was greeted with an united volley
of groans. He then proceeded: We have met that the
opinions of this great and enlightened town may be ex-
pressed on these events; and, once expressed, that they
may reach the highest quarter, as affording one more
evidence of the feelings of indignation which pervade
this great and mighty nation; to prove, in short, that
there is neither spiritless apathy nor reaction; to prove
that the people only want their rights, and that their
rights they will have. (Tremendous cheers.) Gentlemen,
the King has now deserted us.' (Tremendous groaning
and hissing.)
Captain
The first resolution was proposed by Capt. Colquitt,
Colquitt. R.N., who had caused such astonishment to his friends
by his desertion of the Whigs at Lord Sandon's election,
in October. The recent proceedings had re-converted
him. He moved: That this meeting has learned with
indignation the present position of the Reform Bill in
the House of Lords.' In his address he said: Brother
freemen, I address myself particularly to you. I have
fought many a battle with you; I was once a Tory, but
I now despise myself for it. (Laughter and cheers.) I
was made a Reformer by the Duke of Wellington, and I
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
517
6
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Newcastle..
think that the steps the noble Duke has taken, and is
daily taking, will continue me one to the close of my
existence.' The other speakers were Messrs. W. Wal-
lace Currie, John Ewart, T. Brocklebank, James Aikin,
T. Thornely, W. Rathbone, Edward Roscoe, &c. Colonel
Williams caused some ainusement by abusing the nobility
by name, amongst others the Duchess of Newcastle, whom Duchess of
he called a baggage.' When he was reminded that she
was a relative of the noble chairman, Lord Molyneux rose
and said that he gave up all his relations, and that the
gallant Colonel might say what he liked about them.
The Colonel rather adroitly made the amende honorable
by saying, that as the Duchess was Lord Molyneux's
aunt, he would not call her a baggage; but he main-
tained that, whatever the sins of the family might be,
the noble chairman and his father had redeemed them
all.' A series of strong resolutions was passed, and an Reform
address of remonstrance voted to the King, declaring and peti-
that they had petitioned the House of Commons to tion.
refuse all supplies until reform was granted. Further
extreme measures were rendered unnecessary by the
yielding of the Duke of Wellington to the popular will
on the following day (May 15).
address
address,
An address from the Conservative party had been got Tory
up without much éclat, and signed by 1,406 persons,
deprecating the violent changes proposed to be made;
but the mischief was done before its presentation. The
Reform Bill passed the ordeal of the Lords in its integrity
and became law on June 7.
chisement
In the meantime the bill for the disfranchisement of Disfran-
the Liverpool freemen had not been lost sight of in the Bill.
midst of these stirring events. It was read a second
time in the Commons on May 23. Witnesses were or-
dered to attend before the committee on June 1, and it
was expected that some startling disclosures would be
made; but the proceeding was postponed from time to
time, until on July 14 the bill was finally withdrawn.
518
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Cholera.
Anti-
slavery
In the spring and summer of 1832, Liverpool, in com-
mon with the rest of the kingdom, suffered from a visita-
tion of that dreadful scourge, the Asiatic cholera. The
first real case occurred on May 4, and the disease pre-
vailed more or less during the ensuing five months.
During this period the number of ascertained cases was
4,912 in a population of 230,000; the number of deaths
was 1,523. The most lamentable instance was that of
an emigrant ship called the 'Brutus,' which sailed for
Quebec on May 18 with 330 passengers. On the 28th
cholera made its appearance on board, and the mortality
soon became so serious, part of the crew having been
carried off, that the captain found it necessary to put
back to Liverpool, where he arrived on June 14, ninety-
seven deaths having taken place whilst on the voyage
or immediately after the arrival in port.
After the principles of the Reform Bill were settled
another question began to agitate the public mind with
a degree of intensity continually increasing, until it was
I mean the abolition of negro
finally disposed of.
agitation. slavery. The long-continued, untiring efforts of Messrs.
Wilberforce, Clarkson, and their associates, succeeded first
in opening the eyes of the country to the iniquity of the
slave traffic, and in accomplishing its abolition. Their
attention was then directed to the principle of slavery
itself, and the necessary evils resulting from it; and at
length the way seemed open for a general effort to rid
the British Empire of this blot in its escutcheon. Liver-
pool was deeply interested in the question. The abolition
of the slave trade had deprived the town of a lucrative.
source of wealth; but many of the merchants were still
largely interested in West India property, the great value
of which was supposed to consist in the slave labour by
which it was cultivated. It was, therefore, natural that
a very deep interest should be felt in the question by the
people of Liverpool.
On May 24, in the midst of the stormy debates on the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
519
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Anti-
slavery
Reform Bill, a petition was presented to the House of
Lords by Lord Chancellor Brougham, signed by 135,000
persons, praying for the abolition of slavery. The Rev.
William Knibb, a Baptist missionary from Jamaica, a
man of very earnest and determined character, who had agitation.
been present and suffered during the disturbances in that
island, in the December and January previous, was agi-
tating the country in behalf of the unfortunate negroes.
At a crowded and enthusiastic meeting of the Baptist
Missionary Society, held in Byrom Street Chapel, on July
24, he gave an exciting and thrilling address, in which
he worked up his audience to the highest point of enthu-
siasm. He concluded by the following words: The time
is fast approaching when Great Britain dares not post-
pone the question. We have heard enough of gradual
emancipation. The House of Lords and the House of
Commons have long been looking on gradual abolition,
and they may look for a hundred years longer before
any good will be done by it. The system must be
abolished at once; and I am fully assured that ten
thousand times greater injury will result from any at-
tempt to perpetuate slavery than from its immediate and
total abolition.'
6
6
A powerful series of letters on slavery, signed Pres-
byter,' addressed to Mr. Charles Horsfall, chairman of the
West India Association, appeared in the 'Liverpool Mer-
cury' from May to December, 1832. The committee of
the Anti-Slavery Society, on the eve of the elections after
the Reform Bill, put forth an address to electors urging
them to return such members to Parliament as would
vote for immediate abolition. The placards containing the
address were surmounted by the picture of a suppliant
negro, in chains, with the motto, Am I not a man and a
brother?' To counteract the prejudices thus excited, the
West India Association put forth another placard, com-
plaining that the public mind was misled; that negroes
were clothed in the West Indies, and that chains were no
C
520
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Thompson
and Borth-
wick.
more in use there than in England; that in many respects
the condition of the slaves was preferable to that of the
British peasant. This placard was signed by Mr. Charles
Horsfall. To this a reply from the Anti-Slavery Society
was issued and placarded, signed by Mr. John Cropper,
chairman of the society.
In September of this year (1832) public interest was
excited by the public demonstrations of the rival lec-
turers on the subject of slavery, Messrs. Thompson and
Borthwick. George Thompson was an extraordinary
man, admirably qualified for the work he had under-
taken. Of humble origin, and no early cultivation, he
possessed rare natural gifts. He was a born orator,
endowed with a good person and bearing, a pleasing
voice and agreeable manner, a fluency which was never
exhausted, and a power of declamation which could play
upon the scale of human emotion with wonderful effect,
commanding all its range, from the deepest tones of sym-
pathy and pathos to the highest pitch of scorn and indig-
nation. He was not profound, and might by severe critics
be pronounced wordy; but for a popular audience he has
Thompson. had few superiors. After his labours in the anti-slavery
cause were over, and the battle won, he went to the
United States to plead for the emancipation of the negro;
but met with a very rough reception, having very nar-
rowly escaped assassination. After his return to England
he was sent into Parliament for a metropolitan constitu-
ency; but here he was out of his place. He was looked
upon as an adventurer, and carried no weight. Having
no special function, and being destitute of means, he soon
fell into neglect, and passed out of public view.
Borthwick.
His antagonist, Mr. Peter Borthwick, was also a man
of ability, which he needed to be, having the unpopular
side to support. He maintained the contest very gal-
lantly, making the very utmost out of a bad and losing
cause. He also entered Parliament, but of his subsequent
history I am not aware.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
521
Mr. Thompson's first lecture was delivered in the
amphitheatre on August 28. Mr. Borthwick replied on
the following evening, followed on the subsequent even-
ing by Mr. Thompson's rejoinder. Immense interest was
excited, the large building being crowded in every part.
One additional lecture was afterwards delivered by each
champion.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Lectures.
tion to
In August of this year the wounded feelings of General Presenta-
Gascoyne were agreeably soothed by two very handsome Gascoyne.
tokens of respect. One was a splendid candelabrum,
presented by the Directors of the Liverpool and Man-
chester Railway, in testimony of services rendered in Par-
liament. The other consisted of a dinner service of plate,
presented by a number of his former constituents. Both
presentations contained suitable inscriptions commemo-
rative of the services of the General.
dinner.
The Reformers of Liverpool were rather tardy in cele-
brating the success of their cause; but on September 4
the triumph of Reform was commemorated by a public Reform
dinner in the amphitheatre; the Rev. W. Shepherd in the
chair. About 350 sat down to table. The oratory was
confined to the local celebrities, including one of the
members, Mr. Ewart.
Parliament was dissolved soon after passing the Reform
Bill, and the elections under the new act were fixed for
December.
Mr. Ewart issued his address on November 1. A Election.
meeting of his friends was held on the 12th, when most Ewart and
of the leading Whigs gave in their adhesion. Lord San- Sandon.
don's supporters met on November 1. The majority of
them belonged to the party which had previously sup-
ported the Tory members, though a few of the Whigs,
such as Messrs. C. Lawrence and Adam Hodgson, had
joined their ranks. His Lordship's address is dated
the 7th.
It does not appear that in the first instance Mr.
Ewart's friends had any idea of putting forward another
522
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
candidate; but a movement was made, commencing prin-
cipally with the tradesmen, to bring out Mr. Thornely,
who had been defeated by Lord Sandon at the last elec-
Thornely. tion. A requisition was accordingly got up, and a large
and enthusiastic meeting held at the Liver Theatre on
November 19. Stimulated by this opposition, the Tory
party considered it necessary to fortify their position by
bringing forward a second candidate, whom they found
in the person of Sir Howard Douglas, Bart., a Major-
General in the army, who had filled the honourable post
of Governor-General of Canada, but had resigned in con-
sequence of differences with the Whig ministry.¹ Sir
Howard appeared in public on November 27, and ad-
dressed his friends in the Corn Exchange.
Sir
Howard
Douglas.
Nomina-
tion.
Pull.
The nomination day was Tuesday, December 11. The
candidates were accompanied to the hustings by the old
paraphernalia of banners, flags, and bands of music, and
a procession of their friends. Mr. Ewart was proposed
by Captain Colquitt, seconded by Mr. Wallace Currie.
Lord Sandon was proposed by Mr. Charles Lawrence,
seconded by Mr. John Bourne. Mr. Thornely was pro-
posed by Mr. William Rathbone, seconded by Mr. T.
Blackburn. Sir Howard Douglas was proposed by Mr.
Nicholas Robinson, seconded by Mr. John Wright. The
polling commenced on the following morning, the votes
being taken in seven separate districts. At the close of
the first day, Messrs. Ewart and Thornely were in a con-
siderable majority over their opponents; but on the
second day this was partially retrieved, and at the final
close the numbers stood: Ewart, 4,931; Sandon, 4,260;
Thornely, 4,096; Douglas, 3,249.
The state of parties was clearly demonstrated by this
result. The rush of feeling arising from the success of
the Reform Bill placed Mr. Ewart, its unflinching advo-
cate, at the head of the poll; but the powerful influence.
1 Sir Howard was the son of a naval captain who had distinguished him-
self in Lord Rodney's victory in the West Indies in 1782.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
523
of the late Canningite party, aided by the moderate re-
formers, had been able to stem the torrent sufficiently to
secure one candidate and reject the second Whig
nominee, whilst Sir Howard Douglas, the chosen of the
old True Blue or Gascoyne party, remained at a consider-
able discount.
On this occasion the absurd ceremony of chairing was
omitted owing to the excited state of the town, and has
never since been resumed.
CHAP.
V.
1832.
Reform.
The only other incident worthy of special notice in the Dock Trust
year 1832 was a large and influential meeting of the
merchants-being dock ratepayers-held in the cotton
salesroom on November 13, to take into consideration
the propriety of adopting measures to procure a reform
in the management of the dock trust.' The corporation
of Liverpool were the original trustees of the docks, of
which they had hitherto had the exclusive management.
Grave complaints had been made of this management,
and a strong demand was made for a change, which was
advocated by gentlemen of both political parties. I shall
have occasion to go more fully into this subject in the
portion of this work relating to the dock estate. The
meeting was presided over by Mr. Hugh Hornby, and
was addressed by Mr. (afterwards Sir) Hardman Earle,
Mr. (afterwards Sir) William Brown, and others. An
amendment to the principal resolution was proposed by
Mr. T. B. Horsfall, that in the opinion of this meeting
there is no sufficient foundation to call for an alteration
in the constitution of the dock committee.' After a
stormy discussion the amendment was negatived, and the
resolution carried by a large majority.
The year 1833 was not of the eventful character of A.D. 1833.
some of the previous years. After the stirring period of
the Reform agitation, the public mind, somewhat ex-
hausted, subsided into comparative calm.
The questions arising out of the Liverpool elections
were not allowed to sleep. On February 27 Mr. Ewart
524
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1833.
Election
inquiry.
CHAP. presented a numerously signed petition, praying for in-
quiry into the affairs of the Liverpool corporation, and
containing allegations of bribery and treating at the last
election. On March 6 a select committee was appointed
to inquire into the matters alleged. On March 12 a
counter petition was presented by Lord Sandon, denying
the allegations. Mr. Sheil asked the noble Lord if the
petitioners courted inquiry. Lord Sandon replied that
one or more of the petitioners admitted to him, that they
had formerly been engaged in bribery. They acknow-
ledged themselves as having formerly been sinners, but
they denied that any corruption had been practised during
the last election.' He had never denied that bribery had
formerly been practised, his denial solely applied to the
last election. He should like any honourable gentleman
to lay his hand upon his heart, and say whether under
such circumstances evidence could be given as to the
allegations against the freemen of Liverpool.'
Mrs.
Robinson.
Report.
In the course of the investigation before the committee,
a Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson having refused to answer the
questions put to her, on the ground that she feared for
her life if she told the truth, was summoned to the bar of
the House on March 26. She was severely reprimanded
by the Speaker, and told that if she answered the ques-
tions she might rely with confidence on the protection of
the House.
6
On April 1 Mr. Bannerman, the chairman of the com-
mittee, brought up an ad interim report, That cases of
bribery and corruption have been proved at the late
election for Liverpool, but that such cases do not appear
to have been with the authority of the candidates, or to
have been pursued systematically or extensively.'
On July 6, on the motion of Mr. Mark Phillips, the
committee was ordered to sit again, and was instructed
to pursue their inquiries into the whole of the matters
complained of in the petition, and to report the result of
such inquiries to the House from time to time.'
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
525
CHAP.
V.
1833.
Mrs.
On July 19 Mrs. Robinson was again brought before
the committee for examination. She stated that she had
advanced 400l. to General Gascoyne's election committee
in 1819 to obtain a situation for her husband as landing Robinson.
waiter, for which sum she received an acknowledgment
from Mr. Thomas Foster (subsequently the town-clerk).
Her husband was only appointed deputy landing waiter,
and died in the August following. She then applied for
the repayment of the money she had advanced, and after
some demur and negociation, in the spring of 1820 she
received back 2007., and gave up the acknowledgment
she had received from Mr. Foster.
This was not the only case proved. A memorial had
been drawn up and signed by several persons recom-
mending a Mr. Hunter to the office of landing waiter, on Hunter.
the payment of 400l. by his friends to General Gascoyne's
election expenses; but before the office became vacant
Hunter had changed his mind, and the office was dis-
posed of to another person.
The committee presented their final report on July 29. Committee
It extended to considerable length, going back to the report.
year 1823, and giving the history of the elections from
that time, with the action taken by the House of Com-
mons upon the petitions. It is too long for insertion
here, but I will give a few of the salient points.
They report, That bribery and corruption have
existed in the elections of Members of Parliament and
Chief Magistrates for the Borough of Liverpool, and in
some cases to an enormous amount.'
6
That at the contested election for Mayor in 1827, the
price of votes began at the sum of 6s. each, and rose to
201.; and at the contested election for a member for the
representation of the borough in 1830, the price began
at 21. and rose to 60l., and in one instance to 801.'
That at the contest for Mayor in 1827, the election.
cost each candidate or his friends seven or eight thousand
pounds; and that at the contest in 1830 for a representa-
526
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1833.
Report.
Committee
report.
tive, the election cost each candidate or his friends up-
wards of 40,000Z.'
6 That from documents and evidence on the minutes of
this committee, it appears that 2,661 individual freemen
of the borough at this election were systematically bribed,
and that no evidence has been tendered before this com-
mittee to refute this imputed bribery.'
6
That it has been proved that at two different periods.
before 1823 two offices in the customs were bargained
for and sold, and that the proceeds of these sales, as they
arose, were separately handed over to the committee for
the time being of one of the candidates for the represen-
tation of Liverpool, under the name of "a subscription
towards defraying the expenses of the contested election"
on the part of the said candidate.'
That the bribery and corruption, both at elections
of Chief Magistrate and Members of Parliament, were
presented by the Grand Jury in the open court in 1827
as a nuisance.'
After detailing the various steps taken by the House
in reference to the matter, the report concludes as
follows:
Your committee having duly weighed and considered
the evidence laid before them in support of the petition,
as well as that on the part of the defence, feel themselves
in duty called upon to recommend your Honourable
House to introduce a bill to restrict the franchises, and
to alter the whole system of elections in that borough, as
well for members to sit in Parliament as for the muni-
cipal officers; and that you will adopt such measures as
under the circumstances may appear to your Honourable
House best suited to obtain the desired purity of
election.'
'Your committee cannot conclude this report without
directing the attention of your Honourable House to the
conduct of freemen in a better class of life, and in good
circumstances, who have shown fully as much readiness
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
527
V.
to take bribes as the poorest and most destitute of their CHAP.
fellow-burgesses.'
1833.
Nichol.
During this inquiry, Mr. John Nichol, M.P., who wast
nominated by the House of Commons to conduct the Mr.
defence, had distinguished himself by zealously espousing
the cause of the freemen. On August 1 a meeting was
held in the large room of the Golden Lion of the bur-
gesses and other inhabitants desirous of testifying their
grateful sense of the services of John Nichol, Esq., M.P.,
in defending the rights of the burgesses on the recent
inquiry.'
Mr. John Moss was called to the chair. The meeting
was addressed by Messrs. Thomas Tobin, J. B. Yates, T.
B. Horsfall, and Samuel Holme. A vote of thanks was
passed to Mr. Nichol, and a subscription entered into for
the purchase of a piece of plate as a testimonial.
At the end of August Mr. Nichol paid a visit to Liver-
pool, when he was entertained by the Mayor and Council,
and presented with the freedom of the borough.
Bill.
On July 29, Mr. Benett, M.P. for Wiltshire, acting on Disfran-
the report of the select committee, gave notice of his chisement
intention to introduce a bill to disfranchise the Liverpool
freemen. This bill was brought in on the following ses-
sion, and read a second time on February 26, 1834, by a A.D. 1834.
majority of 190 to 39. On March 19 it passed the Com-
mons by a majority of 109 to 52, and was sent up to the
Lords. A petition to the Lords against the bill was for- Petition.
warded from Liverpool with 18,000 signatures. On
April 14 a numerous and influential meeting was held in
the Sessions House to consider the best method of for-
warding the objects of the petition.' The mayor (Mr.
John Wright) occupied the chair.
The meeting was
addressed by Messrs. W. Smith of Fulwood, Adam
Lodge, George Grant, Charles Parker, Miles Barton, E.
D. Falkner, Cyrus Morrall, and T. B. Horsfall. A depu-
tation was appointed, consisting of the Mayor, Mr. John
Gladstone, and others, to wait on Lord Wharncliffe
528
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1834.
Disfran-
chisement
Bill.
A.D. 1833.
Meeting
on Irish
distress.
with the petition, and to co-operate in promoting its
objects.'
Visit of the
Duke of
Orleans,
On May 1, 1834, in spite of the opposition of Lord
Wharncliffe, the Disfranchisement Bill was read a second
time in the Lords, and witnesses were ordered to be
examined at the Bar of the House. The matter lay over
until July 22, when it was ordered by their Lordships
on the motion of the Earl of Radnor, that it be an in-
struction to the Committee now sitting on the Warwick
Borough witnesses' expenses, to consider also the expenses
in the Liverpool case, and to report thereon to the
House.' Parliament was shortly afterwards prorogued,
and in prospect of the Municipal Reform Bill introduced
in the Session of 1835, the subject was allowed to drop.
On April 8, 1833, a public meeting was convened by the
mayor (Mr. Charles Horsfall) pursuant to a requisition,
'to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament to
extend a modified system of Poor Laws to Ireland.' The
meeting was addressed by Messrs. Wallace Currie, John
Taylor, Jamieson, Aldermen Bourne and Wright, and
Mr. Vignoles the engineer, who was at that time con-
structing the St. Helen's and Runcorn Gap Railway.
Resolutions were passed to the effect, that the extreme
distress and suffering of the labouring population of
Ireland called for sympathy and aid; that the evils of
Ireland and the impoverished state of the peasantry were
in a great degree attributable to the want of a legal
provision for the poor; and that petitions be presented
to both Houses of Parliament praying for legislative
interference.
In May 1833, the town was honoured by a visit from
the Duke of Orleans, the heir-apparent to the Crown of
France. He arrived at the Adelphi Hotel on the after-
noon of Thursday, the 23rd, with a numerous suite. He
then walked out alone and unattended and rambled
about for nearly two hours. On his return he sent to
announce his arrival to the mayor, who, accompanied by
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
529
Mr. Bailiff Aspinall, waited on the Duke at his hotel.
In the evening he visited the theatre alone and un-
attended. The next morning at nine, he entertained the
mayor at breakfast, and proceeded to Manchester up the
tunnel from Wapping.
6
After the passing of the Parliamentary Reform Bill
and the meeting of the reformed Parliament, no time
was lost in taking up the question of municipal reform.
On February 14, 1833, a Select Committee of the House
of Commons was appointed to inquire into the state of
Municipal Corporations in England, Wales, and Ireland,
and to report to the House whether any and what defects
existed in their constitutions, and what measures it might
be in their opinion most expedient to adopt for remedy
thereof.' The committee having sat, and called before
them corporate officers, and other witnesses from various
parts of the kingdom, on June 4 presented a report
expressing their decided opinion that a further and
searching inquiry should be instituted by a commission
appointed for the purpose. On July 11, the House ad-
dressed his Majesty, praying that a commission might be
issued; and on July 18, a commission under the Great
Seal was issued to commissioners therein named, out of
whom Messrs. George Hutton Wilkinson and Thomas
Jefferson Hogg were selected to conduct the inquiry in
Liverpool.
CHAP.
Γ.
1833.
Municipal
reform.
Liverpool.
The commissioners attended in Liverpool and sat to Inquiry at
take evidence twenty-four days, from November 4 to
December 7. The evidence taken before them is em-
bodied in a Parliamentary Blue-book which furnishes a
large amount of valuable information relating to the
municipality.
The triennial Musical Festival was held in the be- Festival.
ginning of October. The principal musical attraction
was Madame Malibran, but another and to many a
more seductive bait, was held out in the grand fancy
ball, which seems to have been on a more gorgeous
VOL. I.
M M
530
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1833.
of slavery.
scale than any which had preceded it. The nett proceeds
of the entire festival were about 2,900/.
Two very important public measures were carried
Abolition through Parliament in the session of 1833. One was
the Bill for the Abolition of Negro Slavery. This had
been so well prepared for by the agitation of the previous
year, that no public demonstration was required in
Liverpool. The other, which more nearly affected Liver-
pool in a commercial point of view, was the revision of
the East India Company's Charter, by which the trade to
China was thrown open to private enterprise from April
22, 1834. The Liverpool merchants were not slow to
avail themselves of the new opening. The first ship
which sailed from Liverpool for Canton was the Sym-
metry,' belonging to Messrs. Acraman & Stitt. The
first ship from China was the Georgiana' of London,
which arrived in the Mersey on June 12.
Trade to
China
opened.
A.D. 1834.
Irish
Church
debates.
"
6
<
The first Liverpool ship which made the home voyage
was the Duchess of Clarence,' Captain Evans, belonging
to Messrs. John Bibby & Co., which arrived with a cargo
of tea on December 7. Her arrival was attended with
a very disastrous accident. A strong gale prevailed at
the time, in the midst of which Lieutenant Walker, the
revenue officer in command of the Vixen' cutter,
boarded the ship in a small boat. After examining the
ship's papers, the boat left the ship, Captain Evans,
anxious after a long voyage to reach his home, accom-
panying the officer. The boat was swamped, and all
on board perished, the bodies being afterwards washed
on shore.
The year 1834 was distinguished by very exciting
discussions respecting the Irish Church both in and out
of Parliament, in which Liverpool took its full share.
Towards the end of 1833, the Government organs began
to put forth feelers as to the abolition of the Irish tithes
in the form under which they then existed. Of this
there can be no doubt,' said one of the leading Whig
C
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
531
very
6
CHAP.
V
1834.
Church
journals; the only way to afford the Irish Church the
least chance of a permanent existence is to abolish
tithes entirely, and to cut down her other emoluments
low indeed.' The friends of the Established Church
took the alarm. A central committee of laymen was
formed in London, which stimulated the provinces to
take action in the matter. On January 29, 1834, a
meeting, convened by circular from the mayor (Mr. John
Wright), was held in the Sessions House, for the purpose,
as announced in the circular, of supporting the Esta-
blished Church.' The attendance was numerous, and
comprised many of the most influential inhabitants. The Irish
mayor took the chair, and the meeting was addressed meeting.
by Sir Thomas Brancker, and Messrs. Joseph Walker,
Dawson, Edwards, Samuel Holme, A. Lodge, and Ripley.
No reference was made in the speeches, except indirectly,
to any proposed attack on the Church; but a resolution
was carried That at the present eventful crisis it is
highly desirable that the friends of the Church of Eng-
land, resident in the town and neighbourhood of Liver-
pool, should make a public and solemn declaration of
their undeviating attachment to the doctrine and disci-
pline of the Episcopal Establishment, which by the
blessing of God has been the means of conveying ines-
timable advantages-religious and moral-to all classes
of the community.' A committee was appointed to
carry this object' (whatever that might mean) into
effect.' A declaration was also adopted of unshaken
adherence to the pure faith and worship, and the apostolic
form of government,' of the Church.
6
6
C
6
The signataries also avow our firm determination to
do all that in us lies, in our several stations, to uphold
unimpaired in its security and efficiency, that establish-
ment which we have received as the richest legacy of
our forefathers, and desire to hand down as the best
inheritance of our posterity.'
At the opening of the session of 1834 on February 4,
M M 2
532
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1834.
Irish
tithes.
Mr. Ward's
motion.
·
the King's speech recommended a final adjustment of
tithes in Ireland.' On February 20, Mr. Littleton, the
secretary for Ireland, brought forward the Government
scheme, which commuted the tithe for a payment from
the landowners. The bill with some alterations passed
the Commons, but was defeated in the Lords. On
March 11, another bill was introduced by the Ministry
for depriving the Irish Church of a portion of its
revenues, and appropriating it to State purposes. The
bill passed the Commons by an overwhelming majority.
In the Lords it also passed, with the proviso that the
application of the surplus revenue should be suspended,
and the amount placed in the hands of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners.
6
On May 27, Mr. Ward, M.P. for St. Albans, brought
forward a motion that the Irish Church Establishment
exceeded the spiritual wants of the Protestant population,
and ought to be reduced.' This led to the resignation
of Mr. Stanley (14th Earl of Derby), Sir James Graham,
the Earl of Ripon, and the Duke of Richmond. On the
King's birthday, the Irish bishops approached the throne
with an address from the Irish prelates and clergy, depre-
cating any parliamentary interference with the Church.
The King's This called forth an extraordinary declaration from the
King, who, with tears running down his cheeks, assured
the clergy that the Church of England and Ireland
should be preserved unimpaired by him; and that if any
of the inferior arrangements required amendment, which
he greatly doubted, he hoped it would be left to the
bishops to correct them without interference on any
hand.' Mr. Ward's motion was met by the previous
question,' and the difficulty was staved off for a time.
declara.
tion.
Meeting to
address
the King.
On June 23, a public meeting was held in the Sessions
House, called by the mayor in accordance with a requi-
sition signed by 150 of the leading inhabitants, being
anxious to express to his Majesty our grateful acknow-
ledgments for the sentiments contained in his reply to
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
533
V.
the address of congratulation recently presented to his CHAP.
Majesty by the archbishops and bishops of the United
Church of England and Ireland.'
The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Rector Brooks,
Rev. Dr. Ralph, minister of the Scotch Church, Sir Thomas
Brancker, Mr. T. B. Horsfall and Alderman Robinson.
Resolutions were passed of 'regret and alarm at the pre-
sent hostile movement against the Church of England,
endangering its existence as a national Church not only
by acts of direct aggresion, but by measures of a less
obvious, but not less fatal tendency.'
That this meeting hails with heartfelt satisfaction his
Majesty's late emphatic avowal of his fixed resolution to
preserve inviolate the bond of union between the Church
and State, and hastens to lay at his Majesty's feet the
homage of its allegiance and the assurance of its support;'
with other resolutions of a similar tenor.
1834.
stamps.
On Wednesday, April 23, a public meeting was held Receipt
in the Sessions House, convened by the mayor upon a
requisition, for the purpose of taking into consideration
the propriety of petitioning the Legislature to abolish
the stamp duty on receipts.' Sir Thomas Brancker, in
the absence of the mayor, occupied the chair. Mr.
George Crosfield introduced the subject in a pithy
and telling speech. The other speakers were Messrs.
A. Hodgson, Godfrey Barnsley, and P. Hope. Resolutions
were passed expressive of the evils of the existing law,
and a petition was adopted praying for its repeal. It
does not appear that any idea whatever had occurred to
the speakers of the simple plan of the uniform penny
stamp, the proposal of which originated in Liverpool, and
which has gone far to solve the problem of raising a
revenue with the smallest possible inconvenience.
Foster.
At the Inquiry before the Corporation Commissioners Town-
in November 1833, Mr. Thomas Foster, the town-clerk, clerk
won the admiration of all parties by the able manner in
which he conducted the case on the part of the corpora-
534
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1834.
Southgate.
tion. In testimony of this feeling, a subscription was
entered into which raised the sum of 354l. 148., with
which a handsome silver candelabrum was purchased,
and presented to Mr. Foster in September 1834. The
plate bore the following inscription:
Presented
To
THOMAS FOSTER, ESQUIRE,
Town-clerk of Liverpool,
By the burgesses and other inhabitants of the town
Assembled in public meeting,
On Saturday, 24th December,
1833,
To record their admiration
Of the firm, manly, temperate, and dignified manner
In which he performed his official duties,
In vindicating the integrity of the corporate administration,
And in defending the rights of the freemen,
Before his Majesty's municipal commissioners,
During a most minute and protracted investigation
Of twenty-four days.
Murder of On Friday, October 17, a lamentable occurrence took
place. Mr. William Southgate, Customs Surveyor of
Warehouses in Liverpool, had reported the misconduct
of one of his sub-officers, Norman Welch, owing to which
he was reduced in his position. As Mr. Southgate was
crossing the custom-house yard, Welch went close to
him, drew a horse-pistol from underneath his coat, and
deliberately shot him. The result was fatal. After
lingering in extreme suffering, Mr. Southgate died two
days afterwards. The murderer made no attempt to
escape. He admitted the deed and expressed his satis-
faction that he had got his revenge. He was tried and
convicted; and was executed at Lancaster on March 23,
1835.
Earl Grey
retires.
On July 9, 1834, Earl Grey retired from office. The
Whig Ministry was reconstructed, and maintained a halt-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
535
CHAP.
V.
1834.
ing existence until November, when, on the decease of
Earl Spencer, by which Lord Althorpe, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, became a peer of the realm, and neces-
sarily vacated his office, the King eagerly availed himself Dismissal
of the pretext to dismiss the Ministry, and to send for the ters.
Duke of Wellington.
of minis-
This event occasioned a prodigious sensation both at
home and abroad. It was considered to be a defiance
of the parliamentary system of government by a majority,
and resented by the Whigs accordingly. The Liverpool
reformers lost no time in moving. On November 20,
a meeting of the leading Whigs, hastily convened by
circular, was held at the Clarendon Rooms, to take into
consideration the measures proper to be adopted in con-
sequence of the dismissal of the late Ministry, and the
accession of the Duke of Wellington to office.' Mr.
James Brancker was called to the chair, a resolution was
passed to call a public meeting at an early day, and a Meetings.
committee appointed to carry it out.
Whilst these pro-
ceedings were going forward another meeting was being
held in an adjoining room, called together by an anony-
mous placard of ambiguous phraseology, which led to a
somewhat angry and tumultuous collision between the
two political parties. Mr. T. B. Horsfall was called to the
chair. The meeting for the most part did not seem to
understand why they were called together, each party
recriminating the other, and at length the assembly
broke up in confusion.
The Whig public meeting was held in Clayton Square, Publie
on Monday, November 24, Lord Molyneux in the chair. meeting
Strong and decided speeches were delivered by the noble
chairman, Colonel Williams, M.P., Mr. William Ewart,
M.P., Messrs. Richard Sheil, Thomas Blackburn, and W.
Wallace Currie. A resolution was passed-That this
meeting cannot contemplate without the deepest alarm
the recall to his Majesty's councils of that party who
have been constantly opposed to improvement and
reform.'
536
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1834.
Orange
meeting.
Hugh
McNeile
An address to the King was also adopted, in which
occurs the following passage: Under these circum-
stances of surprise and regret, we are impelled to the
conviction that your Majesty has forgotten for a moment,
under the influence of evil advice, the great constitutional
truth, that a Government becomes strong and efficient in
the approbation and support of a whole people, while on
the other hand an adminstration will be unstable and
insecure, if it possesses not because it deserves not the
confidence of the nation.' A requisition was signed to
the mayor to call a public meeting on behalf of Church
and King, but there is no record of any such meeting
having taken place.
•
On November 21, a public meeting was held in the
amphitheatre to receive a deputation from the Orange
societies in Ireland, Lord Kenyon in the chair. The
political crisis naturally formed the staple of the speeches
The following morceau is from the address of the Rev.
M. O'Sullivan, formerly a Roman Catholic priest: The
ministers became men hurried on in their reckless
course, driven from the society of honourable men, till,
like Gulliver in the arms of the Brobdignag ape (im-
mense cheers at this hit at O'Connell), tormented at one
moment by the fondness of the nasty brute, choked the
next moment by the filthy morsels which issued from his
filthy mouth, quivering, trembling, and yet not daring to
move a muscle, seeing the tremendous precipice to which
his filthy conductor was conveying him, and yet without
the power of rescuing himself from his revolting grasp.
Now, we have to thank God for a deliverance; and who
is now present who would not raise his voice in accla-
mations of thanksgiving to the constitutional monarch
who has delivered us!' (The cheering and waving of
hats and handkerchiefs continued for some minutes.)
This meeting was further memorable as the first plat-
form appearance in Liverpool of the Rev. Hugh McNeile
(since Dr. McNeile, Dean of Ripon). He lamented that
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
537
V.
the King's prerogative had been limited in such a CHAP.
manner that his Majesty could not now do what he
would. It was said that ministers of religion should not 1834.
mingle in politics; but God, when he made the minister,
did not unmake the citizen.' He manifested on this oc-
casion the wonderful dramatic and elocutionary power
which subsequently led to an almost unparalleled influence
over his party, and to a considerable extent over the
town at large.
dates.
The first act of the new Ministry was of course to Election.
dissolve the Parliament and appeal to the country. Both
parties in Liverpool began to take active steps before the
end of November. The friends of Lord Sandon and Sir
Howard Douglas were early in the field. The Whigs, Candi-
in the first instance, had no intention of bringing out a
second candidate, being content if they could secure the
seat for Mr. Ewart; but at a meeting held on Dec. 13,
it was determined to bring out two candidates, and to
invite Mr. Spring Rice, late Secretary for the Colonies,
to stand along with Mr. Ewart. That gentleman, how-
ever, declined. Sir Francis Baring and Sir Valentine
Blake were then mentioned. Ultimately the choice fell
upon Mr. James Morris, a London merchant of wealth
and position, one of the directors of the Bank of England.
Mr. Thomas Thornely, the Whig candidate in 1831 and
1832, had been invited to stand for Wolverhampton, for
which borough he was returned.
With the new year the campaign began in good
earnest. On the last day of the old year an open air
meeting of Mr. Morris's friends was held in Clayton
Square, Mr. Lawrence Heyworth in the chair. Mr. Wm.
Earle introduced the candidate in a laudatory address.
Mr. Morris then addressed the meeting, and was suc-
ceeded by Lord Molyneux and Mr. Wallace Currie.
The two Reform candidates afterwards went on 'Change,
and delivered addresses in the newsroom. The next
day Mr. Ewart addressed his friends from the balcony of
538
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1835.
Election
meetings.
Nomina-
tion.
Poll.
Dinner.
the Adelphi Hotel, supported by Messrs. David Hodgson,
James Brancker, and others. Mr. Morris being present,
was also called upon to speak.
On Thursday, January 1, Lord Sandon's friends held a
meeting in the large room of the Golden Lion, Alderman
Charles Lawrence in the chair, supported by Messrs.
Charles Horsfall, James Heyworth, John Moss, and
others. Lord Sandon was not present. The same day,
Sir Howard's supporters met at the King's Arms, Alder-
man Robinson in the chair, and were addressed by
Messrs. Richard Leyland, John Wright, T. B. Horsfall,
and others. On Monday, Sir Howard Douglas, and on
Tuesday, Lord Sandon, visited the Exchange, and were
both very cordially received.
Monday, January 5, 1835, was the day for nomina-
tion. The friends of all the candidates mustered in
strong force; party colours and banners, not having yet
been prohibited, were displayed in great profusion. Mr.
Ewart was proposed by Mr. James Brancker, seconded
by Mr. Wallace Currie. Lord Sandon was proposed by
Alderman Charles Lawrence, seconded by Mr. John
Moss. Alderman Wright nominated Sir Howard Douglas,
seconded by Alderman Leyland. Mr. William Earle pro-
posed Mr. Morris, seconded by Mr. Lawrence Heyworth.
Each of the candidates addressed the assembly, but
owing to the uproar were very indistinctly heard.
The first day's poll showed the two Whig candidates
in a minority. At the final close on the second day the
numbers stood: Sandon, 4,407; Ewart, 4,075; Douglas,
3,869; Morris, 3,627. 8,187 persons polled, out of
11,340 votes on the register. It was clear that a re-
action had set in against the Whigs, whatever the cause
might be. With a constituency about the same, Mr.
Ewart polled 856 votes less, and Lord Sandon 147 votes
more, than at the last election.
On January 14, the Whigs celebrated the election of
Mr. Ewart by a public dinner at the Theatre Royal,
539
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Mr. James Brancker in the chair. The meeting was ad-
dressed by Messrs. Ewart and Morris, Mr. G. W. Wood,
M.P., Thomas Thornely, M.P., Rushton, and others.
6
The days of squibs, poetry, and satire, had passed
away. Elections had not been deprived of their bitter-
ness, but they had lost the fun and frolic which took
away in some degree the edge of the bitter feeling.
Everything was now as dull and prosaic as the most
ardent reformer could desire. The cakes and ale' had
not altogether departed, even if the community had
become more virtuous.' The reaction in Liverpool was
not seconded in the country generally. After struggling
with difficulties for two months, on April 8, the Duke
of Wellington in the Lords, and Sir Robert Peel in the
Commons announced the resignation of the Ministry,
which was succeeded by that of Lord Melbourne.
CHAP.
V.
1835.
During the session a local bill of importance was Proposals
brought into Parliament. The unsatisfactory state of the for police.
town with regard to the provision for preserving the peace
had attracted attention. A nightly watch existed, which
had latterly been brought into something like discipline;
but during the day there was absolutely no constabulary
force to keep order and repress the unruly. A bill was
propounded to make provision for such a force. The
mayor and the churchwardens were to be commissioners
for the purpose, and to have the force under their control.
The expense was to be defrayed by the corporation paying
one-third and the ratepayers two-thirds. Coupled with
this there was another series of clauses, making obli-
gatory certain allowances to the rectors and clergy, which
had hitherto depended on the annual vote of the parish-
ioners. Considerable difference of opinion existed in
regard to this measure. The Easter Vestry declared in
its favour; the Commissioners of the Watch petitioned
against it; the Grand Jury made a presentment in its
behalf; the Watch Commissioners then withdrew their
opposition. Finally, however, the bill was withdrawn ;
540
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V
1835.
reform.
but the objects at which it aimed have been secured by
subsequent legislation.
6
The next important measure which engaged the atten-
tion of the Liverpool public was the Municipal Reform
Municipal Bill. At a meeting of the Reform Association on June 4
a resolution was passed- That at the present important
period it is the duty of all reformers to support ministers
in carrying to a successful issue a full and efficient reforın
of the abuses in the Irish Church, and a comprehensive
reform in all corporations; and that this meeting cordially
approves of the resolution of his Majesty's ministers to
limit their attention during the present session to these
great objects.'
Immediately on their accession to office the Whig
Ministry appointed a new commission to inquire and
report further on the existing state of the municipal cor-
porations. As the matter was pretty nearly a foregone
conclusion, the commissioners lost no time in reporting.
On June 5 the bill was introduced in the Commons by
Agitation. Lord John Russell. A large amount of agitation naturally
resulted throughout the country. In Liverpool meetings
were called of the freemen actual and in prospect, and
of persons interested in corporation leases, whose rights
were supposed to be affected. On August 10 a public
meeting was held in Clayton Square-To take into con-
sideration and adopt such measures as may seem best
calculated to accelerate and secure the passing into a law
of the bill now before the House of Lords for the reform
of the corporations of England and Wales, and which the
recent proceedings in the House of Lords are calculated to
obstruct and endanger.'
Reform
meeting.
The chair was taken by Colonel Williams. The meet-
ing was addressed by Messrs. Lawrence Heyworth, John
Rosson, Henry Booth, William Rathbone, Thomast
Blackburn, Thomas Bolton, Richard Sheil, and others.
Strong resolutions were passed, amongst which were the
following:
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
541
That this meeting, strongly impressed with the value
and importance of the Municipal Reform Bill, feel im-
peratively called upon to express their deep regret at the
course pursued by the House of Lords, in requiring evi-
dence respecting the existence of abuses which are no-
torious to the rest of the community, a proceeding calcu-
lated to obstruct and impede unnecessarily the progress
of this great measure, if not altogether to prevent its
passing into a law.
That this meeting considers that any attempt to seek
a separate bill for this town as an insidious effort to
deprive the borough of the benefit of corporation reform,
originating in exclusive and selfish views, and opposed to
the wishes and the best interests of the great body of the
people of Liverpool.'
This last resolution was in reply to an attempt which
had been made under corporation influence to procure
the exemption of Liverpool from the general Act and the
passing of a modified local Act, on the ground of risk to
the corporate estate and alarm to the bondholders. Some
such feeling as this seems to have prevailed, or to have
been stimulated by some members of the council.
CHAP.
V.
1835.
bankers.
The banking account of the corporation up to this Corpora-
time had been kept with the banking-house of Messrs. tion
Leyland & Bullins. At a meeting of the Finance Commit-
tee, held on June 19, Alderman Leyland announced that
he would make no further advances to the corporation,
the account then standing to their debit in the sum of
12,8007. Some rather high words ensued. Alderman
Sandbach, Conservative though he might be, was jealous
for the honour of the corporation, and immediately
signed a cheque on his bankers, Messrs. Heywood &
Co., for the amount. The day following the account of
the corporation was transferred from Leyland & Co. to
Messrs. Heywood, where it has ever since remained.
On August 6 Mr. Thomas Foster, the town-clerk, was Town-
examined at the bar of the House of Lords on several examined.
clerk
542
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1835.
Liverpool
churches.
Endow-
ment.
matters connected with the commissioners' report on
the Liverpool Corporation. The bill was finally passed,
with some of the amendments inserted by the Lords,
on September 7, and on the 9th it received the Royal
assent.
Pending the passing of the Municipal Reform Act,
some transactions took place in Liverpool which led to
considerable litigation. Under the Act by which Liver-
pool was constituted a separate parish (10 & 11 Will.
III., c. 36) the corporation were the patrons of the bene-
fice, and consequently had the appointment to the incum-
bencies of the churches subsequently erected, subject to
certain special acts applying to those more recently built.
A large proportion of the stipends of these incumbents
was derived from the corporate funds, about 10,0007. per
annum having been devoted to this purpose. The Muni-
cipal Reform Bill in its intended provisions interfered
with this arrangement. The bill for charging on the
parish an obligatory payment to the clergy had been
withdrawn, and an attempt to introduce a clause into
the Municipal Reform Bill legalising these payments by
the corporation had been defeated. The town council
were very desirous before they were superseded to make
some permanent provision for the clergy. At a meeting
on November 13, a report on the endowment question.
was brought up, which recommended that the sum of
105,000l. should be raised by mortgage, and invested
with the Grand Junction Railway Company, at 4 per
cent., to form a fund for the payment of the clerical
stipends. A protest against the scheme was presented,
signed by 125 burgesses of respectability. On a division
the report was carried by 20 to 8.
The day following, in the Rolls Court, Mr. Bickersteth
(afterwards Lord Langdale) applied for an injunction to
restrain the corporation from carrying into effect the pro-
posed loan and investment. The injunction was granted;
but on December 5 the case was again argued, when the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
543
СНАР.
V.
1835.
Endow-
ment of
injunction was dissolved, the Master of the Rolls con-
sidering that it was better to leave it to the incoming
council to dispute the legality of the proceeding if they
saw fit. In order not to return to the subject again, it
may be here stated that the question was disputed by the churches.
reformed council; and, after a protracted litigation, it
was set at rest by an Act of Parliament (1 & 2 Vic., c.
98), under which the money was repaid, and certain
stipends to the clergy were made obligatory payments
from the borough fund. By the same Act the rectory
of the parish, which had previously been held in two
medieties, was in future to be united at the decease
of either of the then incumbents. The settlement was
considered at the time as a great triumph of the Re-
form party; but the results of thirty years' experience
have rather tended to the opposite conclusion. The
regular payments are about 2,500l. per annum; but
when to this is added the expense of repairing and reno-
vating the buildings, which would have been got rid of
by the endowment scheme, it will be found that the
churches cost the burgesses as much as or more than the
interest of the 105,000l. originally appropriated, whilst
the irritating effect of this ecclesiastical burden on the
Borough Fund is perpetuated.
This general view of the municipal corporation reform
has a little interfered with the chronological order of our
narrative. I must turn back a little to notice a few of the
most memorable events of the year 1835.
I have mentioned in previous pages several destruc-
tive fires in 1824 and 1825, which were proved to have
been the work of incendiaries. During the year 1835 Incendiary
two very serious instances of the same kind occurred. fires.
In the winter of 1834-5 several attempts were made
to set fire to the extensive premises of Messrs. Foster &
Stewart, builders, in Lawton Street. Some of these were
discovered in time to prevent destruction; but on the
night of December 19, 1834, the premises, of great
544
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
V.
1835.
Orange
riots.
Riots.
1
extent, with a large stock of timber, were totally des-
troyed.¹ This was followed, in less than a month, by
the destruction of the establishment of Messrs. Foster &
Griffin, ironfounders, Beckwith Street. A reward of
5001. was offered in each case for the discovery of the
incendiary, but without success.
6
On July 12 a repetition took place, with more than
and Green usual virulence, of the disgraceful scenes called Orange
riots,' in which two Irish factions dispute the palm for
distinction in ferocity and brutality. The anniversary of
the Battle of the Boyne occurred on Sunday. It was
expected that a grand demonstration would be made by
the Orangemen; but if such was intended, it was pre-
vented by the occurrences which took place. Collections
of the lower classes of Irish assembled in the streets at
the north end of the town; and about ten at night a
fracas took place in Ben Jonson Street, which led to the
capture of one of the ringleaders by the police. This
was the signal for a general row. The mob set upon the
watchmen, rescued the prisoner, and assaulted the officers
so hotly that they were driven from the street. Another
commotion arose in Great Crosshall Street; and the two
mobs uniting, being fifty to one as compared with the
officers, the latter were compelled to take flight and seek
refuge in the Lock-up, in Vauxhall Road. This the
rioters proceeded to break open with axes and staves,
with loud cheers and outcries from an assembled crowd.
Those inside barricaded the inner doors and retreated to
to the loft, where they rang the alarm fire-bell. Mr.
Whitty, the head of the night police, hearing the bell,
drove at once to the station, where he was attacked with
the utmost violence. Being a powerful man, he con-
tended boldly with his assailants; but it might have
¹ A fatality seemed to attend these premises. After having been rebuilt
in full working order, they were again destroyed by fire on January 5,
1843. The site is now occupied by the railway station of the Cheshire
lines.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
545
CHAP.
V.
1835.
gone hard with him, had it not been for two young men
amongst the rioters, who gallantly espoused his cause,
and assisted him to dash through the door which had
just been broken open. The rioters then paused, as if Riots.
uncertain what to do next; and assistance having in the
meantime arrived, the mob were gradually forced back,
and in their turn compelled to fly.
On Monday morning the riots were renewed. A large
crowd assembled in Park Lane. Mr. Parlour, the chief
constable, endeavoured to persuade them to disperse, with
the assurance that no Orange procession would be per-
mitted; but the multitude increasing, the dock police
were sent for, and a detachment of the 80th Regiment was
called out to clear the streets.
The mob, driven from Park Lane, proceeded to Vaux-
hall Road, where they joined another body already
assembled. The nightly watch were again called out,
and a hundred special constables sworn in and des-
patched to the scene. Although there was great excite-
ment during the day, no further émeute took place.
Many of the rioters were taken into custody, on whom
were found pistols, with powder and ball, and other
deadly weapons. The most active of them were tried
and punished.
Institute.
On July 20 the first stone of the Mechanics' Institu- Mechanics'
tion, Mount Street (now the Liverpool Institute and High
School), was laid by Lord Brougham, who delivered an
address to a vast assemblage. In the evening he was
entertained at a public dinner in the Amphitheatre, Mr. Dinner to
James Brancker in the chair. About 600 sat down to Brougham.
table. The boxes were appropriated to ladies, and the
pupils of the Institution occupied the galleries.
The speech delivered by the noble ex-Chancellor was
long and elaborate. It is included in his published works,
but very much abridged, and in some respects altered;
the history of his proceedings in Scotland, just preceding
the fall of the Ministry, which he went into at some
VOL. I.
N N
Lord
546
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1835.
Lord
Brough-
am's
speech.
length, being entirely cut out. The omitted portions
contain the raciest part of the speech.
6
The following passage is rather incisive: Gentlemen,
it has been kindly and judiciously said in some of the
public prints opposed to us that it was all very well for
the poor dupes of Liverpool to invite me to a public
dinner, for they were only part of the people, and
Liverpool was the only town that would give me such
an invitation. I know not why this should be said,
Gentlemen, for I never bribed in Liverpool, I never
treated in Liverpool; no man in Liverpool was ever the
better for me, excepting as other subjects of the realm.
may have been benefited by my endeavours to promote
the common good.
It is, perhaps, not worth so
much notice; but having defended Mr. Pitt, Mr. Canning,
Mr. Huskisson, and Lord Eldon from a charge common to
us all,' I should have been the most ungrateful of men if
I had not also defended you against the charge which has
been brought against you.'
The following quotation is rather long, but as it is
very powerful and in the great orator's most charac-
teristic style, I will venture to give it, particularly as it
differs materially from the published version, to which I
think it is much superior :
6
If it were not too late to fall to moralising, I might
say that he who relinquishes place, misnamed "power"
in this country, does not surrender any very enviable
prerogative, or any very sweet enjoyment. To be re-
sponsible for measures which others control-perhaps
contrive; to be answerable for leaving things undone
which he ought to have done, and which he had all
the desire in the world to do, but was prevented
by others from doing; to be compelled to trust some
of the most untrustworthy of their race, and to repose
1 He here alludes to the severe comments of the Tory papers on the
demonstrations he had made during his tour in Scotland. He had previously
stated that the statesmen named had done the same thing.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
547
CHAP.
V.
1835.
Brough-
confidence on great occasions where the serious in-
terests of millions are deeply involved, in certain quar-
ters which he knows to be utterly unworthy of con-
fidence; to place implicit trust in persons in whom Lord
common prudence forbids him to place even common am's
confidence; to have the most profound and difficult speech.
views of policy judged of and decided upon by the most
frivolous and ignorant of the human kind; or the most
generous aspirations after the happiness of mankind
which can warm the human breast chilled by the frowns
of the selfish and the sordid-these are a few of the
unenviable privileges which place confers upon its pos-
sessor. And yet I protest I know not if there are not
others which are still less to be envied. It is no pleasing
thing for a man who loves his fellow-creatures, and is fain
to do them good, to be raised to an eminence from whence
he can look down into the human heart-a sight which
one of our poets once described to be so horrible that
the Deity had reserved it for his own eye alone—a
naked human heart-to be placed on that eminence
from which one cannot choose but see it, because it is
our duty to become acquainted with the ways of men
who confound the attitude of climbing, which they call
ambition, with that of creeping and crawling, to which it
is nearly allied-advancing themselves by every base
art and every tortuous method, to some petty and trivial
distinction; and to find after doing all we can to serve an
individual, and failed, that that individual becomes one's
inveterate enemy; or after happily succeeding in serving
another, to find that he forsooth requites the obligation,
and cancels, or thinks to cancel it by picking a quarrel
with his benefactor, and in conformity with that most
unamiable characteristic of the British people, that pre-
posterous pride which seeks to get rid of a sense of
obligation, though it can only be done by means evincing
the blackest ingratitude: all this, he who governs this
country, and dispenses its patronage, must experience
N N 2
548
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
СНАР.
V.
1835.
Lord
Brough-
am's
speech.
oftentimes in the course of one little month of his reign;
from all this he escapes who surrenders his official seals;
and yet I believe that even all this I might have been
disposed to endure, urged on by ambition, by the love.
of excitement belonging to power--by the love of glory
if you will, which statesmen feel as well as conquerors,
though a more innocent glory than theirs-all this I
might have undergone; but there was another thing of
which I felt most impatient, and glad to be relieved-I
mean the fetters, the trammels, the death-cold ceremony
which he undergoes, who enters the House appointed.
for all living ministers. Judge, then, of the exultation
which shook and made to quiver every fibre of my frame
when I could burst forth from the cerements of that
living tomb; when I could start into new and unofficial
life, and once more take my place in the van of my
honest, enlightened, and free countrymen; taking my
natural position with them, helping them forward in this
vast and rapid and resistless course which we are making
daily and hourly in improvement; showing a strength, a
might, and a force which sweeps away and prostrates in
the dust all those puny obstacles raised against its pro-
gress by the intrigues of courts and their tyranny-by
the persecution of bigots and their intolerance—by the
sordid and base interests of the privileged few, be they
monopolising companies, or overgrown and bloated es-
tablishments; or be they monopolising, corrupt, and
irresponsible municipal corporations. From all these
trammels I am now free; I am firm in the position in
which I am now placed, and it must be a strong govern-
ment, and an honest government, and a government
that promises much-much-much for the people, and
is able to accomplish much for the people, that can ever
tempt me to give up my present position of independence
in the van of my countrymen, and enlist with any minis-
try whatever.'
The long-desired adjournment to Liverpool of the
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
549
V.
1835.
Liverpool.
assizes for South Lancashire was at length conceded by CHAP.
the Government. The first assizes in Liverpool were
opened by Chief Baron Abinger and Chief Justice Tindall
on August 16, in the Sessions House, Chapel Street. Assizes in
The corporation undertook to provide the necessary ac-
commodation for the judges' lodgings. For this purpose
they rented a commodious mansion in St. Anne Street,
belonging to Alderman Sandbach, and then recently
occupied by Alderman Porter.¹
C
aid of the
On December 8 a public meeting was held in the Meeting in
Music-hall, to consider the propriety of raising a sub- Irish
scription for the relief of the clergy belonging to the clergy.
Irish Church,' many of whom were stated to be reduced
to a state of utter destitution by the refusal to pay the
tithes. The Rev. Rector Brooks took the chair.
sum of about 2,000l. was raised in aid of the fund for
their relief.
A
reform
The Municipal Reform Act having come into operation, Election of
December 26 was appointed for the election of the new council.
council. As might naturally have been expected, con-
siderable excitement prevailed. Conservative as Liver-
pool usually has shown itself, there was still a strong
feeling against the exclusiveness of the old corporation,
and a natural desire that the party which had con-
tributed to the victory should, in the first instance, enjoy
the fruits. General and ward meetings were held by
both parties, and all the bustle and effervescence of a
general election were manifested. The result was a
general discomfiture of the Tory party, only five coun-
cillors out of forty-eight belonging to them. Two only
of the old council succceded in gaining seats in the new
one, Messrs. Charles Horsfall and John Shaw Leigh.
On Wednesday, December 30, the reformed council
met to appoint 16 aldermen. Out of those so appointed
only one belonged to the Conservative side.
1 In 1868 the judges' lodgings were removed to Newsham House,
Newsham Park.
550
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
√.
1835.
New
council.
A.D. 1836.
force.
The constitution of the new council stood as follows:
Whig councillors 43, Tories 5; aldermen, 15 Whigs, 1
Tory. With this enormous majority it might have been
thought practicable to maintain the ascendancy at the
town-hall for an indefinite period; but, either through
the mismanagement of the Whigs or the adroitness of
their opponents, only five short years elapsed before the
rout of the Whigs was so thorough and complete that all
attempts at rehabilitation have ever since resulted in
utter failure.
One of the first acts of the new council was the con-
New police solidation of the day, night, and dock police on the
system originally introduced by Sir Robert Peel into the
Metropolitan police. The measure had become abso-
lutely necessary for the protection of life and property as
well as of the peace of the town, which had frequently
been endangered for want of prompt assistance at the
commencement of a threatened émeute. The town police
body was organised on February 29, 1836, and consisted
of 290 men, under 24 inspectors and 4 superintendents,
besides 40 fire-policemen, and the necessary staff of
bridewell keepers and indoor officers. Mr. Michael James
Whitty, previously superintendent of the nightly watch,
was appointed head constable. About twelve months
subsequently the dock police force was amalgamated
with that of the town. In the first instance considerable
jealousy and soreness existed as to the new force, and
many complaints-most of them unfounded-were made
of the brutality of their conduct; but the usefulness of
the new system became continually more and more.
apparent. On July 5 the Grand Jury at the quarter
sessions made a presentment, intimating to the court
'their high approbation of the new police, as eminently
calculated as well for the prevention as the discovery of
crime, and they express a hope that every well-wisher
to virtue and good order will aid and encourage the
body in the due discharge of their duty.' Any asperities
NINETEENTH CENTURY
551
+
V.
of feeling gradually softened down, and it has been long CHAP.
acknowledged that the police force is one of the institu-
tions essential to good order and safety in a large and 1836.
mixed community.
diary
A necessary corollary to the establishment of the Stipen-
police force was the appointment of a stipendiary magis- magistrate.
trate. To this office Mr. Thos. Jas. Hall, a practising
barrister on the northern circuit, was recommended by
the town council, and appointed by Lord John Russell,
the Home Secretary. Mr. Hall continued in the office
until May 1839, when he was transferred to a similar
office in the metropolis, and Mr. Edward Rushton, who
has often been mentioned in the preceding pages, was
appointed in his stead.
Town-
pensioned.
Another question of considerable importance engaged
the attention of the new council. The officers of the old
corporation, under the provisions of the Municipal Act,
were either to be retained or compensated for the loss of
their offices. The principal of these officers was the
town-clerk (Mr. Thomas Foster). The council did not clerk
see fit to retain his services, and he sent in accordingly
his claim for compensation, from which it appeared that
his fees of office on the average of the four preceding
years amounted to 7,4017. per annum, for the loss of
which he claimed the sum of 77,108l. This claim was
ultimately commuted into an annuity of 2,500l. for his
life. This was settled on July 11; and on Saturday,
September 10, Mr. Foster, who had gone abroad for his
health, died at Calais. His brother, Mr. John Foster,
who had filled the office of architect and surveyor to the Architect
corporation, was superannuated at 500l. per annum. The pensioned.
remainder of the corporate officers were retained in their
places.
There is a proverb that 'New brooms sweep clean,'
and this the newly-installed council proceeded to exem-
plify by introducing reform into every department; but
there is another wise saw to which it would have been
552
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. prudent to take heed-at least for a time-that it is
sometimes 'best to let a sleeping dog lie.'
V.
1836.
Corpo-
ration
schools.
The two elementary schools established by the old
corporation had been conducted on the principles of the
Established Church. This subject attracted the early at-
tention of the new council. An education committee
was appointed, which recommended that the school
system should be changed and the mixed education
adopted according to the Irish national system. This
report was confirmed by the council, little foreseeing
what the consequences would be. The appropriation of
the public educational fund to the purposes of one par-
ticular church was no doubt wrong in principle, and
called for interference, but the mode in which it was
treated was rash and unadvised. The question might
have been dealt with by the erection of other unsectarian
schools; at all events, time might have been given for
public opinion to form itself. A time-honoured institu-
tion was ruthlessly uprooted, and strong religious preju-
dices needlessly excited. If there is one question more
than another on which the English mind is subject to
lose its balance and rush into a sort of intellectual stam-
pede, it is at the cry of ' No Popery!' This was the war-
cry raised on the occasion in question. The withdrawal
of the Bible as an ordinary school-book, and the substitu-
tion of the Irish national lessons, was held forth as the
expulsion of the Bible- which was not true. The public
mind was not prepared for the sudden change. Nothing
could have happened more opportunely for the Tory
party. It furnished them with a lever of wondrous
power to uproot their rivals from their seat.
just the opportunity for the display of the peculiar talent
of the Rev. Hugh McNeile, and he was not backward in
availing himself of it. He might have exclaimed with
Cromwell before the battle of Dunbar, when General
Leslie charged his front, The Lord hath delivered them
into our hands.' Every available means were put into
6
This was
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
553
operation to enlighten (or prejudice) the public mind;
pamphlets, speeches, public meetings, letters in the news-
papers, editorial articles, all ringing the changes on the
one theme Protestantism in danger! No Popery!' But
the great en ine of power was the
Pulpit drum ecclesiastic,
Beat with fist instead of a stick.
CHAP.
V.
1836.
Here Hugh McNeile might have imitators, but no rival. Hugh
His power of declamation against what he considered a McNeile.
wrong; his withering scorn of his opponents; his adroit-
ness in identifying the Tory cause with that of religion
and duty; and, above all, his dramatic talent and splendid
elocution all these combined gave him the force of a
catapult in hurling defiance against the opposite party.
A movement—a most excellent and proper one—was schools.
made in June, on the part of the clergy of the Established
Church, for the erection of new schools, 'independently
of the corporation, in which the whole Bible shall be
taught.' This,' says the paragraph, is the true policy;
if the council will leave their schools without the Scrip-
tures, let them also be left without scholars.' 1
6
The clergy were really in earnest. On July 18 two
schools were opened in temporary premises at the north
end of the town as substitutes for the North Corporation
Schools. On July 13 a crowded public meeting was
held in the Amphitheatre, the Rev. Rector Brooks in the
chair, in which the corporation system was denounced.
Here Hugh McNeile was thoroughly in his element, and
raised the enthusiasm of his audience to the highest pitch.
Like Cato of old, with his 'Delenda est Carthago,' he had
one leading note: Down with the Radical council.'
Church
schools.
The zeal manifested in defence of the Protestant cause Corpo-
by denunciation in the higher quarters, displayed itself in ration
a more substantial form amongst those of a lower grade.
The children attending the corporation schools were
1Liverpool Courier, June 22, 1836,
554
V.
1836.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. waylaid and maltreated in the streets. Mr. Wilderspin, the
celebrated founder of infant schools, who was employed
to arrange and put in order those belonging to the cor-
poration, made a complaint before the magistrates of
annoyance and injury from persons entering the school
premises and using bad language, with violence.
Discus-
sions in
council.
Corpo-
ration
schools.
In the midst of all this there were not wanting saga-
cious persons who foresaw the goal to which all this was
tending, and who raised their warning voice. At the
first annual meeting of the new council, on November 9,
1836, Mr. Charles Birch, one of the Liberal members for
Castle Street ward, moved that the schools should be
discontinued and the property sold. This was seconded
by Mr. John Cropper. The motion was adjourned for a
fortnight, when a very animated discussion took place.
It was argued on behalf of the system adopted by the
council that it had not had time for a fair trial; that the
opposition to it had originated and was still carried on
from party and political motives; that in a very short
time Protestant scruples would disappear before the signal
advantages of the Irish system; and that the outcry raised
against the council had been swelled by the shouts of
many who really knew very little of the merits of the
question at issue. It was further asserted that a great
majority of the Protestant Dissenters cordially approved
of the system; and as to the Roman Catholics, no incon-
siderable portion of the population, they were with the
council as one man. The noise that a party made was
no evidence of its numbers-no certain proof of its
strength; on the contrary, violence and vehemence were
pretty plain indications of conscious weakness. The
agitation on the school question was failing, and would
rapidly die away.
On the other hand, it was urged that the council were
the representatives of the whole community, and were
bound to concede everything to the feelings of the public
when their feelings had been decidedly expressed. They
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
555
had been decidedly expressed by the result of the late
elections, in which seven Liberals had been displaced by
seven Tories; that the tide of popular opinion was
strongly set against any system of education which was
not grounded on religious instruction, but that the present
system of religious instruction introduced into the schools
had been fairly tried and signally failed; that the advo-
cates of the system ought not to forget that when they
charged their opponents with religious prejudices, the
very same observations might with equal justice be ap-
plied to themselves. It was no more reasonable for an
advocate of the system to say that time would reconcile
the Protestants to it, than it would have been for the
clergy under the old system to say that time would re-
concile the Catholics to the indiscriminate use of the
Bible. It was in vain to disguise the fact, that the objec-
tion in both cases was fixed and settled; it was founded
in the principles of their respective religions, and no
power could overcome it.
The motion for selling the schools was withdrawn, and
another substituted: "That it is just and proper that the
benefits of religious instruction should be open to the
children of the poor of every denomination, and that, in
order effectually to promote this object, it is expedient to
erect additional schools, to be conducted on the plan
formerly pursued in the corporate schools of this bo-
rough.' On a division this motion was lost by 45 votes
to 10.
CHAP.
V.
1836.
reaction.
The Conservative reaction in Liverpool was aggravated Conser-
by several concurrent circumstances. The introduction rative
of the Appropriation Clause into the Irish Tithe Commu-
tation Bill, although it was thrown out by the Lords on
July 22, excited considerable alarm amongst the friends
of the Established Church in England, and added point
to the bitter attacks on the Reform party. In the begin-
ning of the year Mr. O'Connell had been invited by the O'Connell,
Reformers of Liverpool to a public dinner, which took
556
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1836
CHAP. place at the Corn Exchange, on Wednesday, January 27,
Mr. William Rathbone in the chair. In the course of his
speech the great Irish champion enumerated the demands
which Ireland would insist upon from the English Parlia-
ment, and amongst them stood conspicuous the disesta-
blishment of the Irish Church, or the despoiling it of a
large share of its revenues.
Meeting
for
O'Connell.
Conserva-
On June 6 a public meeting was held in the large
room of the York Hotel under the auspices of the Reform
Association, to mark the respect and gratitude of the
Reformers of Liverpool to Mr. O'Connell for the eminent
services which he has rendered to the cause of civil and
religious liberty, and to adopt measures for raising a fund
towards defraying the political expenses to which Mr.
O'Connell has been subjected in defence of his seat for
Dublin.' Mr. James Brancker occupied the chair. The
meeting was addressed by Messrs. William Rathbone,
Godfrey Barnsley, James Mulleneux, James Muspratt,
T. Coglan, and Egerton Smith. Resolutions were passed
highly eulogising Mr. O'Connell, and a subscription was
entered into which raised a considerable sum.
The Tories were not behindhand with their demon-
strations. Up to this time public meetings had not been
the forte of the Conservatives; they rather preferred
exercising their influence in a more quiet way. But about
this period an important change took place, and they
boldly met their opponents on ground which had hitherto
been monopolised by them. The clerical element, which
now came prominently forward, especially as embodied
in the person of Mr. McNeile, had a great deal to do with.
this; but several of the laity, such as Mr. T. B. Horsfall,
Mr. Samuel Holme, and others, began to distinguish
themselves on the platform, and to wipe away the re-
proach which had attached to their party.
On Tuesday, October 18, a public dinner of the Trades-
tive Asso- men's Conservative Association was held at the Amphi-
theatre, Mr. Samuel Holme in the chair. This was
clation.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
557
of course intended as a political demonstration of an
important character in the then critical state of local
politics, and just on the eve of a municipal election.
Many distinguished guests were present-Lord Sandon,
M.P., Hon. C. J. Canning, M.P. (afterwards Lord Canning,
Governor of India), Hon. B. Wilbraham, M.P. (afterwards
Lord Skelmersdale), and Hon. J. S. Wortley. Amongst
them we find also recorded the name of William Ewart
Gladstone, M.P. This was three years previous to the
publication of his celebrated essay on Church and
State.'
6
CHAP.
V.
1836.
Associa-
tion.
On Tuesday, November 8, also at the Amphitheatre, Protestant
the first anniversary of the Protestant Association was
held, Mr. C. S. Parker in the chair. The speakers were
exclusively clerical. Nearly the whole time was oc-
cupied by two orators, the Rev. Mortimer O'Sullivan,
who spoke for three hours, and the Rev. Hugh McNeile,
who spoke for two hours.
In the midst of the strong and exciting political feeling
which pervaded the community during this year, there
was not very much of a general nature worthy of
record.
On August 15, the tunnel from Edgehill to Lime Street Lime
having been completed, the railway station in Lime Street
Street was opened.
tunnel.
During the first week in October, the Musical Festival Musical
was held. A deep feeling of regret and sympathy was festival.
called forth by the unexpected and premature death of
Madame Malibran, who had been engaged to sing at Death of
Liverpool after the conclusion of the Festival at Man- Malibran.
chester. After singing in the concert at that town on
the evening of the 15th, when she was encored, and
taxed her powers far beyond her physical strength, she
was taken to her hotel in an alarming state of illness, and
died on the following day. Her remains were interred
in the Manchester Cathedral. Madame Caradori Allan
was engaged at short notice to supply her place in
558
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. Liverpool. The amount of about 2,500l. remained for
the charities after paying all expenses.
V.
1836.
Proposal
for music
hall.
A.D. 1837.
Death of
John
Bolton.
Some exception had been taken for some time to
holding the oratorios of the Festival meetings in con-
secrated churches, St. Peter's and St. Luke's having been.
hitherto used for the purpose. Mr. McNeile and several
others of the clergy on the present occasion denounced
the whole proceeding and held services in their churches
at the times advertised for the oratorios. It was felt
that a want existed, and immediately after the Festival
was over an effort was made to supply it. A meeting
was held attended by many of the leading inhabitants,
at which it was resolved to raise a suitable hall for
musical performances and other public purposes by
shares, and a subscription was entered into for the pur-
pose which realised above 23,0007.
An application was made to the council for about
4,000 square yards of land on the site of the old In-
firmary, which had remained unappropriated since the
removal of the building. This came before the council
on February 13, 1837, and was agreed to with certain
conditions attached. Powers were obtained in an Act
passed in the following session (1 Vic. c. 115) for this
appropriation. The succeeding steps will be narrated in
the account of the building in a future chapter.
On March 6, 1837, died at the age of eighty-one,
John Bolton, one of the most eminent of the long line
of Liverpool merchants, the friend of Canning and
Huskisson, who for many years had played a distin-
guished part in Liverpool affairs. His remains were
carried from his house in Duke Street to the rural church-
yard of Bowness on the banks of Lake Windermere.
As far as Kirkdale on the north road, they were attended
by a large gathering of all classes; the children of the
Bluecoat Hospital, sixty gentlemen on horseback, two
hundred and fifty on foot, nearly forty private car-
riages, &c.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
559
6
V.
1837.
Meetings.
During the year 1837, the question of the abolition of CHAP.
church-rates was agitated both in and out of Parliament.
On January 12, a public meeting was held in the Music
Hall, Mr. Samuel Hope in the chair, to take into con- Church-
sideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the rates.
immediate and total abolition of church-rates.' The
principal speakers were Messrs. Thomas Thornely, M.P.,
Thomas Blackburn and William Rathbone. Resolutions
were passed and a petition adopted. On March 3, a
Bill was introduced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
for defraying the expense of the repairs of parish
churches out of church property under an improved.
system of management, and by the application of the
proceeds of pew-rents. The friends of the Church took
the alarm, and on March 9, a public meeting convened
by requisition was held in the Music Hall for the purpose
of petitioning Parliament against the Bill. Sir Thomas
Brancker was called to the chair. In his opening ob-
servations, he said: 'It appeared to him that if the Bill
introduced into the House of Commons were carried into
effect, it would practically dissever the union between the
Church and the State; and that it was neither more nor
less than a direct attack on church property.' The meet-
ing was addressed by Mr. T. B. Horsfall, the Rev. Rector
Brooks, the Rev. Hugh McNeile, and Mr. Samuel Holme.
Resolutions were passed to the effect That the in-
tegrity of church property should be religiously pre-
served, and that any increase of its funds should be
applied to the erection of new churches, and the mainte-
nance of additional ministers.' A petition to Parliament
against the measure was also adopted.
'
On May 2, another public meeting was held in the
same place, to take into consideration the propriety
of petitioning Parliament in favour of the plan for the
abolition of church-rates, introduced by his Majesty's
Ministers.' The chair was taken by Mr. Samuel Hope.
The wording of the placard summoning the meeting
560
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
V.
1837.
Church-
rates.
Meetings.
6
CHAP. being somewhat vague, the Tory party put in an ap-
pearance, called together by circular, and a somewhat
hostile collision took place. Mr. McNeile presented him-
self, supported by a large number of his friends, and
wished to take a part in the meeting, justifying himself
on the ground that the placard called together a meeting
of the inhabitants.' After considerable uproar, and some
sparring between Mr. McNeile and the chairman, as to the
wording of the placard, the leaders of the church party
withdrew. The meeting was then addressed by the
chairman, by Messrs. Blackburn, Rathbone, and Sheil,
and the Revs. Burnett (of London), Kelly, and Car-
ruthers. A petition was adopted in favour of the Minis-
terial measure.
Dinner to
Ewart.
Commer-
On January 19, a public dinner was given in the
Amphitheatre, by the Tradesmen's Reform Association,
in honour of Mr. William Ewart, M.P., Mr. (afterwards
Sir Joshua) Walmsley in the chair. The numbers who
sat down to table were upwards of 1,000. There was
a considerable attendance of M.P.'s and political nota-
bilities. Mr. Ewart was of course the lion of the even-
ing. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Thomas
Gisborne, M.P. for Derbyshire, Mr. T. Thornely, M.P.
for Wolverhampton, Mr. Brotherton, M.P. for Salford,
and Mr. Rigby Wason, M.P. for Ipswich.
In the spring of 1837, one of the severest of the peri-
cial crisis. odical crises to which the commercial world is subject
passed over the country. The usual symptoms of an
inflated paper currency, over-trading and speculation,
reckless joint-stock schemes, resulting in collapse and
ruin, had manifested themselves. A panic set in and
commercial affairs were at a dead lock. The principal
defalcation was in the transactions with the United
States.
Applica-
tion to
Govern-
ment.
On April 6, a meeting of merchants, brokers, and
others, was held at the town-hall, at which it was una-
nimously determined to apply to Government for as-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
561
CHAP.
V.
sistance in the present unparalleled depression of trade
and suspension of credit.' Messrs. Joseph Sandars,
William Rotheram, and John Cropper, were appointed 1837.
as a deputation to proceed to London with a memorial
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer praying for aid.
Assistance was ultimately obtained through the Bank
of England, and the difficulties were tided over, though
not without serious disaster and failure in many
quarters.
William
IV.
On June 20, in this year, King William IV., after a Death of
reign of seven years at a most momentous crisis in our Wi
history, was gathered to his fathers in the seventy-second
year of his age.
On June 22, Queen Victoria was proclaimed Sovereign
in front of the town-hall, in the presence of the mayor and
council, and between two and three thousand persons,
who made the air ring with their acclamations.

VOL. I.
00
562
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAP.
VI.
1837.
Population
and trade.
Popula-
tion.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.-REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA.
I HAVE now brought my historical narrative to a period
within the memory of a large proportion of persons still
living. The reign of Queen Victoria, as it will ever stand
one of the most glorious in the annals of our country, has
been the most prosperous and progressive in the history
of Liverpool. To dwell with minuteness on events fami-
liar to the majority of my readers would be tedious, if
not tiresome; as honest Dogberry observes, to babble
and talk is tolerable and not to be endured.' I propose,
therefore, to give a brief summary of the leading occur-
rences in Liverpool during the reign of her present Most
Gracious Majesty, leaving it to some future chronicler to
expand and develope them at greater length when they
have become less familiar to some future generation.
6
The first point which naturally attracts attention is the
progress of population and trade. The increase under
both these heads has been much greater during the pre-
sent reign than within any equal period in the history of
the town.
The population of the parliamentary borough at the
accession of Queen Victoria, in 1837, was, as near as can
be ascertained in the interval between the censuses of
1831 and 1841, 246,000. According to the census of
1871 it amounts to 488,845, within a fraction of double
the former period. This, however, by no means gives
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
563
6
CHAP.
tion.
VI.
the true state of the case. If we limit our view to the
parliamentary borough, we leave out of sight a large
proportion of those who are actively engaged in the 1837-71.
industrial occupations of the port. In 1837 the out- Popula
townships included within the borough were sparsely
inhabited, and the population had very slightly over-
stepped their limits. The intervening thirty-five years
have filled up these open spaces; and the enormously
increased facilities of leaving the town by omnibus, rail,
and steamboat have transferred large numbers to fresh
fields and pastures new' on both sides of the Mersey,
whilst two junior sister boroughs have grown up by our
side. The proportion of the increase presents some
curious features. The original borough, conterminous
with the parish, owing to pulling down houses for public
improvements, for commercial buildings, for railway and
other purposes, has decreased during the last decade by
28,857 inhabitants. Every other portion has increased,
some of them to a very surprising extent. Everton,
which in 1831 returned a population of 4,511, in 1871
contained 90,222; Kirkdale, in 1831 2,562, in 1871
32,549 inhabitants. West Derby has increased from
9,613 in 1831, to 50,681 in 1871. Toxteth Park in
1831 contained 24,067; in 1871 79,980.
To present a true picture of the population we must
enlarge our circle of observation. Those who depend
on the trade of the port for a livelihood, who conduct
their business within its limits, and partake of its benefits,
are to all intents and purposes people of Liverpool, though
their local habitation may be beyond its legal boundaries.
A vast population has grown up on the Cheshire side of the
Mersey, who are as much part and parcel of Liverpool as
Southwark and Lambeth are portions of London. The
borough of Bootle also, which has risen in forty years
from a population of 1,133 to 16,185, is simply a con-
tinuous portion of Liverpool, without any break or
visible boundary. Taking these facts into account, and
002
564
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
CHAP.
VI.
Popula-
tion.
eliminating the aboriginal inhabitants of the outlying
portions, as not dependent on Liverpool, we have-on
1837-71. the Lancashire side, 505,030; on the Cheshire side,
100,681 total, 605,711. But even this by no means.
exhausts the numbers. Thousands every day, after
spending their active hours amidst the busy haunts of
the town, are whirled away by rail and omnibus to
Waterloo, Crosby, Aintree, Huyton, Woolton, Waver-
tree, Aigburth, and even as far as Southport and Chester.
Making a very moderate allowance for these localities,
we have a present total of population connected with and
deriving a subsistence from the trade of the port of at least
650,000 souls. Even leaving out of view the outlying
inhabitants, we have an increase during the reign of
Queen Victoria of 137 per cent., or nearly twice and
two-fifths the numbers at the commencement of her reign.
Commerce.
The rate of increase has varied considerably, as fol-
lows: During the decade from 1831 to 1841 the increase
was 43.47 per cent.; from 1841 to 1851, 37.5 per cent. ;
from 1851 to 1861, 20.77 per cent.; from 1861 to 1871,
21.25 per cent.
Let us now look at the progress of commerce during
the same period of time.
The following table presents the figures at several
successive stages:
Ships.
1837
15,038
Tonnage.
1,958,894
Dock-dues.
£
S. d.
173,853 10 0
1841
16,108
2,425,461
175,506 8 5
1851
21,071
3,737,666
235,527 6 2
1861
21,095
1871. 20,121
4,977,272
444,417 16 2
6,131,745
562,953 9 10
Several very interesting deductions may be drawn from
these figures. It will be seen that the trade of the port
has increased much faster than the population. Whilst
the inhabitants have increased, between 1837 and 1841,
at the rate of 137 per cent., the tonnage of shipping
has increased by 213 per cent., and the dock-dues by
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
565
VI.
223 per cent. Another remarkable fact is the greatly CHAP.
increased size of the ships (both steam and sail) fre-
quenting the port. Whilst the number of ships has only 1837-71.
increased by one-third, the tonnage and dock-dues have
considerably more than trebled their amounts.
and trade.
Another somewhat curious corollary may be drawn. Population
The population and the amount of trade must always
bear a certain relative proportion to each other; but it
is evident that the better appliances there are for trade,
and the more economically it can be carried on, the less
will be the proportion of the population to the commerce
of the port as represented by its tonnage.
In 1821 the proportion was one inhabitant to 6 tons.
1831
1841
1851
1861
1871
دو
وو
""
""
7.6
8
""
وو
9
""
"
""
9.96
""
9.45
وو
وو
The greater economy and facility thus shown is no
doubt principally caused by the gradual substitution of
steam for sailing ships.
To judge by the experience of the last ten years, the
proportion of the population to the trade of the port
seems to have arrived at an equilibrium; so that it may
be taken, in round numbers, that to divide the amount
of tonnage in any given year by ten will ascertain the
number of the population.
Let us now glance at the area and general aspect of Buildings.
the town as modified and extended during the present
reign. The excellent maps of Gage and Bennison, pub-
lished in 1836, present a very clear idea of the extent of
the town and suburbs at that date.
n
At that time the Clarence was the most northerly of
the docks, and an empty space intervened, now occupied
by the Trafalgar and Victoria Docks. At the south end
the Brunswick Dock formed the termination of the system,
*0 0 3
VOL. I.
566.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
Docks.
which then contained 91 acres, 2,337 yards of water-space,
including floating docks and open tidal basins. At the
1837-71. date of 1871 the water area had increased to 255 acres,
2,774 yards; and a new system of docks and floating
harbour has arisen at Birkenhead, containing 185 acres,
3,565 yards, making the whole dock accommodation of
the port 441 acres, 1,499 yards, being four and a half
Buildings. times the quantity in 1837. At that date building ex-
tended pari passu with the docks, terminating north-
ward with the Clarence Dock, and extending eastward
in an irregular line to Scotland Road and the boundary
of Everton. Eastward the town reached a little beyond
Moss Street, with detached portions beyond, in the
direction of Low Hill and Edgehill. Southward, the
portion of Mosslake Fields south of Falkner Street and
east of Grove Street was open land, with incipient
buildings here and there. In Toxteth Park the buildings
had not, except in detached portions, passed Northum-
berland Street southwardly, or of St. James's Place and
Windsor Street eastwardly. Everton still preserved much
of its rurality, and Kirkdale was still an outlying village.
In 1872 the buildings extend in a continuous line from
Rimrose Bridge to Dingle Lane, a distance of 61 miles
from north to south. Bootle has grown up from an
insignificant hamlet into a municipal borough of 16,000
inhabitants. Kirkdale is a busy commercial depôt.
Everton is a densely-peopled town, with a population
of 90,000; and the municipal portions of West Derby
and Toxteth have increased in like manner.
Within this vastly-extended area great changes have
taken place in the last thirty-five years, principally, it
must be admitted, for the better. To say nothing of the
operations of a purely sanitary nature, such as better
sewering, paving, flagging, and more copious supplies of
water, the town has been opened out, breathing-spaces
provided, and fresh air admitted into many of the
densest parts. The leading thoroughfares of Church
NINETEENTH CENTURY
567
CHAP.
Street and Whitechapel have been widened, and an VI.
entire quarter, of the most squalid and crowded dwell-
ings in the town, lying between Dale Street and White- 1837-71.
chapel, has been swept away. A new leading street Buildings,
(Victoria Street) has been opened from Castle Street to
St. John's Lane. The whole of the houses in Shaw's
Brow, on both sides, and in the Old Haymarket, have
been removed, and the site of the street changed. The
line of St. Anne Street has been carried northward over
the site of St. Anne's Church to Scotland Road. At the
south end Grafton Street is being extended to join Park
Lane near the railway station. In the suburban parts
also many similar improvements have been carried out.
West Derby Road, Kirkdale Road, Commercial and
Stanley Roads, with many others, have been constructed
or improved, giving much greater facilities for travelling
in every direction.
Within the reign of Victoria it cannot but be admitted Public
buildings.
that the style of our architecture and the general aspect
of our buildings have kept pace with the progress of the
town. St. George's Hall stands as a design at the head
of our public buildings, and is worthy to take rank with
those of the purest age of Grecian art. The Philhar-
monic Hall, for its peculiar purpose, has no existing rival.
The new Exchange, whatever comparisons may be made
with the predecessor which it has supplanted, is a noble
work, admirably suited for its purpose. The Municipal
Offices, as a suitable habitat for the business of a great
corporation, are not inferior to any of a similar class.
elsewhere.
The railway stations in various parts of the town, all
of which have come into existence within the period
under consideration, have given new features in con-
struction and imparted a novel character to their respec-
tive quarters. The open esplanade round St. George's
Hall, combining the Hall, the Free Library, the Railway
Hotel, the Alexandra Theatre, the Wellington Monument,
568
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
CHAP. and the Royal Statues, with the wide open view over the
town below, displaying the various towers and spires rising
1837-71. above the lower buildings, gives a perspective which any
town might be proud of.
Commer-
ings.
The commercial buildings erected of late years have
cial build- much of a palatial character, and are certainly not below
those of Genoa, Turin, or Venice; and the recent shop
architecture of Lord Street and Church Street is of a
very superior class. To the honour of the town, the vile
compo,' or cement, has been altogether discarded, and
solid stone or ornamental brick is now the vehicle of
architectural design.
Houses.
Parks.
6
The architecture of private houses has also much im-
proved. The villas of Prince's Park, Mosley Hill, Aig-
burth, and West Derby present many specimens of the
English gentleman's house worthy of all commendation.
Two or three recently erected in the neighbourhood of
Allerton, in extent, convenience, design, and taste are
worthy of the modern Tyre, 'the crowning city, whose
merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honour-
able of the earth.'
If we turn to the dwellings of the artisan class we find
the same spirit of improvement. The ancient style of
courts and cellars are no longer erected. Two-storey cot-
tages fronting the street have taken their place, of which
many miles may be seen rising rank above rank on the
steep slopes of Everton.
Whilst such has been the progress within the borough,
provision has not been neglected for the recreation of the
people. Parks and gardens have been provided round
the outskirts at detached distances, where the poorest
may enjoy equally with the wealthy the beauty of grass
and trees and flowers, to roam at will, and commune.
with nature. Prince's Park was the first, constructed
by private benevolence. Since then, at public expense,
there have been formed Stanley Park, with its ninety-five
acres, at the north; Newsham Park, and Sheil Park, with
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
569
their 250 acres, on the north-east; Wavertree Park, and
the Botanic Gardens, containing about thirty-eight acres,
CHAP.
VI.
on the east; and Sefton Park, on the south-east, with its 1837-71.
400 acres.
This series of open spaces, in addition to their primary
object of affording recreation and cultivating the taste,
will offer a barrier against the invasion of bricks and
mortar, to whatever extent the town may ultimately
reach.
Further particulars of these parks will be given in the
chapters on the several localities.
The expenditure on public improvements within the Improve-
town during the present reign up to 1871 amounts, after ments.
giving credit for the sale of public lands, to the sum of
1,137,4117.; and the amount expended on the parks to
515,356l.
6
Let us now look at the political and general history of Politics.
the town during the same period. Very few days after
the announcement of the King's death preparations A.D. 1837.
were rife for the coming election. Party spirit, stimu-
lated to a considerable extent by the clerical agitation,
had begun to prevail with a bitterness foreign to the
general spirit of Liverpool politics as latterly mani-
fested. On June 13 a meeting was held in the Music Public"
Hall, called together by a placard headed Justice for meetings.
Ireland,' and rather ambiguously worded, e.g, 'Is it just
that while England enjoys both civil and religious liberty,
she should be contented to have admitted Ireland to a
share in the former, which is the least important; while
the latter, which is the greatest blessing of the two, and
without which civil liberty can never thrive, is withheld
by an interested priesthood from so large a portion of the
Irish people?' The meeting was really held on behalf of
the Tuam Diocesan Education Society,' and was con-
ducted exclusively by clergymen, the Rev. J. H. Stewart,
incumbent of St. Bride's, in the chair. There was a con-
siderable gathering of Irish Roman Catholics. Two Irish
6
570
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
CHAP. clergymen who took part in the meeting having made
statements which gave offence to this portion of the
audience, a tremendous uproar took place, and the
meeting broke up in confusion.
1837.
Catholic
meeting.
Protestant
On July 3 an indignation meeting was held by the
Catholics, to take into consideration the propriety of
establishing an association to repel the slanders and
caluminies so often cast upon them in this town, both
from the platform and the pulpit.' The meeting was
addressed by Mr. J. G. Vandenhoff (the tragedian), Mr.
John Yates, jun., and others. Referring to the obnoxious
placard, the latter gentleman said, 'that if on any future
occasion their adversaries put forth a placard about
"Justice to Ireland," the association would put forth
another, letting the public know what "Justice to Ire-
land" really was, and also what was injustice to Ireland.'
On July 11 the anniversary meeting of the Church of
meeting. England Schools took place at the Amphitheatre, Rev.
Rector Brooks in the chair, when addresses were deli-
vered by the Revs. Hugh McNeile, R. P. Buddicom, and
others, all bearing on the then present aspect of affairs.
Election.
Nomina-
tion.
Amidst these exciting scenes the note of preparation
was duly sounded for the coming election. The Tories
brought forward, in addition to Lord Sandon, Mr. Cress-
well Cresswell, the leading barrister on the Northern Cir-
cuit. The Reformers put forward Mr. Howard Elphin-
stone, along with Mr. W. Ewart. Energetic efforts were
made by both sides to sway the popular mind by large
gatherings at the Amphitheatre, ward meetings in various
parts of the town, the presence of the candidates on
'Change, and canvassing from house to house.
The nomination took place on Monday, July 24, with
not more interruptions and disorder than usual on such
occasions. On the following day, when the polling took
place, serious rioting occurred, several of the polling-
booths having been attacked by the mob, but unsuccess-
fully. At the north end the Irish Catholics maintained
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
571
CHAP.
VI.
1837.
the ascendancy, while at the south side the ship carpen-
ters and Orangemen took the lead. The election ter-
minated in the utter defeat of the Reformers, the num-
bers standing at the close: Sandon, 4,786; Cresswell, Poll.
4,652; Ewart, 4,381; Elphinstone, 4,206.
It was sufficiently clear that a reaction had taken place,
and that the town had lapsed into its normal condition of
Conservatism.
dinner.
The Tories celebrated their triumph by a public dinner Tory
at the Amphitheatre, Mr. Samuel Holme in the chair;
and the Reformers consoled themselves at a meeting,
without a dinner, at the Music Hall, Mr. (afterwards Sir
Joshua) Walmsley presiding.
Associa-
The agitation and attacks upon the school system Protestant
adopted by the town council were continued with a tion.
vehemence and pertinacity which began to tell with won-
derful effect on the public mind. The annual meeting of
the Liverpool Protestant Association was held in the
Amphitheatre on October 7, Mr. C. S. Parker in the
chair. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. William
Dalton, Rev. R. J. McGhee and others; but the champion
of the day was the Rev. Hugh McNeile, who came out in
full force with all the power of sarcasm, elocution, and
denunciation hurled at the delinquent council.
sociation.
In September, 1837, the British Association for the British As-
Advancement of Science held its meeting in Liverpool for
the first time, under the presidency of the Earl of Bur-
lington. The whole proceedings passed off very satis-
factorily. This meeting is celebrated for the dictum so
positively pronounced by Dr. Dionysius Lardner, in the Dr.
course of a paper on steam navigation, that to talk of Lardner.
steam navigation to America! they might as well talk of
navigation to the moon!' This was very sharply taken
up by many scientific men present, and was signally falsi-
fied by the successful solution of the problem in the
course of a few months afterwards.
6
On March 27, 1838, the steam-ship Sirius' sailed
572
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
6
from Liverpool to New York; and on July 5 the Royal
William' sailed also for New York, being the first Liver-
1838. pool steamer which made the voyage across the Atlantic,
accomplishing the outward passage in 19 days, and the
homeward in 14 days.
Steam to
America.
Corona-
tion.
•
During the same year a large steamer was built for Sir
John Tobin, called the 'Liverpool' (afterwards the 'Great
Liverpool'), 1,150 tons burthen, for the purpose of trading
between Liverpool and New York. She sailed on Octo-
ber 20, but had to put back when about a third of the
passage was completed. She was subsequently employed
as a mail-boat in the Mediterranean, and was ultimately
lost off Cape Finisterre on February 4, 1846.
The coronation of her most gracious Majesty Queen
Victoria was celebrated (June 28) with great splendour.
All political and party spirit was for the time set aside,
and one universal feeling of loyalty and affection for the
lovely and gentle lady, called at so early an age to pre-
side over the destinies of a mighty empire, pervaded the
community. The dawn broke out in a glorious burst of
sunlight, and though the sky was somewhat chequered
during the day, the heavens were propitious to the last.
At six o'clock the proceedings were ushered in by royal
salutes from the guns at the forts, and several extem-
porised batteries, which were repeated at intervals during
the day. A new royal standard floated from the town-
hall, and every street-almost every house-contributed
its quota of bunting waving in the breeze. The ships in
the docks and harbour were of course decked out with
the variegated flags of their different nationalities. The
bells rang merrily, interrupted by the perpetual reports
of pistols, guns, and crackers. A grand procession was
organised, including the municipal authorities, the clergy,
the freemasons, the friendly societies, the various trades,
with their insignia, flags, banners, and bands of music.
The foundation-stone of St. George's Hall was laid by the
mayor (Mr. William Rathbone).
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
573
VI.
1838.
A general illumination was intended, but was pre- CHAP.
vented by the interference of the mayor, who considered
it might lead to invidious feelings against parties who
might not be disposed to comply. There was, however, Illumina-
a considerable extent of illumination displayed, with tion.
devices and transparencies, at some of the public build-
ings and large establishments. The evening was wound
up by displays of fireworks at several places in the out-
skirts. A regatta was attempted during the day, but
proved a failure owing to the crowded state of the river.
On the whole, the celebration of the coronation-day was
a worthy expression of the historical loyalty of the good
old town,' and was conducted in a manner which gave
general satisfaction.
C
Soult.
On July 1 Liverpool was honoured by a visit from the Marshal
veteran Marshal Soult, the great rival of Wellington,
whose guest he had been in the metropolis. He took a
rapid and military survey of the various objects of in-
terest, and departed on the following day.
The winter of 1838-9 proved unusually severe, and Distress.
the poor suffered greatly. Earnest efforts were made for
their relief, about 7,500l. being subscribed for the pur-
pose. On the night of Sunday, January 6, 1839, there
burst on the town the most terrific storm ever experi-
enced in its annals. The wind during the day had blown Hurricane.
strongly from the south-east, and the barometer had
fallen considerably; but many vessels had put out to sea,
the symptoms not appearing particularly threatening.
About midnight the wind chopped suddenly round to the
south-west, and rapidly increased to a perfect hurricane,
continuing with the same violence for many hours.
Chimney stacks were blown down by hundreds; houses
unroofed, and the slates scattered like chaff before the
wind; large trees were torn up by the roots and snapped
in pieces; the best built houses rocked and shook to the
terror of their inmates, who were in momentary alarm of
destruction within, whilst to venture out amidst the
574
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
CHAF. falling and flying débris was almost certain death. In-
quests were held on seven persons killed by the fall of
walls and chimney-stacks.
1839.
A.D. 1840.
Queen's
marriage.
Weddings.
The country round suffered considerably. In the
woods round Hale Hall upwards of three hundred trees
were torn up. Stacks of hay and corn were lifted and
scattered as if by a whirlwind. The salt spray from the
sea was carried inwards more than twelve miles, and
coated the glass of the windows and the thorn hedges
with an incrustation like hoar-frost.
The damage at sea was of course great, but not more
than has frequently occurred from gales of less intensity.
Three large ships, the 'St. Andrew,' the 'Pennsylvania,'
and the Lockwoods,' were wrecked on the Cheshire
shore, with considerable loss of life.
6
The marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,
on February 10, 1840, awakened everywhere amongst
her Majesty's subjects the liveliest feelings of sympathy
and joy. Nowhere was this feeling more warmly brought
out than in Liverpool. There was no gorgeous proces-
sion, as had been the case on the coronation-day, but
there was displayed a general feeling of liberality in con-
tributing to enable the poor to participate in the feasting
and festivity. The inmates of the workhouse and gaol
were regaled, dinners and balls were given on every
hand. The medieval spirit of joviality and good cheer
seemed for a time to have revived.
C
One of the contemporary newspapers records as fol-
lows: Not the least interesting feature of the day was
the avidity with which loving couples, following the
august and honourable example of our youthful Queen
and her royal consort, thronged to the several churches
as simultaneous votaries of Hymen. The general feel-
ing was, in sympathy with royalty, to renounce single
blessedness for connubial felicity. Many a long-married
couple resolved to have a sort of second wedding; and
many a prolonged courtship, that might not otherwise
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
575
VI.
1840.
have terminated for years to come, was brought to an CHAP.
amicable compromise, to the infinite satisfaction and
delight of hundreds of before disconsolate spinsters,
youthful and aged. The doors of the parish churches
were about ten o'clock thronged with spectators to wit-
ness the entrance or exit of the numerous couples who
flocked to the altar in holiday attire.'
The mayor (Mr. Joshua Walmsley) gave a grand ball Ball.
at the town-hall to upwards of 1,000 guests.
A congratulatery address from the council was subse- Address.
quently presented to the Queen and Prince Consort, on
which occasion the mayor received the honour of knight-
hood.
Institu-
After the establishment of the High School at the Collegiate
Liverpool Institute (originally the Mechanics' Institution) tion.
in which secular instruction alone was given, it was con-
sidered desirable that a similar institution should be
formed, which should be conducted on the principles of
the Church of England. Funds were subscribed for the
purpose, and land purchased on the east side of Shaw
Street. I shall describe the building in connection with
the locality. The first stone was laid on October 22,
1840, by the Right Hon. Lord Stanley (fourteenth Earl
of Derby). The proceedings of the day commenced by
a service at St. Peter's Church, where a sermon was
preached by the Bishop of Chester. A procession was
then formed of the Blue Coat School, accompanied by
the mayor, a number of the nobility, clergy, and re-
spectable inhabitants to the intended site.
6
speech.
After laying the stone an address was delivered by Lord
Lord Stanley in the style of fluent eloquence for which Stanley's
he was distinguished. In the course of his observations
he said: What had brought the population of this vast
town swarming into the street, and surrounding the space
on which they were now standing, to witness the cere-
mony in which they were engaged? Was it any of the
¹ Liverpool Standard, February 11, 1840.
576
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1840.
Lord
Stanley's
speech.
ordinary temptations of commercial, of political, or of
social life? Was it any gratification to be derived by
those attending in such multitudes? Was there any poli-
tical struggle any keen contest for any civil privileges
or political distinctions? Thank God, there was nothing
of the kind to mingle with the sentiments which had
brought them there that day. No private, no party, no
personal consideration mingled with the work in which
they were engaged. Their single motive was one of
enlightened benevolence to man, and a humble hope
that they were faithfully discharging a religious duty
towards God. What did they see in this town? Com-
merce thriving, riches increasing, luxury spreading in
every direction, science advancing with steps compared
with which all former steps were only those of a pigmy
compared with a giant. Science had advanced univer-
sally amongst the population; that which not many years
ago was considered a monopoly of the rich, the high, the
learned and the powerful, was now spread in every direc-
tion, in connection with commerce, with wealth, with
honest exertions crowned with deserved success; and
those who had it not, were now convinced that science
was power, influence, weight; that it was an object of
legitimate ambition for its own sake, and for the advan-
tages which it brought along with it. Did they seek to
quench this holy thirst, if so he might almost call it?
No, they sought to encourage, to promote it; they desired
to open the portals wide, and invited all to come in and
share in the universally acknowledged blessing of scien-
tific education. But was this all? If it were, their
object would be one of doubtful utility, and even of pos-
sible danger. They sought to give instruction, to furnish
to the middle, working, and trading population of this
great town instruction in all that might be useful to them
in their future life; but they sought also to teach them
the great moral and religious lesson that human science
was of no avail unless tempered, leavened, and refined
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
577
with an infusion of religious knowledge.'
They CHAP.
VI.
1840.
Stanley's
speecii.
warred in the first instance with ignorance and in-
fidelity; their first field of action was against those, the
most dangerous foes; and perhaps an earlier activity-a Lord
proceeding adopted years ago similar to that now con-
templated, by the spread of education in this great town,
would have mitigated if not done away with that other—
that minor but not unimportant evil which they sought
to meet the prevalence of dissent from the Established
Church. They sought to coerce none, but they sought
to persuade and lead all; they desired that all who pro-
fessed the Christian faith should hold it in the unity of
faith, and in the bond of peace and righteousness of life;
they desired to bring all within the fold and the pale of
the Established Church; and with that desire they would
have neglected their duty if, looking to the nature and
the circumstances of the population of this great town,
they had hesitated to ground their system of education,
not only on the principles of revealed religion, but on the
principles of the Established Church.'
In the evening a public dinner was given to about 700 Dinner.
guests in the Amphitheatre, Lord Francis Egerton (Earl
of Ellesmere) in the chair; when Lord Stanley again
delivered an address of considerable length, in which he
unfolded with more distinctness his views of the relation
of the Government to national education. As these
views so embodied are only to be found by searching the
newspaper files of the day, it may not be without interest
to place on more permanent record the sentiments on this
subject of so eminent a statesman.
He said:
Stanley's
"The opinion has, I think, been hastily taken up, that Lord
it is the duty of the Government to provide for the edu- speech.
cation of all the people. I do not subscribe to that doc-
trine, because I think that a Government provision for
the education of the people involves a Government con-
trol over the education of the people, which is at variance
with that freedom of conscience which, if we claim it for
VOL. I.
P P
578
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
CHAP.
VI.
1840.
Lord
Stanley's
speech.
A.D. 1841.
President
steamer.
ourselves, we freely give and concede to all others. A
Government superintending and conducting the education
of the people must conduct the education of all classes,
and that, in a country where religious differences unhap-
pily prevail, according to one single principle; and so
conducting the education of the whole community, they
deviate from the duty of a Government, and commence a
persecution which would be quite intolerable in a free
country. Various questions may arise-nice and difficult
and complicated questions-which are not to be hastily
decided upon, but upon which much may be said on
both sides as to the degree in which a State is bound to
enforce on a people its own views with regard to educa-
tion; and when I use the word education, I need not tell
you that I comprise and include the diffusion of religious
knowledge also. There may be few and doubtful cir-
cumstances in which it might be-I do not say that there
are any—in which it might be the duty of the State, as a
State, to promote by its assistance even the diffusion of a
religion erroneous, professed by a large portion of the
community. On this subject there must be many opi-
nions, and I hesitate not to state my own opinions frankly
and fairly.'
It must be remembered that Lord Stanley (then Mr.
Stanley) had been the organ of the Ministry in the intro-
duction and carrying through the House of Commons the
Irish National Education Scheme, which professed to
unite in the same school instruction Catholics and Protes-
tants alike.
Very painful feelings were excited in the spring of
1841 by the fate of the President' steamer, which set
sail from New York for Liverpool in February, with 136
persons on board, and was never afterwards heard of.
The deferred hope which maketh the heart sick,' gradu-
ally settling down into despair is, perhaps, of all emotions
the hardest to endure. Cheering paragraphs occasionally
appeared in the newspapers, such as this: There is no
6
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
579
>>
VI.
1841.
fear for the "President; no doubt something as hap- CHAP.
pened to the rudder or engines, but I will stake my repu-
tation on the stability of the ship.' After a while, this
'hoping against hope' finally gave way, and the circum-
stances of the fate of the gallant ship will remain a dread
secret until the sea shall give up her dead.'
6
Napier.
On April 14, 1841, Commodore (afterwards Admiral) Sir Charles
Sir Charles Napier, after his gallant exploits in the East,
arrived in the Mersey by the Oriental' steamer. The
opportunity was embraced of doing honour to so distin-
guished a guest. After remaining in quarantine five
days, he landed on Monday morning, April 19, and was
received with every demonstration of honour. At the
town-hall an address was presented by the mayor (Mr.
Thomas Bolton) and the corporation. In the evening
the Commodore was entertained at a public dinner in the
Amphitheatre, the mayor in the chair. Sir William
Napier, the historian of the Peninsular war; Sir Jamsetjee
Cursetjee, of Bombay, and many other eminent strangers
were present. Sir Charles delivered a very characteristic
speech, frank and sailor-like, and the whole proceedings
passed off with éclat.
agitation.
The Anti-corn-law agitation was now beginning to Anti-corn-
assume very formidable dimensions, and to agitate the law
kingdom from side to side. On May 24, 1841, a crowded
and enthusiastic meeting of the League was held at the
Amphitheatre, Sir Joshua Walmsley in the chair. Mr.
Cobden (at that time Mr. Alderman Cobden of Man-
chester), then rising into the position in which he after-
wards so much distinguished himself as the great apostle
of Free Trade, delivered one of his keen, logical, con-
vincing speeches.
Whigs.
At this period the tide was turning against the Whig Decline of
ministry in Parliament. The Government, duly appre-
ciating the effects of the agitation for Free Trade through-
out the country, on May 7 proposed through Lord John
Russell to the House of Commons a resolution, that it is
P P 2
580
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP
VI.
1841.
Lord J.
Russell.
Lord
Sandon.
Defeat of
ministers.
Election.
practicable to supply the present inadequacy of the
revenue by a judicious alteration of the protective and
differential duties, without any increase of the public bur-
dens, and at the same time to promote the interests of
trade, and afford relief to the industrious classes of the
country; and the House considers such a course as best
calculated for the maintenance of the public faith, and to
support the general welfare of the country.' Under the
sanction of this resolution he stated his intention of pro-
posing to abolish the sliding scale, and to impose a fixed
duty on corn of eight shillings a quarter; to abolish also
the prohibition on the importation of slave-grown sugar,
and to substitute a differential duty.
To these propositions Lord Sandon, M.P. for Liverpool,
proposed an amendment: That, considering the efforts
and sacrifices which Parliament and the country have
made for the abolition of the slave trade and slavery,
with the earnest hope that their exertions and example
might lead to the mitigation and final extinction of those
evils in other countries, this House is not prepared, espe-
cially with the present prospects of the supply of sugar
from British possessions, to adopt the measure proposed
by her Majesty's Government for the reduction of the
duty on foreign sugar.'
After a debate of eight nights, the proposition of Minis-
ters was negatived on May 18 by a majority of 36, in a
House of 598 members. On Thursday, May 27, Sir
Robert Peel brought forward a motion of want of confi-
dence in Ministers, which, after a discussion of five nights,
was carried in a House of 623 by a majority of one!
There was nothing left for the Ministry but either to re-
sign or appeal to the country, and they chose the latter
alternative.
The Liverpool election took place at the end of June,
the 25th being the day of nomination. Not much time.
had been given to either party for preparation. The
Tories brought out the two sitting members. The Whigs
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
581
CHAP.
VI.
1841.
were not in very good heart. Sir Joshua Walmsley,
who had acquired considerable popularity during his
mayoralty the previous year, was ambitious of the honour
of representing his native town, and obtained a nume-
rously-signed requisition. It was determined to unite
with him the name of Lord Palmerston, though it does
not appear that he had given any encouragement to the
nomination. The names were not very attractive. Sir
Joshua was looked upon rather coldly by the aristocratic
Whigs as somewhat of a parvenu both in society and in
politics; and the use of Lord Palmerston's name without
his authority was too suggestive of the phantom can-
didates in 1816 and 1820. The result showed the in-
creasing strength of the Tories in Liverpool. At the
close the numbers stood: Sandon, 5,979; Cresswell, Pol.
5,792; Walmsley, 4,647; Palmerston, 4,431; but the
consummation of the Whig defeat in Liverpool was
reserved for the municipal elections on November 1, Municipal
1841. The clerical agitation respecting the corporation elections.
schools had been conducted for nearly five years with a
bitterness, a resolution, a perseverance and skill, which
now met with their reward. To this had been added
during the latter portion of the time a hostile feeling
amongst the owners and proprietors of warehouse pro-
perty, owing to the determination of a party in the
council and dock committee, headed by Mr. Alderman
Eyre Evans, to erect warehouses round the dock quays.
I shall have occasion to revert to this subject in treating
of the dock estate. From these and probably from other Radical
causes, the reformed council had become very unpopular. council
The Whigs have always been proverbial for building up
walls to run their own heads against, and the present
case was an apt illustration of their capacity in this
respect. They were utterly unable to discern the signs
of the times, and perished with the calm conviction that
they were martyrs in the best of causes.
After an unparalleled majority of fifty-nine out of
dismissed.
582
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
Town
council.
CHAP. sixty-four members at the first election in 1835, every
succeeding year had seen it diminish until the coup de
1841. grâce came in November 1841, when, out of sixteen
wards, thirteen returned Tory candidates. The retire-
ment of eight of the aldermen on November 9, gave the
majority to the Tories, who of course have improved it
on every occasion by electing, with one or two excep-
tions, exclusively Tory aldermen. This condition of
things is not likely to undergo any change for a long time
to come. There is no doubt a slight majority, taking
the town throughout, of Conservative electors; and were
the election of councillors entirely popular, occasionally
a reverse might take place, but with a dead weight of
sixteen aldermen exclusively or nearly so of one party,
nothing but a convulsion in the political atmosphere of
long continuance, such as à religious question alone could
supply, would be available to turn the tables. It may
therefore be taken as an accepted fact that it is a law of
nature in Liverpool that the town council must always
be in the hands of the Tories. It naturally follows that
such honours as the municipality can confer, will, unless
in very exceptional cases, be bestowed on members of the
Tory party. At first sight it seems a very unreasonable
arrangement that national politics should have anything
to do with municipal affairs. Gas, water, paving, and
sewerage are in themselves non-political, and it is equally
the interest of the Whigs and Tories to keep down rates
and administer the affairs of the town economically. It
appears a hard case, no doubt, that whatever talent a
man may devote to the service of his fellow-townsmen,
and however earnestly he may labour in their cause, he
must look for no recognition unless he belongs to the
dominant party.
Constitu-
tion.
All this is no doubt true and deserving of considera-
tion, but it must be a bad cause indeed on behalf of
which there can be no argument pleaded. The great
principle of the British Constitution under which we have
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
583
VI.
1841.
flourished and upon which all our institutions are founded, CHAP.
is that--saving the rights of conscience-the majority
must govern. This being so, it is not easy to assign a
limit to the controlling power of the majority. It has Council.
been sung by the poet—
Who rules o'er freemen must himself be free,
which in the Liverpool version is rendered-
Who rules o'er Tories must a Tory be.
I imagine if the council were to pass a standing order
that no man should be elected mayor who could write
and speak the Queen's English correctly, or that no one
should be eligible for alderman weighing under twenty
stone, there is no law to prevent it. The constituencies
have a right to please themselves as to the representa-
tives they elect. It is probably true that under the
present system, not many wise, not many noble, not
many learned are called,' but in some rough way it
answers its purpose, and the world slides along pretty
smoothly.
6
In January 1842, Mr. Cresswell was raised to the A.D. 1842.
judicial bench as one of the justices of the Common Election.
Pleas, by which his seat was vacated. A successor was
found in Sir Howard Douglas, the defeated candidate in
1832 and 1835, who was now returned without oppo-
sition.
In the summer of 1842, in consequence of the depres- Distress
sion of trade in the manufacturing districts, the people and riots.
were goaded to desperation, and broke out in many towns
into tumult and riot, attacking the mills and destroying
property: 124 persons were taken into custody and
committed for trial. Out of this number it is a notice-
able fact that 113 either could not read or write at all,
or could only do so very imperfetly. The prisoners were
brought to Liverpool for trial in order to be withdrawn
from the disturbed districts, and a special commission,
584
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
CHAP. consisting of Baron Abinger, Baron Alderson, and Justice
Cresswell, was sent down to hold an assize. Various
sentences were inflicted on those convicted, from seven
years' transportation downwards.
1843.
Collegiate
opened.
On January 6, 1843, the Collegiate Institution, the
Institution first stone of which had been laid by Lord Stanley as
above recorded, was opened with great éclat. There
were present the mayor (Mr. Robertson Gladstone), the
Bishop of Chester, the Right Honourable William Ewart
Gladstone, M.P., brother to the mayor, and many other
members of Parliament and eminent persons. The prin-
cipal rôle was enacted by Mr. W. E. Gladstone, who
delivered the speech of the day. It was brilliant and
eloquent, and will well repay perusal as a good specimen
of Mr. Gladstone's oratorical power. I can only here
introduce one or two detached extracts.
Mr Glad-
stone's
speech.
After alluding in complimentary terms to Lord Stanley,
and regretting his absence, he proceeds: I freely ac-
knowledge that there are grounds upon which it may be,
and upon which it must be, a matter of the highest
satisfaction to me to discharge any public duty in con-
nection with the town of Liverpool. I have never
forgotten-I never shall forget that I am a native of
this town, distinguished as is the town by everything
that can ennoble a commercial community-ay, and by
everything that can ennoble a Christian community; and
I do trust that I may be allowed to feel a sentiment,
apart from any feelings of personal vanity-a sentiment
of satisfaction-in reflecting that I have a favourable in-
troduction to your notice in the name of my father.
(Applause.) I feel that in opening an institution intended
mainly for the benefit of the middle classes of society-
I, who am myself sprung from that middle class-I, who
with my family, still claim to belong to that middle class
I feel that we may be expected and presumed to
entertain some sympathy with the principal objects of
this benevolent institution, that we may desire to open
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
585
CHAP.
VI.
1843.
the way and to smooth the way for those who may be
inclined to enter on the path of honourable advance-
ment; and that upon this account, if not upon per-
sonal qualifications, I may with sincerity and earnestness Mr. Glad-
address you on the question which has assembled you speech.
together.'
• What is it that we are now assembled to celebrate?
It is not the beauty of the architecture, to which my
reverend friend has paid a deserved compliment. It is
not even the high authority under which we meet; but
it is the deep conviction in the mind of every one of us
that the existence of this institution is a living and per-
manent testimony to a great indestructible principle-
namely, to the principle that education, if it is to be
valuable, if it is to deserve its name, must be a religious
education, and that in order to deserve the name of a
religious education it must be founded, not upon those
vague generalities which are supposed to be common
to all men, or at least to all men who assume the name
of Christians, but upon the definite revelation which it
has pleased God to give, and by which each man amongst
us must hope to stand or fall.'
After enlarging on the nature and objects of religious
education, he continues:
We believe that if you could erect a system which
should present to mankind all branches of knowledge
save the one that is essential, you would only be building
up a tower of Babel, which when you had completed it,
would be the more signal in its fall, and which would
bury those who had raised it in its ruins. We believe
that if you can take a human being in his youth, and if
you can make him an accomplished man in natural phi-
losophy, in mathematics, or in the knowledge necessary
for the profession of a merchant, a lawyer, or a physician;
that if in any or all of these endowments you could form
his mind-yes, if you could endow him with the science
and power of a Newton, and so send him forth; and if
stone's
586
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1843.
stone's
speech.
66
you had concealed from him, or rather, if you had not
given him a knowledge and love of the Christian faith
-he would go forth into the world, able indeed with.
Mr. Glad- reference to those purposes of science, successful with the
accumulation of wealth for the multiplication of more,
but "
poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked," with
reference to everything that constiutes the true and
sovereign purposes of our existence-nay worse, worse
with respect to that sovereign purpose than if he had still
remained in the ignorance which we all commiserate,
and which it is the object of this Institution to assist in
removing.
Birken-
head
docks.
We trust that many a youthful mind will here be
awakened to the love and pursuit of knowledge. We
trust that here youthful faculties will be invigorated by
healthful and salutary exercise; that they will not be
cramped by being confined simply to those purposes
which have exclusive connection with our material ex-
istence; but that the imagination and taste of men, that
the heart and the affections of men, will here find food in
the knowledge that is to be communicated, and that many
of those who are to be trained within these walls-having
here learned to pursue such knowledge, and having
here learned to taste of its sweetness-will be excited
to honourable exertions-will be moved to become, in
the various branches of British enterprise, benefactors to
their country, and will leave behind them, when called
away, a name that will be honourable among succeeding
generations.'
In November 1843, the first steps were taken towards
the construction of docks at Birkenhead by the purchase
of the land on the margin of Wallasey Pool from the
corporation of Liverpool. This subject will be found
more fully treated of in the chapter on the Liverpool
Dock Estate.
The year 1844 was notable for the number of dis-
tinguished strangers who visited the town.
On April 11,
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
587
VI.
the first stone of the Presbyterian Free Church in Myrtle CHAP.
Street was laid by the Right Honourable Fox Maule
(afterwards Earl of Dalhousie).
1844.
Maule.
On July 14, the King of Saxony visited the town. Fox
The visits of royal personages have been so few and far
between in this remote corner, that they deserve being
recorded. He arrived on Sunday evening, and, after an
inspection of everything interesting in the locality and
neighbourhood, under the auspices of the mayor (Mr.
Thomas Sands), he left on Wednesday en route for Scot-
land.
Sale.
On September 25, the hero of Jellalabad, Sir Robert Sir Robert
Sale, and his lady spent a few days in the town on a
visit to Mr. A. W. Brown of Everton. They were re-
ceived with all due honour by the civic authorities and
by the East India Association, and were entertained at
a banquet in the town-hall by the mayor.
Pottinger.
On December 17, Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B., Sir Henry
on his return from China, was entertained at a public
dinner in the town-hall by the mayor (Mr. James Law-
rence). Lord Stanley (14th Earl of Derby) was present
and delivered an eloquent address. Addresses were pre-
sented to Sir Henry by several of the mercantile asso-
ciations.
On Christmas Day, 1845, a frightful calamity occurred Bursting
by the bursting of a huge iron tank erected by the Liver- of tank.
pool and Harrington Waterworks Company in Sussex
Street, Toxteth Park. The tank was 75 feet long, 35
feet wide, and 19 feet deep, containing 250,000 gallons.
The tank had only been completed a few days and was
in course of being filled; when about two-thirds full it
gave way with a tremendous crash, the waters in their
sudden burst carrying away all the neighbouring build-
ings and rushing like a torrent along the streets. Five
lives were lost and many persons severely injured. After
a rigid investigation at the coroner's inquest, a verdict
was returned by a majority of the jurors, of manslaughter
583
VI.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. against the foreman at the establishment where the tank
was manufactured.
1845.
Irish
famine.
The political atmosphere at this time was charged with
a moral electricity of a portentous character. The
failure of the potato crop in Ireland, and the consequent
famine, appealed to the sympathies of Great Britain, a
call which was promptly answered. It soon became
Anti-Corn evident that under these circumstances the restrictive
Law
League. laws on the importation of food had become untenable,
and that their repeal was a mere question of time. The
Anti-Corn Law League had assumed gigantic dimensions,
and spoke in accents which commanded attention. For
the purpose of a final effort, meetings were held in all
the leading towns, the immediate object of which was to
raise a fund of 100,000l., to carry on the ensuing cam-
paign with a vigour commensurate with the occasion.
In Liverpool an enthusiastic meeting was held at the
Amphitheatre on January 9, 1846, at which the sum of
16,858/. 11s. was subscribed. A few days after this,
an announcement was made in the Times' which fell
like a clap of thunder upon the country-that the
Repeal of Ministry had yielded to pressure from without, and that
Corn Laws. the Corn Laws were to be repealed. This was at first
A.D. 1846.
Meeting.
Ibrahim
Pasha.
6
vehemently contradicted, and denounced as an atrocious.
falsehood; but the speech from the throne in opening
Parliament, on January 22, set the matter at rest by
recommending to the earnest consideration of the House
of Commons the propriety of further reductions and
remissions on the importation of the produce of other
countries.'
6
On June 19, Liverpool received a visit from the Viceroy
of Egypt, Ibrahim Pasha, who had become very popular
in England from his sagacious appreciation of the ad-
vantages of English commerce, even when for a time
engaged in a conflict with this country. He was received.
with all due honour, and under the familiar appellation
of Abraham Parker,' received many a cordial cheer
from the assembled crowds.
6
NINETEENTII CENTURY.
589
СНАР.
VI.
1846.
Albert's
At the end of July, on the occasion of laying the first
stone of the Sailors' Home, and of opening the Albert
Dock, Albert, the Prince Consort, accepted an invitation
to come down to perform the ceremonies. It was felt Prince
as a royal compliment on the part of the Queen, and
the municipality prepared to receive the Prince with all
possible honour. The town was crowded by an influx
of visitors from the country round, and all parties united
in giving the royal visitor a warm and cordial reception.
6
C
On Thursday, July 30, the Prince arrived at the Lime
Street Station, where he was welcomed by the mayor
(Mr. David Hodgson) and others of the municipal autho-
rities. Thence he proceeded to the judges' lodgings in
St. Anne Street, which had been prepared for his recep-
tion, and after a short interval to the town-hall, where an
address was presented by the town council through the
mayor. He then embarked on the river, the two royal
yachts, the Victoria and Albert,' and the
the 'Fairy,'
having been brought round to the Mersey for the pur-
pose; and after a cruise down to the Rock point, again
ascended the estuary, and about half-past two slowly
steamed into the Albert Dock on the quarter-deck of the
Fairy.' The sight here was of a character to be long
remembered. The quays round the dock and the ware-
houses above were lined with people in gay attire, whilst
from every window, roof, and point where they could
be displayed there floated to the wind banners, flags, and
streamers of every colour and device. At three o'clock
the Prince landed and was entertained at a déjeûner laid
out in one of the large rooms of the Albert warehouses
for about 1,000 guests. The Prince was taken in pro-
cession through the principal streets, and returned to his
quarters in St. Anne Street. In the evening a grand
banquet was given by the mayor at the town-hall to the
Prince and a number of distinguished guests. On occa-
sions of this kind it is no doubt difficult so to arrange
the invitations that all parties shall be satisfied and none
visit.
590
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
"
CHAP.
VI.
1846.
Prince
Albert's
visit.
Highway
Board
offended. On this occasion a little contretemps ensued.
A committee was appointed to select the invitees. The
mayor naturally wished to invite several eminent clergy-
men of the Church of England resident in the town, but
when a proposition was made to include the Roman
Catholic bishop he demurred, and declined under any
circumstances to forward the invitation. This difference
resulted in a compromise by which the clerical invita-
tions on both sides were withdrawn, the only clergymen
present being the Dean of Chester and Rector Brooks.
At night a splendid display of fireworks was provided
at public expense at the Zoological Gardens.
The Prince slept at the house in St. Anne Street, and
on the following day laid the foundation-stone of the
Sailors' Home, amidst general rejoicings, after which he
took his departure from Lime Street Station.
C
In December 1846, the Highway Board, commonly
dissolved. called the Watch, Lamps and Scavengers,' which was con-
stituted by the Act 21 Geo. II. c. 24., was merged into
the council, and represented by the Health Committee of
the municipal body. It has sometimes been doubted.
whether the change has been a judicious one; whether a
board elected directly by the ratepayers would not have
been preferable to a mere committee of a body elected
for other purposes, and frequently under auspices having
no reference to the questions therein involved. I will
not presume to decide this difficult point. The death-
rate of Liverpool compared with that of other towns,
certainly does not lead strangers to form a very favour-
able impression of the sanitary affairs of the muni-
cipality.
Death of
Dr
Shepherd.
On July 21, 1847, there departed this life a Liverpool
man of very remarkable character and attainments, the
Rev. William Shepherd, LL.D., of Gateacre, near Liver-
pool. He was born in Liverpool on October 11, 1768,
of humble parentage, his father being a shoemaker, in
Thomas Street, belonging to the Unitarian Chapel in
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
591
CHAP.
VI.
1847.
Benns Garden, of which Dr. Enfield was at that time
the minister. Dr. Enfield afterwards removed to War-
rington, to take charge of the celebrated Warrington
Academy, where, I believe, Dr. Shepherd was educated. Dr.
At the age of twenty-three he was elected, in 1791, Shepherd.
minister of the Old Puritan Chapel, at Gateacre, which
had become Unitarian, and here he officiated for fifty-
six years, during a considerable part of which period he
also kept a school. He was a man of large attainments,
an excellent classical scholar, and possessed of great
natural powers, both as a writer and speaker. Of sar-
casm and repartee combined with genuine wit he was a
perfect master. Being a freeman of Liverpool by birth,
he took a warm interest in all the town's affairs for nearly
sixty years, and was always prominent on the side of the
Whigs in every election and public question. Some of
the smartest and most biting of the election squibs in
1806 and 1812 were from his pen. Although an ardent
politician he was by no means a rancorous or bigoted
one, and on more than one occasion candidly opposed
his own party when he considered them in the wrong.
For many years he lived on terms of familiar friendship
with Roscoe, Currie, Rathbone, and the elder Rushton.
The election of 1812 brought him into contact with Lord
(then Mr.) Brougham, which led to an intimacy ceasing
only with his life. In 1802, encouraged by the success
of his friend Roscoe's Life of Lorenzo de' Medici, he
published the Life of Poggio Bracciolini, a work which
is highly valued, and which has gone through several
editions.
In 1829 he published a volume of poems, from which
I quote the following specimen :
To William Roscoe, Esq.
Friend of my youth! Thou whose approving smile,
Cheer'd me whilst toiling up the steep ascent
Of knowledge-from whose breast I caught the glow
Of mental independence, and whose hand
592
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1847.
Dr.
Shepherd.
Funeral.
Monu-
ment.
Led me through virtue's peaceful path-to thee
I consecrate these tributary lays.
What though thy setting sun, bedimm'd with clouds,
Nears the horizon, and the hour draws on
When it must sink beneath the western wave?
Yet, in high musings, faithful memory dwells.
With transport on the time when erst it shone
In noon-day lustre; and in stedfast faith
In Him who died on Calvary, we await
The advent of that morning, when its beams
Shall be relumed; and, never more obscured,
In ever-growing splendour shall advance,
Nearer and nearer to th' empyreal light,
That blazes, ceaseless, from the throne of God.
He was a companion of rare excellence. After the
Assizes were removed to Liverpool her Majesty's judges
were not unfrequently accustomed to visit the venerable
man at his quiet parsonage at Gateacre, to enjoy an hour
or two of racy conversation.
He was interred, on July 26, 1847, at the chapel at
Gateacre, where a mural tablet is erected to his memory,
bearing the following inscription from the pen of Lord
Brougham:
Sacred to the memory of
WILLIAM SHEPHERD, LL.D.,
For fifty-six years minister of this chapel,
A man of undeviating integrity in all the relations of life,
An accomplished scholar and classical writer,
Conversant with ancient and modern languages,
Well versed in the literature of both.
Eminent for his wit, which was original and racy,
Of remarkable sagacity in judging of men and things,
A staunch supporter of constitutional freedom,
The undaunted enemy of oppression and abuse,
A formidable adversary when his principles were assailed,
A warm and stedfast friend at all times,
Towards deserving objects generous beyond his means,
Devoting his life to the useful and honourable office of teaching,
And the sacred duties of his pastoral calling.
Revered by his flock,
Beloved by his friends,
Respected by all.
Born October 11, 1768. Died July 21, 1847.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
593
CHAP.
VI.
1847.
The Parliament elected in 1841 came to an end by
effluxion of time in 1847. The effect of the free-trade
measures was to give a temporary popularity to the Whig
party in Liverpool, which was further increased by the
injudicious selection of candidates made by the Tories. Election.
The two old members did not again come forward; Lord
Sandon, expecting to be called to the Upper House on the
decease of his father, the Earl of Harrowby; and Sir
Howard Douglas having accepted the office of Chief
Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. One party of the Mack-
Tories brought forward Sir Digby Mackworth, Bart., who worth and
was a zealous exponent of the evangelical Protestant
party. Another portion induced Lord John Manners,
the mouthpiece of the Young England school of politics,
Manners.
to offer himself. The Peelites fixed upon Mr. Edward Cardwell
Cardwell, and the Whigs proper brought forward Sir and Birch.
Thomas Bernard Birch, Bart., the son of Sir Joseph
Birch, who contested the borough in 1802.
The Roman Catholics took strong action, and published
their intention to do their utmost to throw out Sir Digby
by voting for whichever two candidates might be the
highest, excluding him. The Nonconformists were also
divided, one party objecting to Sir Thomas Birch's views
on national education.
tion.
On Wednesday, July 28, the nomination took place, Nomina-
being the first ever conducted in the town without the
accompaniment of processions, bands of music, and party
banners. Sir Thomas Birch was proposed by Mr. William
Earle, seconded by Mr. Hugh Hornby. Mr. T. B. Horsfall
proposed, and Mr. Samuel Holme seconded, Sir Digby
Mackworth. Lord John Manners was proposed by Mr.
Richard Naylor, seconded by Mr. William Potter. Mr.
Cardwell was proposed by Sir Thomas Brancker,
seconded by Mr. John Bramley Moore. The result was poll.
as follows: Cardwell, 5,581; Birch, 4,882; Mackworth,
4,089; Manners, 2,413.
On October 15, 1847, the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel
VOL. I.
૨ ૨
594
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
1847.
Peel.
again paid a visit to Liverpool, as the guest of Mr. Charles
Lawrence, Mosley Hill. He was received with consider-
able éclat; and after inspecting the various improvements
Sir Robert made since his previous visit, he was present at the un-
veiling the bronze statue of Huskisson in front of the
Custom House; Gibson, the artist, being himself in
attendance. In the evening Sir Robert was entertained
at dinner in the Town-hall by the mayor (Mr. G. H.
Lawrence). In his after-dinner address he referred in
feeling terms to his last visit, on the occasion of the
opening of the railway, and paid a graceful tribute to
the memory of Huskisson, and an appropriate compli-
ment to the artist, who was present.
A.D. 1848.
French
J'evolu-
tion.
Precau-
tions
against
iots.
In the spring of 1848 the revolution in France was the
cause of considerable excitement on this side the Channel.
In the metropolis much apprehension was manifested con-
cerning the proceedings of the republican sympathisers
with France. In preparation for the celebrated meeting
on Kennington Common, special constables were sworn in
to keep the peace, in the ranks of which amateur force
some of the most eminent men in the land rushed to
enrol themselves, amongst others the Duke of Norfolk,
Mr. Stanley, M.P. (15th Earl of Derby), the Right Hon.
W. E. Gladstone, and, last but not least, Prince Louis
Napoleon, whose chequered career subsequently landed
him again as ex-Emperor near the scene of his former
exploits.
Liverpool partook of the agitation. The Irish re-
pealers were strong in numbers, and, it was supposed,
well organised. St. Patrick's Day (March 17) was looked
forward to with considerable apprehension. The mayor
(Mr. T. B. Horsfall), in connexion with his brother magis-
trates, made every preparation against a possible breach
of the peace.
A large number of special constables were
sworn in. On the morning of the eventful day the mayor
and magistrates met at seven o'clock in the Sessions House,
where all the specials' had been summoned to attend,
6
.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
595
СНАР.
VI.
and were present in large numbers, filling the two courts,
the grand jury room, the lobbies, and the whole of the
cellars. Each captain marshalled his own troop, and all 1848.
were supplied with truncheons. Mr. Charles Turner, the Special
commander-in-chief, with his lieutenant, Mr. M. J. Whitty, constables.
communicated the instructions of the magistrates. They
were to the effect that all should repair to their respective
homes, and hold themselves in readiness for action when
called on.
The regular police force was also mustered
at the different stations; a troop of the 11th Hussars was
at Lucas's Repository; the 52nd Regiment, sent from
Preston, was stationed at the North Corporation School;
companies of the 60th Rifles were distributed at different
posts in the town and neighbourhood. The County Police
force was mustered at the Old Swan; the out-pensioners
at the Main Bridewell and the Borough Gaol. If any
outbreak took place during the night the alarm was to
be given by ringing the bells of St. Peter's, St. Nicholas's,
and St. Martin-in-the-Fields'.
With such an overwhelming defensive force the rioters, Repeal
if any such existed, would have had but a sorry chance. meetings.
A feeble attempt was made by the Irish Repeal party.
They had advertised a meeting for the 17th, at a room in
Hood Street, which would probably contain about 300
people; but it was prevented being held by magisterial
authority. St. Patrick's Day passed off remarkably quiet.
Most well-disposed persons kept at home, and the town
seemed in a hushed state of apprehension. On the
evening of the 19th the Repealers held a meeting in the
Brunswick Hall, Hunter Street, where they were ad-
dressed by Mr. Doheny, a delegate from the Irish
Confederation.
An address of thanks to the mayor for his earnest Thanks to
efforts in the preservation of order and for the complete- mayor,
ness of his arrangements was very numerously signed,
and was presented on the 22nd by the Rev. Rector
Campbell, as the spokesman of an influential deputation.
Q Q 2
596
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1848.
Loss of
• Ocean
Monarch.'
In July of the same year some fear was entertained
that the associations of the 12th, being the anniversary of
the Battle of the Boyne, might resuscitate party differ-
ences amongst the Irish population, and precautions
were taken accordingly. Happily, however, they proved
unnecessary; nothing occurring to disturb the public
peace.
On August 24, 1848, a melancholy casualty occurred
in the destruction of the 'Ocean Monarch,' a fine Ame-
rican liner of 1,300 tons burden, by fire, on her outward
passage, about five miles to seaward of the Great Ormes-
head. Providentially the accident occurred in the day-
time, and help was at hand. The yacht Queen of the
Ocean,' belonging to Mr. T. Littledale, who was on board,
returning from the Beaumaris Regatta, was the first to
come to the rescue. The scene was a most harrowing
یا
one, the flames bursting out from the centre and stern of
the ship, the passengers, above 300 in number, crowding
the fore part, the women and children rending the air
with their shrieks, many in their terror jumping over-
board. The new Brazilian steam-frigate Affonso, which
was out on a trial trip, next came up, and cast anchor to
windward, as near the burning ship as safety would permit.
А rope was made fast between the vessels, by the aid of
which boats were enabled to pass readily backwards and
forwards, and by this means many were rescued. Some
who had jumped overboard were saved by the fore-
thought of the captain in throwing out everything move-
able, and then jumping himself into the water. Out of
the whole crew and passengers, 360 in number, about
100 were lost. More might have been saved but for the
inhumanity and cowardice of the mate and some of the
crew, who, as soon as the alarm was given, secured the
two ship's boats and made off towards Liverpool, leaving
the rest to their fate.
At the close of the mayoralty of Mr. T. B. Horsfall,
the usual tribute of a silver cradle was presented to his
597
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
VI.
lady, she having given birth to a daughter during her [CHAP.
husband's year of office.
1848.
scheme.
Local politics began at this time to be greatly em-
bittered by the contest respecting the proposed scheme Rivington
for bringing water from Rivington for the supply of the water
town. I have referred to this agitation in the previous
pages of this work and need not further allude to it here.
For a time it had the effect of dissolving party political
alliances and establishing a new platform of union in
municipal affairs; but after the excitement was over,
'natural selection' soon restored order out of chaos;
political attraction was too powerful for any abnormal
influence to overcome. Each party returned to their
allegiance, which has never since been disturbed.
mayor.
Mr. John Bramley Moore was elected mayor in No- Bramley
vember 1848, and during his term of office he did much Moore
to enliven the ordinary routine of municipal hospitality.
On February 6, 1849, he gave a grand soirée in the Town-
hall to 1,400 invited guests. A variety of attractions Soirée.
were provided, but, greatly to the disappointment of the
juvenile portion of the guests, dancing was tabooed though
cards were permitted.
The mayor also originated the idea of a grand fancy Fancy fair.
fair for the benefit of the hospitals in Prince's Park, then
recently completed. This took place on the 8th, 9th, A.D. 1849.
and 10th of August, and was one of the most successful
demonstrations of the kind ever held. Almost every
practicable attraction was provided. Exhibitions of all
kinds, flower shows, sports and games, balloons, concerts
of music, fantoccini, conjuring, miniature yacht races on
the lake, &c. Amongst the objects exhibited was a
silver kettle and stand presented to Jenny Lind, the un- Jenny
rivalled songstress, who had generously given a concert
in the month of January previous, on behalf of the
Southern Hospital, by which a considerable sum had
been realised. The piece of plate bore the following
inscription:
Lind.
598
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1849.
Jenny
Lind.
Fancy fair.
To
MADLLE. JENNY LIND,
In grateful testimony of
The munificent services rendered to the
Southern and Toxteth Hospital
Of Liverpool
By the exercise of her unrivalled powers of song,
Presented by her admiring friends,
And the friends of the Institution,
vi January, MDCCCXLIX.
The following lines, the composition of Mr. J. B. Yates,
were also presented with the kettle:
Amphion's strains the builder's task performed;
Turrets uprose responsive to his lyre;
By Orpheus' dulcet music rocks were warmed,
And crouching tigers quench'd their savage fire.
In the fair Swede the powers of both conjoined,
Build-and to Mercy dedicate-the pile;
Unlock each gushing sympathy of mind,
Smooth each sick bed, each hour of pain beguile.
While heavenward from her lips the strains ascend,
Admiring crowds their worldly cares postpone ;
And from the spheres e'en listening seraphs bend,
To claim a harmony so like their own.
1
There is no enjoyment, however, without its drawback,
no sweet without its bitter. The two first days of the
fair were all that could be desired in point of weather,
bright, calm, and settled. The third day dawned with
equal brilliancy, and the assembled thousands displayed
every variety of bright array in the ladies' costumes and
the various decorations. Towards the close of the after-
noon, a little cloud like a man's hand rose up in the
horizon, very soon the heavens were covered with black-
ness, and on a sudden there fell one of the most terrific
thunderstorms, accompanied with a deluge of rain, which
ever occurred in Liverpool. To disperse was out of the
question. The feeble shelter of the frail tents and booths
was very soon converted into so many shower baths. A
few cabs and omnibuses there might be, but what were
599
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
they among so many? There was nothing for it but
patient quiet endurance under the soaking, or a weary
plodding homewards in a condition not very unlike that
of drowned rats. With this little contretemps, which was
only a subject for after merriment, the fancy fair was a
complete success, giving éclat to the mayoralty of Mr.
Bramley Moore, and realising 9,5937. for the benefit of
the charities, which was divided in equal proportions
between the Infirmary and the Northern and Southern
Hospitals.
CHAP.
VI.
1849.
Cam-
On September 18, 1849, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of
Queen's cousin, paid a visit to Liverpool on a visit to Mr. bridge.
T. B. Horsfall, the ex-mayor, and visited the usual sights.
When on 'Change he was received with great enthusiasm,
and three cheers were given for the Queen and the Royal
Family.
The autumn of this year is memorable for a visitation Cholera.
of the cholera, the last serious attack of the disease which
Liverpool has sustained. A good deal of controversy took
place in the newspapers as to the different modes of
medical treatment. A day of humiliation and prayer
was appointed October 9. The total number of deaths
recorded from the disease in Liverpool was 5,231.
November 15 was held as a day of thanksgiving for the
disappearance of the epidemic.
Visit of
The year 1851 will ever be remembered as a bright A.D. 1851.
era in the annals of the loyal town of Liverpool from the Queen
circumstance of the visit of her most gracious Majesty Victoria.
Queen Victoria with the Prince Consort and their family.
It has not often fallen to the lot of Liverpool to be en-
couraged by the presence of royalty. It is reasonably to
be inferred that King John had seen Liverpool before he
created it a port and borough. William III. is supposed
to have passed through the town on his way to Hoylake
to embark his troops in 1690, but there is no authentic
record of this. Edward II. is the only previous monarch
who can be proved to have set foot in the place. He
600
CHAP.
VI.
1851.
Visit of
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
dates from the Castle of Liverpool some of his letters
patent. Great, then, was the rejoicing when it was
known that Victoria, the Queen of the affection as well as
of the allegiance of her subjects, was about to grace
the Queen. the town by her presence. There was but one feeling
amongst all classes and parties, that of giving her a
hearty welcome. For some days previous to October 9,
the day of her visit, nothing was to be observed but the
note of preparation in constructing scaffolding, stages,
and devices and decorations of all sorts in the line of the
streets through which the cortège was to pass. The
carriage ways were barricaded along the whole length to
prevent pressure. There was no fear of any disturbance
except it might arise from an exuberance of loyalty.
Crowds of people poured in from all the neighbouring
country as far as from distant parts of North Wales and
from the Isle of Man, anxious to see the Duchess of
Lancaster in her own county Palatine.
Arrival.
Progress.
Her Majesty, the Prince, and suite, arrived at the Rain-
hill Station about four on Wednesday, October 9, where
she was received by the Earl of Sefton, the Lord-Lieu-
tenant of the county, and from thence drove to Croxteth
Hall. A small and select party were invited to meet her
at dinner.
The weather now became a subject of anxiety, having
been very unsettled for some days, blowing almost a gale
of wind. Wednesday afternoon turned out fine, and
great expectations were entertained for the morrow, but
here her Majesty's usual good fortune proved a total
failure. Such a day of thorough, drenching, unmitigated
downpour has seldom been witnessed even in the humid
district of South Lancashire. Even to this day, those
who remember it, horrescunt referentes.' Nevertheless,
the loyalty of the good old town rose superior to the
elements, and displayed itself in the most exuberant
form. All along the route from Croxteth Hall, by West
Derby Road, past Newsham House and the then existing
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
601
CHAP
VI.
1851.
Zoological Gardens, and so along the entire route, stands
and platforms were erected, and flags and banners, with
all sorts of devices, struggled to expand their damp folds
to the breeze. The royal route lay down Brunswick Queen's
Road, along Moss Street, Brownlow Street, Mount Plea- progress.
sant, Hope Street, Hardman Street, Leece Street, Bold
Street, Lord Street, Castle Street, Brunswick Street to
the landing stage. Here two addresses were presented
to her Majesty; one from the Dock Board by Messrs. Addresses.
C. Turner and F. Shand, the other from the Chamber of
Commerce, by Messrs. T. B. Horsfall and John Aikin.
The Royal party then embarked on board the 'Fairy'
yacht, and after a cruize up and down the river again
disembarked at the landing stage, and proceeded to the
Town-hall by a rather circuitous route, so as to give to as
large a number as possible a sight of the unusual pre-
sence of royalty. The Town-hall rooms were crowded
principally by ladies who had obtained the privilege of
the entrée.
The council and officials were ranged in order in the Address to
large ball-room, where a temporary throne was erected the Queen.
on a raised daïs under a crimson canopy.
The question had been mooted in the council as to the
appropriate costume in which to receive her Majesty.
Liverpool, unlike most corporate towns, has not for many
generations indulged in the paraphernalia of gowns for
the aldermen and councillors, though references are found
in the old records of the custom once prevailing. The
fashion of the mayor's gown is one something resembling
that of the verger of a parish church. Great was there-
fore the discussion as to what sort of a distinction should
be made between the councillors and the of onλol who
might be permitted to be present. It was ultimately
determined to adopt a badge to be worn upon the left
breast, consisting of a dark-blue ribbon, fringed with
gold, on which the Liverpool Arms were emblazoned in
green, silver and gold tinsel work, with a bullion fringe.
602
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1851.
to the
Queen.
Previous to the announcement of the Queen, the master
of the ceremonies entering the chamber called out,
'Gentlemen, take off your gloves,' much to the astonish-
Addresses ment of many who had invested in the most unexcep-
tionable kids, white or canary colour. Her Majesty
having taken her seat, the Recorder, in full-bottomed wig
and gown, read the loyal and dutiful address, which
was graciously responded to by the Queen in clear and
distinct tones. The mayor, Mr. John Bent, was then
beckoned forward, and knelt on one knee, whilst the
Queen, receiving a sword from an equerry, gave the
accolade, and his worship rose up Sir John Bent, Knight.
The address was enclosed in a cylindrical case of silver
and gold scroll work with enriched ends.
St.
George's
Hall.
Queen's
departure.
Ball.
After this ceremony was over, the Queen and the
Prince Consort stepped out into a balcony overlooking
the Exchange area, which in spite of the pitiless pelting
rain, was crowded with well-dressed spectators anxious
to catch a sight of their monarch. When her Majesty
was seen at full-length on the balcony, the cheering
was of the most hearty, even vociferous description,
at which, evidently well pleased, she bowed her gracious
acknowledgments. After partaking of luncheon, the
Queen and Prince returned to St. George's Hall, the out-
side of which they had already passed, and entered the
interior, at that time in an unfinished state. Temporary
provision was made for the inspection of the various
parts of the building. After this visit, the Royal train
took their departure from the Lime Street Station for Man-
chester, where the next day proved as bright and glorious
as the one in Liverpool had been gloomy and dispiriting,
giving the Mancunians great cause for rejoicing that its
usually murky atmosphere had for once dissolved in
smiles in honour of the Queen.
After the departure of her Majesty, a grand ball was
given in the Town-hall, to which 2,500 tickets were
issued. Thus closed a visit which, in spite of the draw-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
603
backs of the weather, will ever remain a bright spot in
the annals of the town. The attachment of Liverpool to
the House of Hanover has always been ardent and
sincere, and a visit of this kind tends much to keep alive
the flame of loyalty in the breasts of the inhabitants.
CHAP.
VI.
1851.
opened.
On December 8, 1851, the law courts in St. George's Law
Hall were opened for public business at the winter Courts
assizes, by Mr. Baron Parke and Mr. Justice Erle. Con-
siderable ceremony was used on the occasion, all con-
cerned, both on the part of the law authorities and the
council, being in full official costume. The mayor (Mr.
T. Littledale), at the head of the council, received the
judges, who, after the charge to the grand jury had been
delivered, were entertained at a splendid luncheon. The
courts thus inaugurated with so much éclat have proved
a serious failure. They are too small in dimensions, the
acoustics are very defective, and the general arrange-
ments, though repeatedly altered, are still very far from
satisfactory.
In July 1852, a general election took place. Mr. A.D. 1852.
Cardwell, who had excited considerable alarm in the Election.
minds of many who had previously supported him, by his Cardwell.
Free Trade proclivities, and his abandonment of the prin-
ciple of restriction in the navigation laws and differential
duties, was again brought forward by the Liberal party.
Sir Thomas Birch was dropped, and in his place Mr.
Jos. Chris. Ewart, the brother of the former member, Ewart.
was adopted. The Conservatives brought out Mr. Chas.
Turner, a Liverpool merchant, chairman of the Dock Turner.
Board; and Mr. Forbes Mackenzie, whose name is well
known as attached to the Act for restricting Sunday Mackenzie.
trading in Scotland. Previous to the election, the usual
party demonstrations were held, each candidate address-
ing crowded meetings of his partisans. The nomination Nomina-
took place on Tuesday, July 6. Each side accompanied
its candidates to the hustings with a procession com-
prising party flags and colours, and bands of music. Mr.
tion.
604
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
1852.
CHAP. Cardwell was proposed by Mr. G. H. Lawrence, seconded
by Mr. Hugh Hornby; Mr. Hardman Earle proposed,
and Mr. William Rathbone seconded, Mr. J. C. Ewart;
Mr. T. E. Moss proposed, and Mr. F. Shand seconded,
Mr. Forbes Mackenzie; Mr. Turner was proposed by
Mr. Edmund Molyneux, seconded by Mr. J. A. Tobin.
After the nomination, the Free Traders held an open-air
meeting in Clayton Square, where the assembly was
addressed by their candidates. Mr. Turner addressed
his followers from the Adelphi Hotel. Mr. Mackenzie
was not present.
Poll.
Members
unseated.
Election.
At the close of the poll, the numbers stood: Turner,
6,693; Mackenzie, 6,367; Cardwell, 5,247; Ewart,
4,910.
In the ensuing session, a petition against the return of
Messrs. Turner and Mackenzie on the plea of bribery by
their agents was presented, and after parliamentary
inquiry, the election was declared null and void. A new
A.D. 1853. writ was accordingly issued, and the election was held
in July 1853. The Conservatives brought forward
Mr. T. B. Horsfall (mayor in 1847-8) and the Hon. H. T.
Liddell, eldest son of Lord Ravensworth. The Liberals
brought out Sir Erskine Perry, a retired Indian judge,
son of Mr. Perry, the well-remembered proprietor and
editor of the Morning Chronicle.' A fourth candidate
presented himself in the person of Mr. John Bramley
Moore (mayor in 1848-9), who had hitherto been an
active member of the Tory party.
6
The nomination took place on July 7. Mr. T. E. Moss
proposed the Hon. H. T. Liddell, seconded by Mr. F.
Shand. Mr. Horsfall was proposed by Mr. Edmund
Molyneux, seconded by Mr. J. A. Tobin. Sir Erskine
Perry was proposed by Mr. Eyre Evans, seconded by
Mr. George Holt; and Mr. Bramley Moore by Mr. John
Lockett, seconded by Mr. James Logan. Mr. Moore was
received by the Tory party with a storm of disappro-
bation, the epithets of Judas,'traitor,' and similar
complimentary phrases being freely showered upon him.
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY
605
The poll was taken on the following day, and at the
close the numbers were: Horsfall, 6,034; Liddell, 5,543;
Perry, 4,673; Moore, 1,274.
CHAP.
VI.
1853.
A.D. 1854.
closed.
The state of the churchyards and cemeteries in Liver-
pool had for some years attracted public attention from Cemeteries
their crowded and unwholesome condition. Partial
efforts had been made to remedy the evil by the opening
of the Necropolis in 1825, and of St. James's Cemetery
in 1829; but it was evident that a complete remedy
could not be provided as long as the old graveyards
continued open for the reception of remains. On April 1,
1854, an order in council was issued prohibiting any
further interments in the churchyards within the town.
This led to the construction of the Anfield Cemetery at Anfield
Walton, and the Toxteth Park Cemetery in Smithdown cemetery.
Lane, both of which are described elsewhere in the
present work, and have proved of great service to the
community.
abolished.
At the annual vestry held on April 18, 1854, it was Church
determined that the Church Rate which had up to that rate
time been compulsory should in future be collected as a
voluntary rate. A poll was demanded and kept open
for some days, when the compulsory rate was rejected
by a considerable majority, and never again revived.
In June 1854, Liverpool was honoured by a visit King of
from Don Pedro V., the youthful King of Portugal. He Portugal.
arrived on the 28th, travelling in a quiet unostentatious
manner, accompanied by his brother the Duke of Oporto
and a small suite. The royal party inspected the usual
sights of the town and port. The young King, only
seventeen years of age, impressed all who came in contact
with him with the highest opinion of his intelligence
and ability. His knowledge of English literature and
of the various scientific subjects which came under his
notice was extraordinary. Not long after his return to
his own country he was prematurely cut off under cir-
cumstances which led to considerable suspicion of foul
play. His early decease was a great loss to his country.
606
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
St.
CHAP.
VI.
1854.
George's
Hall
opened.
Sir James
Graham.
On Monday, September 18, 1854, St. George's Hall,
the first stone of which had been laid on the Queen's
coronation-day, in 1838, was formally opened. The
ceremony took place, by a curious coincidence, exactly
a century from the opening of the Town-hall. The festi-
vities on that occasion were on no ordinary scale,
displaying the confidence of the inhabitants in the future
prosperity of the town; and now, after the lapse of
another hundred years, a similar festivity was celebrated,
leading thoughtful minds to contemplate the vast series of
events involving the unexampled progress of the nation
during this period, to which the town of Liverpool had
contributed its full proportion.
6
The Hall was formally opened by the mayor (Mr. John
Buck Lloyd), in the presence of the council, the magis-
trates, and an immense array of visitors. The two statues
of Sir Robert Peel and George Stephenson were unveiled
at the same time. The Bishop of Chester offered a prayer,
and afterwards the oratorio of the Messiah' was per-
formed, Dr. Wesley presiding at the organ, Sir Henry R.
Bishop, conductor. In the evening there was a miscel-
laneous concert. On Tuesday Mendelssohn's Elijah,' and
on Wednesday Haydn's Creation' were performed, with
concerts each evening.
6
6
The town presented a gay and animated appearance,
and all the concerts were attended by crowded audiences.
An amusing little incident occurred a day or two before
the opening. Sir James Graham, at that time First Lord
of the Admiralty, happened to be passing through the
town, and went, unaccompanied, to get a sight of St.
George's Hall. The whole precincts were one scene of
bustle in preparation for the opening, and a sturdy old
fellow was placed at the gate, with strict orders to admit.
no one except on business,' instructions which he rigidly
carried out to the letter. On the Right Hon. Baronet
presenting himself, he was interviewed' through the
wicket and curtly told that as he had no business' to
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
607
transact he could not be admitted. I am Sir James.
Graham, the First Lord of the Admiralty,' said the
Baronet. There's many o' that name,' replied the
janitor; but whoever ye be, I can't let ye in again'
my orders.' The discomfited cabinet minister had to
seek admission through another channel; and on passing
the old gatekeeper he good-naturedly patted him on
the back and complimented him on doing his duty so
faithfully.
CHAP.
VI.
1854.
Associa-
Immediately after the inauguration of the Hall the British
meeting of the British Association for the Advancement tion
of Science commenced its sittings there, under the presi- meeting.
dency of the Earl of Harrowby (Lord Sandon), formerly
M.P. for the borough. The inaugural address of the
president was given at the Philharmonic Hall, Hope
Street, and was very highly commended. The Earl of Lord
Derby succeeded, and in the course of a very fluent and Derby's
speech.
eloquent speech he gave utterance to the mot which has
been so often quoted, of having been born in the " pre-
scientific period.' The circumstances were these: Lord
Derby said: Of the merits of my noble friend's address
there are few persons in this room less competent to
judge than I am. I, unfortunately, belong to that earlier
period, in which science was little cultivated as a matter
of education; and in scientific matters I must confess
myself entirely deficient.' The President: Pre-scientific."
(Laughter.) Lord Derby: As my noble friend says, we
must use some learned words. We talk about the pre-
Adamite period, and we also talk about the pre-Raphaelite
style; but I belong to the pre-scientific period of edu-
cation.' (Cheers and laughter.)
C
6
Scoresby,
The meeting on the whole was very successful. The Dr.
Rev. Dr. Scoresby, an old Liverpool sea-captain, read a
very remarkable paper on the loss of the ship 'Tayleure,'
and the changes in the action of the compasses in iron
ships, which led to a general measure being passed for
the proper scientific adjustment of the compasses in iron
vessels.
608
CHAP.
VI.
1854.
Crimean
war.
A.D. 1855.
Earl of
Elgin.
Distress.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
The Crimean war with Russia had now broken out,
and public attention was rivetted on the state of our
army at Balaclava and before Sebastopol. On October
27, 1854, a public meeting (the first ever held in the
building) took place in St. George's Hall, the mayor (Mr.
J. B. Lloyd) in the chair, to raise a fund for the widows
and orphans of soldiers and sailors who fell during the
siege. A subscription was set on foot, and a considerable
sum was raised.
On January 15, 1855, the first instalment of the
wounded soldiers from the seat of war arrived in the
Cunard steamer 'Cambria,' consisting of ten officers and
213 rank and file. Some of the most urgent cases were
taken to the Infirmary, and provision was made in the
wards of the Workhouse for the reception of the re-
mainder, preparatory to their removal to Chatham. The
care and attention bestowed on these poor fellows called
forth the warm thanks both of the military and naval
authorities. Two of the soldiers died in Liverpool from
the effects of their wounds. Their remains were interred
in St. James's Cemetery, with military honours, attended
by an immense gathering of the inhabitants.
6
On January 9, 1855, the Earl of Elgin, who had retired
from the Governor Generalship of Canada, arrived by the
steamer Pacific.' He was received with great enthusiasm
for his services whilst in office, especially in negotiating
the reciprocity treaty between Canada and the United
States. He was presented with addresses from the Ame-
rican and English Chambers of Commerce, to which he
made a suitable and feeling reply.
Circumstances occurred on February 19, in this year,
which demonstrate how easily, even under the best police
regulations, riot and disorder may attain the upper hand.
The winter of 1854-5 was one of hardship for the poor.
Trade was bad and work was scanty, from 15,000 to
20,000 of the labouring classes being out of employ-
ment. Strenuous efforts were made to meet the difficulty
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
609
by private charity, in addition to the public funds.
Meetings were held in the various wards, and consider-
able sums were raised.
CHAP.
VI.
1855.
On Monday, February 19, crowds of persons of the Riots.
lowest class began to assemble in Scotland Road and
Vauxhall Road, between eight and nine o'clock, amongst
whom were mixed up a number of thieves and 'roughs.'
At a preconcerted signal a simultaneous attack was made
upon the bakers' shops in the neighbourhood. Some of
the shops had the windows smashed in and the property
seriously injured. From thence detached parties roved
about the town, plundering where they had the opportu-
nity. As soon as the police authorities received infor-
mation, the force was mustered in strong bodies, and
perambulated the town until order was restored. A
detachment of the Militia then in the town was also
called out.
March 21 was appointed by Royal proclamation as a Fast.
general fast and day of humiliation on account of the
war.
An election was held in March to supply the vacancy Election.
caused by the succession to the peerage of Mr. H. T.
Liddell. The Liberals brought out Mr. Joseph Christo-
pher Ewart, one of the unsuccessful candidates in 1852.
The Conservatives hit upon a most unfortunate candidate
in Sir Samuel George Bonham, who had been Governor
in the Eastern Seas, and was therefore supposed to know
something of commerce. There were the usual meetings
and demonstrations on both sides.
tion.
The nomination took place on March 27. Mr. Thomas Nomina-
Littledale proposed, and Mr. F. Shand seconded, Sir S. G.
Bonham. Mr. George Maxwell proposed Mr. J. C. Ewart,
seconded by Mr. Robertson Gladstone.
The public displays of the Conservative candidate pro- Bonham.
voked such an amount of ridicule, that his supporters fell
off and left the field to his opponent, who was elected by
VOL. I.
R R
610
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL,
CHAP.
VI.
1855.
Duke of
Cam-
bridge.
A.D. 1856.
Meeting
a majority of 1,456, the numbers being: Ewart, 5,718;
Bonham, 4,262.¹
In October 1855 the town received another visit from
the Duke of Cambridge, after his return from the Crimea.
He was the guest of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley. The
inhabitants welcomed him with the greatest enthusiasm.
He was presented with an address by the mayor (Mr. J.
A. Tobin) and corporation, enclosed in a case of ebony
and silver. On Tuesday, October 9, he passed through
the principal streets, which were crowded to excess and
gaily decorated, and visited the various objects of inte-
rest. A large portion of the town and most of the
public buildings were illuminated at night. On Wed-
nesday he embarked on the river, and after a cruise
visited the Birkenhead Docks.
The proceedings terminated by a grand concert at St.
George's Hall on Wednesday evening.
In the Parliamentary session of 1855-6 a bill was
introduced into the House of Commons by Sir Joshua
Walmsley, then member for Leicester, to throw open the
British Museum and other public institutions on Sundays.
This was rejected by 235 votes to 48. Sir John Shelley
subsequently gave notice to introduce a similar bill in the
ensuing session. For the purpose of petitioning against
for Sunday this bill a public meeting was held in St. George's Hall
on January 22, 1856, Mr. T. B. Horsfall, one of the
borough members, in the chair. The large hall was so
crowded in every part, that an additional meeting was
held in the Concert Room, Lord Nelson Street. The
large meeting was addressed by the Rev. Dr. McNeile,
protection.
¹ Sir S. G. Bonham died in 1863, and was interred in Kensal Green
Cemetery, where a handsome monument is erected to his memory, bearing
the following inscription:-
'Sir Samuel George Bonham, K.C.B., Governor of
Penang, Singapore, and Malacca, many years afterwards
of Hong Kong, and H.M. Plenipotentiary in China.
Born September 5, 1803.
Died October 8, 1863.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
611
Mr. John Cropper, and the Revs. A. Knox, F. A. West,
Bardsley, and Verner M. White. Strong resolutions
were passed, and a petition to Parliament against the
proposed measure was agreed to. When the bill came
before the House of Commons it was rejected by a
majority of 376 to 48.
C
CHAP.
VI.
1856.
steamer.
On January 23 the steamship Pacific,' commanded by Pacific
Capt. Eldridge, one of the Collins line between Liverpool
and New York, sailed from the Mersey, and was never
again heard of.
about town
On February 22 a very large and influential meeting Meeting
was held in St. George's Hall, the mayor (Mr. J. Stewart) dues.
in the chair, to protest against the attack on the Liverpool
town dues supported by the Government. I have given
the details of these transactions in the chapter relating to
the Liverpool Docks. Although some injustice might be
committed, all parties could not but rejoice to obtain a
termination of an impost which was a constant source of
irritation and discontent.
Russia.
On April 27, 1856, peace was signed with Russia. Peace with
May 29 was adopted as a day of rejoicing on the
occasion, being the Royal Oak' day, and also the day
appointed for the celebration of her Majesty's birthday.
The weather turned out everything which could have
been desired. There was a magnificent display of
bunting. All the public institutions were thrown open
to the public, and free organ performances were given in
St. George's Hall. The most interesting of all the sights
was the assembly of all the public school children, num-
bering 33,000, in Wavertree Park, after passing through
the principal streets in procession. A dinner was given
by the mayor to the Crimean pensioners.
On November 7, 1856, Lord and Lady Palmerston Lord Pal-
visited the town. They only remained a single day; merston.
but an address was presented by the mayor and council,
and his lordship addressed a considerable assembly in St.
George's Hall.
RR 2
612
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1857.
Election.
Accident.
Free
library and
museum.
Indian
mutiny.
In March 1857 a general election took place. Some
difference of opinion existed amongst the Conservative
party as to the propriety of bringing forward a second
candidate; ultimately it was determined to support Mr.
Charles Turner, in addition to Mr. Horsfall. The
nomination day was March 27.
Whilst the town clerk was reading the writ that por-
tion of the temporary hustings appropriated to the Liberal
party suddenly gave way and came down with a crash.
Happily, beyond a few bruises no one was hurt. After
the confusion was a little allayed the mayor adjourned
the proceedings for two hours, to repair the damage.
On their reassembling Mr. William Potter proposed Mr.
Horsfall, seconded by Mr. J. A. Tobin; Mr. Ewart was
nominated by Mr. John Pemberton Heywood, seconded
by Mr. James Aikin. Mr. James Tyrer nominated Mr.
Turner, seconded by Mr. James Holme.
The result of the poll showed the want of unanimity
amongst the Conservative party. The numbers stood:
Horsfall, 7,566; Ewart, 7,121; Turner, 6,316.
On April 15 the first stone of the new building for the
Free Library and Museum was laid, the particulars of
which are detailed in another part of this work.
6
On June 22, 1857, the steam-ship Niagara' sailed
from Liverpool with one-half of the first Atlantic cable.
On September 1 the Prince's Landing-stage was opened
to the public.
The news of the Indian Mutiny struck upon the public.
ear like a thunderclap in the summer of 1857. The most
intense sympathy was excited, and every post was eagerly
looked for, as bringing tidings of the varying events in
the course of the struggle. In Liverpool a public meeting
was held to give expression to the feeling of sympathy and
to raise a fund for the relief of the sufferers. The mayor
(Mr. F. Shand) occupied the chair. The meeting was ad-
dressed by Mr. William Brown, M.P., Mr. T. M. Mackay,
Rev. Dr. McNeile, Archdeacon Jones, and Mr. J. J. Stitt.
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
613
VI.
Rogers.
At the Autumn Assizes, August 1857, a very painful CHAP.
case was tried of murder on the high seas. Capt.
Henry Rogers, of the Martha and Jane,' was indicted, 1857.
along with his two mates, for the murder of a seaman Trial of
named Andrew Rose under circumstances, as detailed in Captain
the evidence of the crew, of horrible cruelty. The Crown,
as stated by the counsel, had undertaken the prosecution
in order to show that British subjects were never be-
yond the reach of British justice, and that seamen were
to be protected from such cruelties. The prisoners were
found guilty, with a recommendation to mercy from the
jury, on account of previous good character. The
passions of the multitude had been excited by the
revolting disclosures of the crew, and the verdict was
received with vociferous cheering by the throngs which
crowded the avenues to the court. It is stated that the
verdict took all the professional men engaged in the trial
by surprise, and it was supposed that upon the recom-
mendation of the jury the sentence would have been
commuted. This was done in the case of the two mates,
but the captain was left to the extreme sentence of the
law, and was executed at Kirkdale on September 12.
Whilst in custody his manner and conduct were such as
to interest all the gaol officials in his behalf. He per-
sisted to the last in maintaining his innocence, and
wished it to be publicly made known that he did not
consider he had been guilty of a single act which had
caused the death of Rose. The treatment described was
not that which had been received by the deceased. It
was much overdrawn.'
6
When public indignation had time to cool it could not
but be felt that the grounds for conviction were of a very
ambiguous character. The crew had been almost in a
state of mutiny, and bore a violent prejudice against the
captain. The fact of the two mates being indicted along
with the captain deprived him of all means of giving
rebutting evidence. In such a case a conspiracy to
614
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1857.
Trial of
Rogers.
exaggerate if not to falsify evidence was not a difficult
matter. External circumstances had a good deal to do
with the result. There had been a great number of
atrocious acts of cruelty perpetrated at sea, especially on
board American vessels. A remonstrance made by the
English to the American Government on this subject was
met by the curt rejoinder of Mr. Secretary Marcy, 'that
we might look at home.' Our Government then would
have been placed in a most awkward position, if, in the
very first instance in which a capital conviction had been
obtained, the royal prerogative had been exercised to
screen the culprit. There can be little doubt that poor
Rogers was executed to allay the popular thirst for ven-
geance, and to vindicate the consistency of our Govern-
ment. A subscription was set on foot for his widow,
which realised the sum of 6701.
Wednesday, October 27, 1857, was set apart by royal
Fast day. proclamation as a day of fasting and humiliation on
account of the Indian Mutiny. The day was very
solemnly kept, services being held in all the churches
and in many of the Nonconformist chapels, a feeling of
deep sympathy and sorrow pervading the public mind.
Dr. Living-
stone.
College.
On Monday, October 12, Dr. Livingstone, the great
African traveller, arrived in Liverpool, and on the fol-
lowing day he addressed a public meeting at the Cotton
Salesroom, the mayor (Mr. F. Shand) in the chair. A
complimentary resolution of encouragement was carried
with acclamation. On March 10 following Dr. Living-
stone sailed from the Mersey in the Pearl' screw
steamer, accredited as her Majesty's Consul in South-
eastern Africa, to pursue that course of enterprise and
adventure which it is earnestly hoped may prove ulti-
mately successful.
Queen's On November 4, 1857, the opening of the Queen's
College, in the Liverpool Institute, Mount Street, was
inaugurated by Lord Brougham, who occupied the chair
and gave the opening address. It was interesting to
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
615
His
CHAP.
VI.
1857.
listen to the venerable man at the age of eighty, after a
life of stormy political warfare, devoting his remaining
energies to the cause of education and progress.
eloquence had lost much of its torrent-like rush of words Lord
and its cumulative piling up of epithets, but retained Brougham.
much of its clear illustrative power.
ambas-
On December 20, 1857, the Siamese Ambassadors, Siamese
Phya Montri Suriwonse and Chan Mun Sarbedth Bhacty, sadors.
visited the town, and were entertained by the mayor (Mr.
James Holme).
The marriage of the Princess Royal with the Crown
Prince of Prussia took place on January 25, 1858. There A.d. 1858.
was no public demonstration in Liverpool on the occasion,
but a banquet was given by the mayor in the Town-hall
to a large number of invited guests.
cradle.
On February 8 a silver cradle was presented to the Silver
lady of the mayor of the preceding year (Mr. F. Shand),
a daughter having been born during his mayoralty.
6
Brooke.
In September 1858 a visit was paid to Liverpool by Rajah
Sir James Brooke, K.C.B., Rajah of Sarawak. He was
the guest of the Rev. Rector Campbell. On Monday,
September 27, he was entertained at a déjeûner at the
Town hall by the mayor, on which occasion he gave a
most interesting account of his proceedings for fifteen
years in the Eastern Archipelago. He closed his address
with the following affecting, almost mournful words: My
personal interest, if by personal interest be meant the
acquisition of money, is small; if it be understood of
higher and nobler feelings, it is large indeed. To gain
the protection of my native country for Sarawak, to place
her in a state of prosperous security, has been the passion
of my life. A few, a very few months more, will decide
the future of Sarawak, and bind or break the ties which
so long have connected her with this country. This de-
cision will give me joy or sorrow for but a short time.
The pulse of pleasure or the pang of anguish may thrill
or throb for a short time, but duty will then resume its
616
СНАР.
VI.
1858.
Social
Science
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
sway. My years have fallen into the sere and yellow
leaf; I am at peace with all men-forgiving, and, I trust,
forgiven-for any hasty word or deed in the heat of poli-
tical conflict. I crave no honours, I court no distinction;
I would escape from the burden of proud responsibilities,
and the more crushing weight of prolonged suspense; but
whatever the future may bring, my duty must be done:
Sarawak must be placed in security, and then my life's
task will have ended.'
In October 1858 the Social Science Congress was held
Congress. in Liverpool, under the presidency of the Right Hon. Lord
John Russell. Many distinguished persons were present
and took part in the proceedings; amongst others, Lord
Brougham, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Carlisle,
Sir James Stephen, &c.
Lord
Broug-
ham's
address.
The president gave the opening address, at St. George's
Hall, on Monday, October 11, when the large hall was
completely crammed. On Tuesday Lord Brougham gave
an address on the objects of the association, of which he
had been himself the founder and first president. It was
read from a written paper, and was a plain and simple ex-
position of his views on the subject of popular education.
The following passage contains a slight flavour of his old
style: A person gains some information, it may be only
a little. Say the objectors, he is superficial. Would he
be more profound if he knew nothing? The twilight is
unsafe for his steps. Would he be more secure from
slipping in the dark? But he may be self-sufficient, may
think he knows much, and look down upon others as
knowing little. Is this very likely to happen, if the
knowledge he has acquired is within reach of all, and by
the greater number possessed? The distinction is the
ground of the supposed influence upon his demeanour
towards others; when that difference no longer exists
the risk of his manners being spoiled is at an end. The
most trifling instruction which can be given is sure, to
the vast majority of those who receive it, to give the
617
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
lesson of their own deficiency, and to inspire the wish
for further knowledge. But suppose, as must happen in
many cases, that no great progress shall be afterwards
made, at least it is certain that the proportion is most
inconsiderable of those who are not the better for what
they have learned; and of those who are the worse for
existence
it, the number cannot really be said to have any
at all.'
On Friday, the 15th, a grand banquet was held at
St. George's Hall, Lord Brougham in the chair. On
Saturday the proceedings terminated.
CHAP.
VI.
1858.
In April 1859, the Administration of Lord Derby ap- A.D. 1859.
pealed to the country for a new Parliament. Neither Election.
party in Liverpool seemed disposed to try the chances of
a contest; the old members, Messrs. Horsfall and Ewart,
were therefore allowed to walk over the course. An
uncontested general election has not occurred in any
other instance since 1774, when Sir William Meredeth
and Mr. Richard Pennant (afterwards Lord Penrhyn)
were returned.
movement.
Early in 1859 the Volunteer movement began to take Volunteer
hold of the public mind; and Liverpool was not slow to
give in her adhesion. From the earliest period of the
history of the town a military tendency has always
displayed itself amongst the inhabitants.
During the civil war in the seventeenth century and
subsequently at the time of the rebellions in 1715 and
1745, and in the old Volunteer organisations of 1794
and 1804, the people of Liverpool always responded
loyally to the call for military service. On more than
one occasion the town has raised a regiment of regular
troops for foreign service at its own expense.
The modern Volunteer movement may be fairly said
to have originated in Liverpool. In 1853 a number of
young men formed themselves into a club for the pur-
pose of military drill and manual exercise, under the
presidency of Mr. Nathaniel (subsequently Lieutenant-
618
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
CHAP. Colonel) Bousfield. Several attempts were made to
obtain Government sanction to the enrolment of this
1859. force, as the nucleus of a volunteer regiment, but for a
Volunteer long time without success. In 1859 the war between
movement. France and Austria called public attention to the de-
Public
fenceless state of Great Britain in the presence of the
enormous Continental armies, and a simultaneous feeling
was expressed in favour of raising a volunteer force. On
May 20, 1859, a public meeting was held in the Sessions
House, the mayor (Mr. William Preston) in the chair, to
take into consideration a communication from the Govern-
ment relative to the formation of volunteer rifle corps.
and artillery corps and companies in maritime towns in
which there were forts and batteries; and for the pur-
pose of adopting such measures as might be thought
advisable in reference to the formation of volunteer rifle
and artillery corps in this borough.'
6
The meeting was addressed by Mr. William (afterwards
Sir William) Brown, Mr. J. C. Ewart, M.P. for the borough,
Sir Frederick Williams, the hero of Kars, and others. Re-
solutions were passed in favour of establishing the force.
Very soon after, Mr. Bousfield's club was adopted by the
War Office, and organised as the 1st Lancashire Rifle
Corps.
On November 22 the first public demonstration took
meeting place, in St. George's Hall, under the presidency of the
mayor (Mr. T. D. Anderson), when the 1st Corps of
Artillery, under the command of Major James Bourne,
were sworn in. The meeting was popular and enthu-
siastic. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Rector
Campbell, Colonel Smyth, Capt. Mends, R.N., and others.
On Wednesday, October 26, the West coast was visited
by a heavy gale amounting to a hurricane. Public feeling
was greatly excited by the loss of the Royal Charter'
screw steamer, from Melbourne, which went ashore in
Moelfra Bay, Anglesea, about six miles from Beaumaris.
She was a large iron-built ship, belonging to Messrs.
Gale.
6
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
619
CHAP.
VI.
1859.
Gibbs, Bright & Co., of 3,000 tons burden, and had
made a prosperous passage from Melbourne, with 494
souls on board, in fifty-eight days to Queenstown. She
carried a large amount of property, about 300,000l. in Loss of
· Royal
gold, many of the passengers being on their return home charter.
after realising ample means at the diggings.¹
Out of nearly 500 souls only 35 were saved. Many
of the scenes as described by the survivors were most
heartrending, and made a deep and painful impression
on the public mind. One singular coincidence is worthy
of record. A young man named Lewis had emigrated to
Australia from a cottage at Moelfra Bay, not a stone's
throw from the spot where the ship was lost. As it was
open day when the wreck occurred, the young man's
father, amongst others, came down to the beach to render
assistance. The son on the wreck and the father on
shore recognised each other, and hailed one another in
agonising terms; but, alas! no help was possible, and in
sight of his native cottage, after a voyage half round the
globe, the
poor young fellow was whelmed in the seeth-
ing gulf of destruction.
Two of the crew who had distinguished themselves by
efforts in saving several lives, received public recognition.
Joseph Rodgers, seaman, was presented on November 16,
at the Sailors' Home, with a gold medal, and 57. by the
National Life Boat Institution, and with a silver medal
and 107. by the Board of Trade. George Suicar, the
boatswain, was also presented with a silver medal for
similar services.
Lord Derby's appeal to the country proved unsuc- Dinner to
cessful, and his administration had to retire. On October Lord
Derby.
29, 1859, his Lordship was entertained at a grand ban-
quet in the Philharmonic Hall, Mr. F. Shand in the chair.
558 gentlemen sat down to dinner, but the applications.
for tickets were so numerous that many had to be disap-
pointed. Many of the most distinguished of the Con-
A large proportion of this was afterwards recovered from the wreck.
620
VI.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. servative party were present, amongst them Mr. Disraeli,
one of the rare occasions on which he has honoured
1859. Liverpool with his presence.
The meeting was very
enthusiastic. Lord Derby made an oration in his very
best style, and was succeeded by the Earl of Malmsbury,
Lord Chelmsford, the Earl of Eglington, Lord Stanley, Sir
John Pakington, and Mr. Disraeli. Such a galaxy of
Conservative leaders has seldom been gathered together;
certainly never in Liverpool.
A.D. 1860.
On January 27, 1860, the mortal remains of Captain
Death of Harrison, of the 'Great Eastern,' were committed to their
Captain
Harrison. last resting place in St. James's Cemetery, in the presence
of a vast assemblage of sympathising spectators. Captain
Harrison was a man of great ability in his profession, and
had won general approbation by his conduct while in
command of the Leviathan of the seas-the Great
Eastern.' He was cut off in the flower of his age (46) by
the accidental upsetting of a boat in the harbour of
Southampton.
Prince of
Orange.
African
missions.
Free
library
opened.
On February 23, the Prince of Orange, heir apparent
to the crown of Holland, paid a visit to the town; and
on May 5 the Prince de Joinville passed through the
town, and sailed in the Cunard steamer Europa' for
Boston.
6
On May 24 a meeting was held in the Philharmonic
Hall to further the objects of the mission to Africa,
originated by the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge, principally in support of Dr. Livingstone. Lord
Brougham, accompanied by the Bishop of Oxford, took
part in the proceedings.
On September 4, the wealthy Parsee baronet Sir Cur-
setjee Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, of Bombay, passed through
the town attended by a gorgeous suite.
On October 18 the Free Public Library and Museum,
William Brown Street, was formally opened to the public,
in the presence of many distinguished persons, including
Lord Brougham, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, Mr. Wil-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
621
VI.
liam Ewart, M.P., and others. I have elsewhere in this CHAP.
work described the principal features of this festival, to
which I will not here further allude.
1860.
Science
On October 19 the inaugural meeting of the Liverpool Social
Association for the Advancement of Social Science was meeting.
held in the Lecture Hall of the College, Shaw Street,
Lord Brougham in the chair. The Bishop of Chester,
Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Sir John Bowring, and others,
also took part in the proceedings. This was the last visit
paid to Liverpool by the venerable chairman. Since the
election of 1812, Lord Brougham had always manifested
a kindly feeling towards Liverpool, where he had some
intimate and cordially attached friends, and where he
was always ready to lend a helping hand to every object
of an educational or progressive character. His name
will ever be honourably connected with the bistory of
the town and its institutions.
C
Eastern.'
On June 4, 1861, the Great Eastern' paid her first A.D. 1861.
visit to the Mersey. She steamed up the river to her Great
moorings at the Sloyne amidst the admiring gaze of
thousands afloat and ashore. She sailed on the 27th with
troops for Canada, returned in August, and in September
sailed again for New York.
famine.
civil war.
On April 5 a public meeting was held at the Town-hall, Indian
the mayor (Mr. S. R. Graves), in the chair, for the pur-
pose of raising subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers
by the famine then raging in the north-west provinces of
India. A considerable sum was realised for the purpose.
The year 1862 was an eventful one both for the A.D. 1862.
country in general and Liverpool in particular. The American
American civil war, by cutting off the supply of cotton
from the United States, produced an altogether abnormal
state of things in the commercial and manufacturing
world. The restricted supply threw thousands of hands
out of employment in the manufacturing districts, and Distress.
caused great distress, towards remedying which noble
efforts were made in all parts of the country. On August 1
622
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VI.
1862.
CHAP. a public meeting was held in the council chamber to
aid in raising a fund for relief of the distress, the mayor
(Mr. Robert Hutchison) in the chair. 15,6451. was sub-
scribed in the room; and before the subscription had
finally closed there was raised in the town the sum of
96,3127. 10s. 2d.
Commer-
ment.
Another effect of the war was the unnatural stimulus
cial excite- given to speculative trading, especially in cotton. When
prices were raised to nearly treble the normal value of
the article, and the fluctuations from day to day were
sufficient to make the fortune of a lucky speculator by a
single coup, human nature was scarcely strong enough to
resist the temptation. The clerk of yesterday became the
millionaire of to-day. All kinds of property partook of
the factitious value. Land and business premises in the
neighbourhood of the Exchange acquired almost fabulous
prices, and rents went up to nearly any amount which
conscience would permit to be asked. Blockade running
became a favourite species of adventure. Some lucky
hits were made by fast sailing steamers running into
Charleston and bringing out cargoes of cotton, realising
cent. per cent., but on the whole it was a losing trade.
Many of the clippers which escaped capture lay for years
rotting in the Birkenhead float, without any use to which
they could be applied.
'Florida.'
'Alabama.'
The most wholesome and legitimate result of the
American war was the stimulus given to the growth of
cotton in British India, which has acquired an extent
and success surviving the temporary cause; but even this
was disfigured and injured by the same spirit of reckless
speculation.
In April 1862, a gunboat, built on the Mersey, sailed
for a neutral port, and afterwards entered the Confede-
rate service as an armed cruiser under the name of the
'Florida.'
On July 29, the too celebrated Alabama' made her
escape from the Mersey under the title of No. 290.' It
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
623
is not for the writer to assess or distribute the amount of
culpability, but that there was serious neglect, or some-
thing worse, in some quarter is now generally admitted.
On the 28th the town was visited by the Japanese
Ambassadors and their suite. They were entertained by
the mayor, and visited the usual sights. Both the ambas-
sadors and their subordinates appeared very inquisitive
and intelligent. One of them acted as scribe and his-
toriographer; and with dictionary and note-book in hand,
took down copious records of every thing which passed
under review.
CHAP.
VI.
1862.
In July, Mohammed Said, Pasha of Egypt, passed Pasha of
through Liverpool, where he remained three days. He Egypt.
was presented with addresses by the commercial bodies,
and was entertained at a banquet by the mayor.
Marriage
Wales.
Rejoicings,
The marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales on A.D. 1863.
March 10, 1863, was celebrated in Liverpool with all the of the
ardour of its accustomed loyalty. The streets were gaily Prince of
decorated, and the inhabitants turned out with joyful
alacrity to hail what was everywhere looked upon as a
happy omen for the future of the Royal Family and of
the country. The volunteers mustered in great force,
and marched through the principal streets with their
bands of music. The naval reserve also made a demon-
stration. A novel feature of the display was a procession
of omnibuses, seventy-five in number, all bearing flags and
banners, with white favours, and in many instances the
Prince of Wales's feathers decorating the horses' heads.
A regatta was held on the river. H.M.'s ship Majestic,'
Capt. Inglefield, stationed in the port, manned her yards,
displayed all her bunting, and fired a royal salute. The
mayor (Mr. R. C. Gardner) gave a banquet at the Town-
hall, and in the evening he also gave a grand ball to about
2 500 guests. In addition to the accommodation afforded
by the Town-hall a temporary connection was made across
the Exchange area to the Newsroom, which was used as a
supper-room. Most of the public buildings were illumi-
6
624
СНАР.
VI.
1863.
Channel
fleet.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
nated at night, and pyrotechnic displays were provided
in the suburbs north, east, and south. On the whole, it
may be said that no fête in Liverpool was ever enjoyed
more heartily or passed off with more satisfaction to all
concerned.
In September 1863 the port was enlivened by a visit of
the Channel Fleet, under the command of Admiral Dacres.
Great public interest was excited; the fleets visiting the
Mersey being ordinarily of a peaceful character, much
curiosity was manifested to see the magnificent iron-clads
which have superseded the old 'wooden walls.' On Sep-
tember 14 St. Nicholas's churchyard, all the piers, and every
point whence a view could be obtained, including the
tower of the church, the roofs of the Dock sheds and
warehouses, and the yards and rigging of the shipping,
were crowded with spectators. About one o'clock the
flagship Edgar' rounded the Rock Point, saluted by the
North Battery, to which she replied.
6
The fleet came up in two divisions, the first consisting
of the 'Edgar,'' Emerald,' 'Liverpool,' and 'Resistance ;'
the second of the Black Prince,' ' Warrior,' 'Royal Oak,'
and Defence.' The ships keeping about half a mile from
each other, the whole formed a line of about four miles,
and slowly steamed up to their mooring-ground at the
Sloyne.
The few days during which the fleet remained in the
port were a gala time for the town, which was also
crowded with visitors from the country. Dinners, balls,
and parties were the order of the day at the Town-hall,
Wellington Rooms, Philharmonic Hall, and in private
circles. 1,200 of the seamen were entertained at dinner
in St. George's Hall, at the expense of the Royal Mersey
Yacht Club. Upwards of 55,000 persons visited the
fleet by permission during its stay.
On January 15, 1864, a circumstance took place which
shows the vast importance of the caution which has
always been exercised with reference to the storing of
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
625
C
VI.
1864.
of Lotty
gunpowder in the port. A barque called the Lotty CHAP.
Sleigh,' bound for Africa, was anchored in the river in
charge of a pilot preparatory to proceeding on her
voyage. She had on board for trading purposes, 940 Explosion
quarter kegs of gunpowder, weighing about 11 tons. Sleigh.'
Soon after six in the evening, whilst the steward was
filling a lamp with paraffin oil, by some accident it
ignited. The man, in his fright, threw down the can,
when a stream of fire ran along the floor, igniting every-
thing in its course. Attempts were made to get the fire
under, but all in vain. One of the ferry steamers was
hailed and took off the crew. About twenty minutes
past seven, the vessel blew up with an awful report, the
vibratory effects of which were felt for many miles round.
Fragments of the wreck were hurled on shore to a
distance of several miles. The effects on land on both
sides of the river were very noteworthy. Plate-glass
windows were smashed in, gas lamps broken, shutters
blown in and gas blown out, both in Birkenhead and
Liverpool, to a distance of between three and four miles
from the scene of the disaster. A question arose as to
the liability of insurance companies to make good the
damage, which was promptly set at rest by the action of
the Royal Insurance Company, which voluntarily came
forward and adopted the liability to its insurers; the
other companies of course followed the example.
The year 1865 was one to be remembered in the A.D. 1865.
commercial history of Liverpool.
cial
collapse.
The American civil war came to an end by the sur- Commer-
render of the last remains of the Confederate army under
General Johnstone on April 26. With that surrender
also collapsed the factitious inflation of the Liverpool
cotton trade which had imparted such a buoyancy to
transactions on the Liverpool Exchange during the pre-
vious three years. The fall in the prices of cotton within
three months was on the average about a shilling a
pound, amounting in money value, as stated at the time,
VOL. J.
S S
626
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1865.
of banks.
6
to the astounding sum of 12,461,1137. Liverpool of
course did not stand alone. Black Friday in London
will long be remembered, when commercial houses of
high standing, from Overend, Gurney & Co. downwards,
tottered and fell like a house of cards. Liverpool suffered
Stoppage grievously. Two banks, the Royal, and Barned & Co.,
went by the board. Dire was the consternation at the
discoveries which came to light. Men whose reputation
was of the highest class, and who were looked up to as
models of the merchant prince' for courtesy, liberality,
integrity and honour, were found to have been keeping
up a hollow sham, trading on their reputation, and bank-
rupt both in character and circumstances. But apart
from the fictitious, there is a legitimate buoyancy belong-
ing to the trade of Liverpool. A few months elapsed of
gloom and depression; but by degrees everything re-
sumed its wonted aspect, and although fortunes were no
longer made in a day by a single lucky hit, yet the
prodigious impulse given to the export trade by the
cessation of the war, and the almost exclusive ascendency
which British shipping had attained on the ocean, in-
creased enormously the trade of the port. In a single
year, the increase in the tonnage amounted to 868,766
tons, and the dock dues increased by 96,400.
Revival.
Election.
Prince and
Princess
of Wales.
In July 1865, a new Parliament was called, the old
one having expired by effluxion of time. The Conser-
vatives, not satisfied with the division of parties which
had been acquiesced in at the previous election, brought
forward Mr. S. R. Graves (mayor in 1860-1), along
with their former member Mr. T. B. Horsfall. The result
showed that their confidence was well grounded, the
numbers at the close of the poll being: Horsfall, 7,866 ;
Graves, 7,500; Ewart, 7,160.
On August 31, 1865, Liverpool was honoured with a
visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were the
guests of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall. Nothing
was wanting in the reception to manifest to their Royal
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
627
Highnesses the warm loyalty of the people of Liverpool
to the Crown. In reference to the Princess a much
deeper feeling was evident; that of deep affection and
personal regard, which her gentle and gracious manner
towards all who approached tended greatly to intensify.
It is unnecessary to detail the particulars of the progress,
which are much the same in all such cases-decorated
streets-holiday crowds-demonstration of the volunteers
-banquet at the Town-hall-cruise on the river-visit
to St. George's Hall and the few other objects of in-
terest we possess-and return amidst the applause of
assembled thousands. This is the usual programme,
unless varied by the unfortunate state of the weather
or some other untoward circumstance.
CHAP.
VI.
1865.
cradle.
On November 7, one of the presentations which have Silver
become so common of late years of a silver cradle, was
made to the lady of Mr. Edward Lawrence, the mayor
of the year 1864-5, under the usual interesting circum-
stances.
'
Edin-
In June 1866, Liverpool was visited by the Duke of a.d. 1866.
Edinburgh, who came as the guest of Mr. S. R. Graves, Duke of
M.P. at Wavertree. He was presented with an address burgh.
from the Mayor and Corporation at the Town-hall. His
naval experiences led him more especially to the port
and shipping. He went on board the Conway School'
frigate, where he delivered the prizes to the pupils. He
afterwards boarded H.M.S. 'Donegal,' on a visit to Capt.
Paynter, R.N. In the evening he was entertained at
dinner by the mayor (Mr. John Farnworth) at the Town-
hall. The following day he attended the regatta of the
Royal Mersey Yacht Club.
On October 1, 1866, a grand banquet was given by Atlantic
the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to the Layers of telegraph.
the Atlantic Telegraphs. The entertainment took place
at the Law Association Rooms, Cook Street, and was
presided over by the Right Honourable Sir Stafford
Northcote, President of the Board of Trade. Addresses
S $ 2
628
CHAP.
VI.
1866.
A.D. 1867.
Volunteer
review.
A.D. 1868.
Prince
Christian.
Election.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
were delivered by the chairman, by Lord Stanley,
Mr. Graves, M.P., Mr. Horsfall, M.P. and others. During
the banquet, messages were reciprocated between
America and England by means of a telegraphic wire
brought into the room.
In 1867, the schemes were matured for the purchase
and laying out of Sefton Park at the south, and Stanley
Park at the north of the town. As I shall speak more
fully of these in describing the localities, I only need
allude to them here.
On October 5, 1867, a grand review of the local Volun-
teer force, by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, Com-
mander-in-Chief, was held in Sefton Park. The day was
fine, and the spectacle was in many respects all that
could be desired; but owing to some imperfection in
the arrangements for keeping the ground, the mob broke
in, and although there could be no complaint of boisterous
or rude behaviour after the inroad was made, yet the
manœuvres were sadly marred and interfered with by the
pressure and mingling of the crowd. The mimic battle
became a farce when the mob penetrated amongst the
troops to the very muzzles of the guns.
Another visit of the scions of royalty was paid to
Liverpool in January 1868, when Prince Christian and
the Princess Helena, accompanied by Prince Arthur, were
guests at Knowsley. The usual festivities were carried
out on a very extensive scale by the mayor (Mr. Edward
Whitley). The new reading and commercial room of
the New Exchange was utilised and connected with the
Town-hall by an extemporised corridor. The royal
party won golden opinions by their courteous and affable
demeanour.
In November 1868, the first election under Mr. Disraeli's
Household Suffrage Bill took place. The constituency
being so enormous (nearly 40,000 voters on the register),
any accurate calculation before the result was out of the
question. Liverpool having been granted an additional
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
629
VI.
1868.
member, and the voting being restricted by the minority CHAP.
clause, neither party could expect to return more than
two members. The struggle was therefore which should
return the two, the third or minority member being safe. Election.
The nomination on the 17th passed off very quietly.
Mr. T. B. Horsfall having withdrawn from the repre-
sentation, Lord Sandon, son of the Earl of Harrowby,
who himself as Lord Sandon had sat for the borough,
was brought forward by the Conservatives in conjunction
with Mr. Graves. The Liberals nominated Mr. William
Rathbone, and the Right Hon. W. N. Massey, formerly
Finance Minister for India. The real struggle began on
the polling day, the 18th. Both parties felt confident
of success. The household suffrage had enfranchised a
large number of Roman Catholics of the labouring class,
and they were expected to swell the Liberal ranks, whilst
this very fact tended to increase the zealous adherence
of the English artisans to the Conservative or what they
considered the Protestant cause. Which of these in-
terests might be the most powerful it was impossible
beforehand to determine. The Catholics and the Liberal
voters came up early to the poll, and up to the hour of
noon the Liberal candidates preserved a majority of nearly
1,000. After that the tide began to turn, and after a
hard fight the numbers at the close stood: Graves, Poll.
16,766; Sandon, 16,222; Rathbone, 15,337; Massey,
15,017. The three first were therefore returned.
So far as order and peaceable demeanour were con- Household
cerned, the household suffrage vote was a decided suc- suffrage.
cess. There was much less disturbance and disorder
than had usually been the case with the restricted suf-
frage. It is also very remarkable how little the balance
of parties was affected by the enlarged area.
The ma-
jority of the Conservatives in the election of 1865, when
about 15,000 recorded their votes, was 340. In 1868,
when the numbers who voted were about 31,500, the
majority was 885.
630
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VI.
1871.
Hospital
Sunday.
Emperor
of Brazil.
A.D. 1870.
School
board.
In January 1871, a very useful philanthropic arrange-
ment was adopted by united action amongst all the
religious denominations in the town. It was agreed that
on a special Sunday, simultaneous collections should
annually be made in all the churches and chapels in the
town and neighbourhood for the benefit of the hospitals,
the proceeds to be divided amongst the various charities
by a committee appointed for the purpose. The first
experiment on January 8, 1871, realised 4,7407. The
second anniversary in January 1872, produced the sum
of 7,8001.
On July 26, 1871, the town received a visit from the
Emperor and Empress of Brazil, who had visited many
parts of the country and were en route for the meeting
of the British Association at Edinburgh. The high
intelligence and simple frank demeanour of the Emperor
won him great popularity wherever he went. As he
crossed the river on his way from Chester, those who
waited to receive him scarcely recognised imperialism in
the bluff hearty-looking stout gentleman who presented
himself portmanteau in one hand and umbrella in the
other and an upper coat thrown over his arm. After a
rapid reconnoissance of the town and port he took his
departure northward.
The latest phase of political action in Liverpool has been
that connected with the School Board, elected under Mr.
Forster's Act of 1870.
When the precept came down for the election of
fifteen members to form the Liverpool Board, in No-
vember 1870, the idea of a contest was deprecated by
a great number of the friends of education, who were
anxious for the co-operation of all classes and denomi-
nations, if a common platform could be agreed on.
Meetings of the different religious bodies were held, and
many friendly conferences took place, and at length it
was agreed by deputations supposed to represent the
respective bodies that the Board should consist of seven
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
631
VI.
from the Anglican Church, four Roman Catholics, and CHAP.
four Protestant Nonconformists, selected by the different
denominations. Earnest representations were successfully
made to induce the other candidates to withdraw.
1870.
It was soon found that differences of opinion of neces- Dif-
sity sprung up at the Board. The 25th section of the ferences.
Act, empowering the payment of fees in denominational
schools for children whose parents are poor, raised the
first division, which resulted in the adoption of the
clause. Then came the payment for destitute children
in the Catholic and Church of England Industrial Schools,
a charge which had hitherto been defrayed out of the
corporate fund. This was also adopted, after a protest School
by a minority. The next question was the scheme of action.
education to be laid down for the schools to be provided
by the Board: whether they were to be purely secular
or on a basis of unsectarian religious instruction. The
latter course was unanimously adopted, the Authorised
Version of the Scriptures being required to be read.
The Catholics made an effort to introduce the Douai
Version for the use of their own children, but this was
negatived by a large majority.
board
The views of the Board thus enunciated did not give Public
entire satisfaction. Murmurs not loud but deep were opinion.
muttered in many quarters, and it was evident that mis-
chief was brewing. The first expression of public opinion
occurred in the election of municipal councillors in No-
vember 1871. Mr. J. J. Stitt, the retiring member for A.D. 1871.
Exchange Ward-a Nonconformist, and a member of the
School Board-had voted against the payment of fees to
denominational schools, and also against the introduction
of the Douai Bible. This gave umbrage to the Roman
Catholics, who happened to be strong in the ward repre-
sented by Mr. Stitt, and by a junction of their forces with
the Conservatives Mr. Stitt was rejected, and a Churchman
and Tory elected in his place.
The circumstance of the Catholic clergy canvassing for
632
CHAP.
VI.
1871.
Dissen-
sions.
School
board
election.
A.D. 1872.
Poll.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
a Tory and Churchman excited grave suspicions in the
minds of the Conservative democracy of the town, who,
in the extreme north and south, were very numerous,
and their opportunity was not long in arriving. By the
decease of a member of the School Board a vacancy
occurred, and two candidates were put forward repre-
senting the respective views. The Rev. Dr. Verner
White, a Presbyterian minister, was vehemently opposed
to the payment of the denominational fees, and to the
grants to the Industrial Schools, but strongly supported
Protestant religious education based on the Bible in the
Board schools. The other candidate, Mr. Lawrence Baily,
was a Churchman, proposed by the leading Conservatives,
who agreed with the action already adopted by the Board.
A third candidate was nominated, who advocated as a tem-
porary measure the payment of the denominational fees,
with secular instruction in the Board schools; but seeing
small prospect of success, he withdrew from the contest.
All the excitement and paraphernalia of a contested
election now were set on foot. Committees were set to
work and public meetings night after night addressed by
the candidates. Some of them were of a very exciting
and disorderly character. At a meeting of Mr. Baily's
friends in Sefton Hall, Toxteth Park, the parties very
nearly came to blows. The quondam leaders of the
Conservative democracy were saluted with groans, and
epithets such as 'Judas,' Traitor,' were freely lavished
upon them, and the candidate and his immediate sup-
porters barely escaped personal violence. The Roman
Catholics supported Mr. Baily, who was recommended by
the Bishop and his clergy.
r
The polling came off on January 31, when Dr. White
was returned by 10,499 votes to Mr. Baily 9,410. It
may be mentioned as a curious fact, showing the ten-
dency of nationalities and denominations to cluster in
localities, that in Everton Ward, inhabited to a great
extent by Welsh Nonconformists, Dr. White had a ma-
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
633
VI.
1872.
jority of 1,078. In the two Toxteth Wards, the strong- CHAP.
holds of the English and Irish Orangemen, his majority
was 1,393; whilst in Scotland and Vauxhall Wards, the
inhabitants of which are to a great extent Irish Catholics,
Mr. Baily had a majority of 1,955.
sion.
I will close these historical notices with some reference Conclu-
to a public demonstration which has probably been on
the whole one of the most gratifying ever recorded in
the annals of a town proverbial for its loyalty to the
House of Hanover.
The visit of the Queen and Prince Consort in 1851,
notwithstanding the unpropitious weather, had left a
deep impression on the minds of the people as an event
to be proud of; and subsequent visits paid by different
members of the royal family had contributed to strengthen
these feelings of attachment and loyalty. The serious
illness of the Prince of Wales in the early part of 1872
had deeply touched the heart of the nation, which burst
forth with one universal cheer of sympathy on the Thanks-
giving Day of February 27.
The opening of Sefton Park and the dedication of the
new Southern Hospital gave an opportunity to the in-
habitants of expressing their loyal sentiments at this
particular juncture. His Royal Highness Prince Arthur
accepted an invitation to do the honours, and
pre-
parations were made on the grandest scale for his due
reception. Circumstances were very favourable to this.
Trade was good and employment plentiful. The town
had made great advances during the twenty years since
her Majesty's visit both in population and in appearance,
and was determined to do its best to maintain its repu-
tation.
On Saturday, May 18, the Prince arrived at the Broad
Green Railway Station, as the guest of Mr. S. R. Graves,
M.P., at the Grange, Wavertree. He was escorted in
an open carriage by a detachment of the Dragoon Guards.
At the entrance of the village of Wavertree, under a
634
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. triumphal arch, he was presented with an address on the
part of the inhabitants.
VI.
1831, 2
Conclu-
sion.
Monday, May 20, dawned bright and fair, when such a
demonstration took place as had never been witnessed in
the town before. The Prince was received at the Town-
hall by the mayor (Mr. John Pearson), and the council,
when an address was presented, and a procession then
accompanied his Royal Highness to Sefton Park. Along
the six miles of the route into and out of the town, dense
masses of people lined the streets, all bent on giving the
prince the most enthusiastic welcome. A fancy fair had
been organised at the park in aid of the fund for build-
ing the Southern Hospital. The arrangements for this
were on the most extensive scale, and the undertaking
proved a complete success. 13,0007. had been the
amount required, which seemed an enormous sum to
realise, but the result far surpassed the most sanguine
expectations, the nett sum remaining for the purposes of
the charity being 20,0517.
It may not be out of place to put on record a few of
the particulars. The total amount received was 25,0351.
The expenses were 4,984l., nett 20,0517.
The receipts comprised the following besides other
minor items: Admissions, 5,9671.; the Bazaar, 12,1347.;
Flower show, 1,0837.; Sports and pastimes, 1,321. The
refreshments, the whole of which were contributed gra-
tuitously, realised 3,2431., and were on such a liberal
scale, that a large portion had to be sold by auction
subsequently.
On Monday evening a grand banquet was given by the
Mayor in the Town-hall to about 300 guests. Amongst
the after-dinner speakers were the High Sheriff, the Earl
of Sefton and others, but it was acknowledged on all
hands that the Prince spoke with an ease and
ease and grace
which surpassed them all.
On Tuesday, May 21, the new Hospital was opened
by the Prince, and in the evening a fancy ball on a large
NINETEENTH CENTURY.
635
VI.
1852
scale was held in St. George's Hall. On Wednesday CHAP.
morning his Royal Highness took his departure, after a
visit which was mutually gratifying both to the recipient
and the inhabitants. The Queen subsequently, in Conclu-
gracious communication to the Mayor through Lord
Ripon, expressed her satisfaction and pleasure at the
enthusiastic reception of the Prince.
a
Thus come to a close the historical notices of the
ancient and loyal borough of Liverpool, which could not
more appropriately terminate than by the record of an
expression of mutual attachment between the Crown and
the people. The future looms before us, vague, mys-
terious, and shadowy, but bright with the promise of
success and progress. Let us entertain the hope that this
progress will not be limited to material prosperity, but
that in art and science, religion and morality, refinement
and taste, Liverpool may hold her own, and present to
the world a testimony that the diligent pursuit of com-
merce is not incompatible with all the pursuits which
dignify and adorn humanity.
sion.

хохоосо
636
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAPTER VII.
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
CHAP.
VII.
the docks.
ANY memorial of Liverpool without reference to the
Docks would be like the plot of a drama omitting the
Origin of principal character. The docks are both the cause and
the
consequence of the prodigious expansion of com-
merce on the banks of the Mersey, their progress and
that of the town being indissolubly connected together.
Present
condition.
History.
The system of floating docks, in which the water is
impounded during the reflux of the tide, enabling the
largest ships to lie in safety and shelter undisturbed by
the rise and fall of the water, originated in this port,
whence it has extended, with few exceptions, to every
great harbour in the world.
The docks of Liverpool at the present time (1872)
present a continuous line of sea-wall of more than six
miles. On the Liverpool side they contain a water area
of 255 acres, with quay margin 184 miles in length.
On the Birkenhead side the water area (including the
Great Float) is 165 acres, the quay margin upwards of-
nine miles in length, making in the whole 421 acres of
water area, and twenty-eight miles of quay space.
I propose in the present chapter briefly to trace down
from the first small and tentative experiments the growth
of these commercial reservoirs, which decade after decade
have extended their ramifications until they have expanded
into a gigantic network of water space, which leaves the

RSCORES DENIESZKO HOLL & GENTIENS NETW
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
637
boasted canals of Venice far behind, and which in struc-
ture, capacity, and convenience exceeds any others in
existence.
CHAP.
site.
VII.
The origin of the docks is due to the peculiar nature Nature of·
of the site on which Liverpool was founded. The other
great ports of the kingdom are either situated on navi-
gable rivers, at a considerable distance from their mouth,
like London, Glasgow, and Newcastle, or on small streams
debouching into a large estuary, like Hull and Bristol.
The original harbour of Liverpool was a small creek or Original
sea lake, fed by a feeble stream, and exposed to the
winds and currents of a stormy estuary, in which the
tides at the full and change rise upwards of thirty feet.
year
harbour.
There can be no doubt that at an early period some
artificial means of shelter were provided for the protec-
tion of the small craft which then frequented the port,
but our sources of information on the subject are very
scanty. From the town's records we learn that in the
1551 a water bailiff was appointed to prevent encroach- A.D. 1551.
ments and obstructions in the port. I have recorded
above that in 1561 the old haven was destroyed by a A.D. 1561.
hurricane, and that the foundations of a new harbour Old and
were laid by Robert Corbett, mayor. This work was
performed at the expense of the inhabitants, every house
sending a labourer gratis. It could not, therefore, have
been a very elaborate structure, and was probably nothing
more than a breakwater thrown out to restrain the vio-
lence of the waves. Of its situation we know absolutely
nothing, no maps or charts of the time having come down
to us.
new haven.
In 1565 Liverpool is stated to have ever hereto A.D. 1565.
fore been reputed and taken for the best harbour and
port from Mylforthe to Scotland, and so hath always
been proved with all manner of ships, barks, owners,
masters, and mariners.'
"
In 1635 it was ordered that a bridge, where the A.D. 1635.
sluices are, shall be made at the Pool, at the south side
638
CHAP.
VII.
A.D. 1611.
Ships.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
of the town, in some convenient place, and that a key
and harbour be made there for the succour of shipping
within the town.'
<
In 1611 the key' was improved. The depth of water
required at this early period was very shallow, the vessels
employed-principally in trading with Ireland-being of
small tonnage. From a return made to a requisition from
A.D. 1565. the Crown by John Crosse, mayor, in 1565, it appears
that the number of ships belonging to the port at that
date was fifteen, of the aggregate burden of 268 tons, or
an average of eighteen tons each, manned by eighty sea-
men. The largest vessel was forty tons burden, and
carried twelve men and a boy. The number of seamen
appears rather out of proportion to the tonnage.
A.D. 1660.
After the Restoration the importance of Liverpool as a
port began to manifest itself more clearly. The rise of
the manufactures of Lancashire and West Yorkshire re-
quired export accommodation, and towards the end of
the seventeenth century a race of enterprising merchants
sprang into existence-the Johnsons, Norrisses, Clevelands,
Claytons, and others who laid the foundations of the
town's prosperity broad and deep. During the last
quarter of the seventeenth century every effort was
made to deepen the water in the Pool, and to remove
all obstructions. The only idea of extension which up
to this time had presented itself was that of enlarging
the Pool inwards, by an artificial cut along the line of
A.D. 1667. Paradise Street. Edward Moore, in his 'Rental' (1667),
makes frequent allusion to this scheme. Speaking of
lands eastward of Pool Lane, he says: If ever the Pool
be made navigable, the shipping will lie two parts round
them. If possible, fail not to buy this close.' The cor-
poration deliberated long and anxiously as to the best
mode of accomplishing their object. The lands on the
margin of the tidal stream, then called 'Common Shore,'
were laid out for building, with a view to this special pur-
pose. In 1701 a lease was granted to Mr. Peter Atherton
Edward
Moore.

THE BLACK BOC S
FORT & LOT MOUSE,
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
639
6
VII.
1701.
of lands now forming the lower part of Atherton Street, CHAP.
with a stipulation that a bridge should be built over the
intended canal at the expense of the town. A similar
lease to Mr. Edward Ackers of lands at the bottom of Canal.
Cable Street describes it as lying all along the intended
canal.' The increasing commerce of Liverpool suffered
much inconvenience from the exposed nature of the
roadstead. Capt. Granville Collins, who drew up his
'Coasting Pilot of Great Britain' about 1699, thus speaks A.D. 1699.
in his report on Liverpool: The ships lie aground be- Roadstead.
fore the town of Liverpool. It is bad riding afloat
before the town, by reason of the strong tides that run
here; therefore ships that ride afloat ride up at the
Sloyne' (on the Cheshire side), where is less tide.'
6
6
scheme.
At length in the year 1708 a decisive move was made. A.D. 1708.
On November 3 in that year the following resolution was
passed by the council: Ordered, that Sir Thomas John- Dock
son and Richard Norris, Esq., the representatives in Par-
liament of the corporation, be desired and empowered
to treat with and agree for a person to come to the town
and view the ground and plan of the intended dock.'
report.
The members made a fortunate selection in Mr. Thomas
Steers, who came down and ultimately settled in Liver- Steers.
pool, where his descendants remain to the present day.
His report recommended the abandonment of the canal A.D. 1708.
scheme, and the conversion of the Pool into a wet dock, Steers's
by impounding the water with floodgates, so as to keep
the vessels floating during the recess of the tide. The
idea, like that of George Stephenson's adaptation of the
tramway, was not new in principle, but bold and original
in its application. The floodgate is an invention of high
antiquity, having, it is probable, been employed by the
Assyrians and Egyptians of old time, and by the Dutch
and Italians at a more modern period. Their application
of the principle was in connexion with inland navigation
and canals for irrigation. The idea of dealing with a
tidal estuary so as to neutralise its ebbs and flows, and to
640
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
1708.
CHAP. afford a placid and sheltered haven at a uniform floating
level, was altogether new. The memory of the inventor
deserves more honour than it has hitherto obtained.
The invention, or rather adaptation of the railway has
deservedly handed down the name of Stephenson on the
roll of fame to all future generations, but the name of the
man who contrived the first floating dock, and established
a principle without which the commercial marine of Eng-
land could hardly have existed, is left in obscurity and
almost entirely unknown.
A.D. 1709.
In 1709, application was made to Parliament for
Dock Act. authority to construct the necessary works. This did
not escape opposition. The cheesemongers of London.
who maintained a line of vessels which took in their
cargo at the Sloyne, vigorously contended against being
made to pay dock dues for accommodation which they
did not require. The opposition, however, was un-
availing, and the Act 8 Anne, c. 12, was passed, giving
the necessary powers, and constituting the mayor, bailiffs,
and common council, the trustees. The site of the dock
which belonged to the corporation, was merged in the
trust, and 500l. was contributed by the town towards the
cost of the works. Power was given to borrow the sum
of 6,000l. which it was expected would complete the
undertaking.
Old dock.
Area.
The old dock, though a very humble affair compared
with the gigantic works of recent times, was for the period
a most useful and meritorious work. The retaining walls
were principally of brick, with stone copings. The water
area of the floating dock contained 3 acres 1,890 square
yards. The entrance cut and the octagonal basin into which
it opened, contained 1 acre 2,897 square yards. On the
north side of the octagon basin, a small graving dock was
formed. Considerable difficulties presented themselves in
carrying out the works. The site was soft mud, through
which the walls had to be carried down a considerable
depth to reach the rock. After six years' labour and the
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
641
VII.
expenditure of 11,000l. instead of the original estimate CHAP.
of 6,000l., the trustees were compelled to apply to Parlia-
ment for additional powers.
This resulted in the passing 1716.
of the Act 3 Geo. I. c. 1, by which they were autho- Second act.
rised to borrow an additional sum of 4,000l., but as this
was not sufficient to complete the works, the land round
the dock was to be leased for building and the proceeds
applied to the fund. Most of the buildings so erected
have been long since removed, but one or two old ware-
houses still remain on the west side with their quaint
curved gables and large projecting pent-houses, remind-
ing one of the quays of Amsterdam. The exact time
of opening the dock is not on record. The date of 1715,
given by Mr. T. Baines,¹ is evidently an error, as two
years afterwards, the works are described in the preamble
of the second Act as 'remaining undone and unfinished.'
However, it was opened before 1721, for in that year, a A.D. 1721.
vessel the Tabitha Priscilla' by name, during a very Dock
high tide was carried over the pier from the river into
the dock.
6
opened.
A.D. 1725.
In Chadwick's Map of 1725, a timber pier or landing
stage on piles is shown projecting into the river on the
south side of the entrance to the dock. This is also
shown in an excellent engraved view of Liverpool from
the river in 1728, but of much greater length. We have A.D. 1728.
no record or history of this construction, why it was
erected or when it was removed; but from the subse-
quent alterations in the locality it could not have been of
long duration.
The construction of the old dock gave a great impetus
to the commerce of the port, but a few years' experience
discovered some defects. The entrance was so narrow
and the outer basin so small, that vessels could not run
in for shelter. A resolution of the council of January 11,
1737, states that there is an absolute necessity for an A.d. 1737.
addition to be made to the present dock or basin .
VOL. I.
(
C
1 History of Liverpool,' Appen. 4.
TT
Additions.
642
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1737.
and also for a convenient pier to be erected in the open
harbour on the north side of the entrance into the pre-
sent dock, towards Redcross Street, for the safety of all
ships when ready to sail from the port to lie till a fair
wind happens, which very often are prevented when in
the wet dock by other ships lying before at the en-
trance,' &c. The services of Mr. Thomas Steers were
again put into requisition to prepare plans for the new
Third act. works, and an Act of Parliament was obtained (11 Geo. II.
c. 32, 1737), which authorised the construction of the
dock and basin, and gave power to borrow 14,000l.
including a debt already existing of 4,830l. The cor-
poration contributed 1,000l. in money besides the land
or foreshore for the site. This is stated in the Act as
7 acres, but the land actually appropriated was 18 acres,
2,837 yards.
Dry dock.
Salthouse
dock.
Under this Act a dry or tidal basin was built, contain-
ing a water space of 4 acres 376 yards, forming a com-
modious outer harbour to the old dock, with three
graving docks opening on the west side. This basin
with its appurtenances was reconstructed in 1813 and
formed into a floating dock, to which the name of the
Right Hon. George Canning, at that time one of the
members for the borough, was attached.
The wet dock, authorised by the Act of 1737, was
constructed to the south of the old dock, and contained
4 acres 3,665 yards of water space. It was opened in
1753, and reconstructed in 1845. It was for many
years called the South Dock, but about 1784, it took the
popular name of the Salthouse Dock from the salt-works
immediately adjoining, which had been established by
the Blackburnes of Hale, about the beginning of the
century. The land formed out of the foreshore on the
west side of the dock was laid out as ship-building yards,
and so continued until the construction of the Albert
Dock in 1840–5.
Before proceeding to the next stage in the history of
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
643
6
CHAP.
VII.
1737.
Trade.
act.
the docks, let us glance at the extent and progress of the
trade of the port. At the time of the construction of the
old dock, say from 1709 to 1716, the aggregate tonnage
of vessels entering and clearing the port was 18,371 tons
per annum. The construction of the dock did not im-
mediately lead to a very rapid increase, for at the period
of the third dock Act of 1737, the tonnage had only risen
to 19,921 tons on an average of seven years. A rapid
increase, however, now set in; for in 1765 we find the
septennial average had risen to 62,390 tons per annum.
In 1762, the corporation again applied to Parliament A.D. 1762.
for additional constructive powers. The preamble of the Fourth
Act 2 Geo. III. c. 86, recites that the trade and ship-
ping of the town and port of late years is greatly in-
creased, and the ships and vessels are more numerous and
of larger dimensions, and require a greater draught of
water than heretofore. That the two wet docks and dry
pier already constructed are not sufficient for the recep-
tion of the ships resorting thereto; that vessels, especially
his Majesty's ships of war stationed at the port are obliged
to lie in the open harbour, exposed to the rage of tem-
pestuous weather and of rapid tides and currents, in
imminent danger of shipwreck.' Power was therefore George's
granted to the trustees to construct a dock on land given
by the corporation, lying between James and Chapel
Streets, containing about 17 acres, and to increase the
debt to 25,000l. The new dock was opened in 1771, A.D. 1771.
and in honour of the reigning monarch was called
George's Dock. The original water area was 3 acres
343 yards. In 1822-25 the dock was reconstructed
and the water space enlarged to 5 acres 154 yards. On Goree
the east side a noble range of warehouses with arcades houses.
underneath formed part of the original design, but they
remained for many years in abeyance and were not
erected until 1793, when, in commemoration of the
African trade then so prosperous in Liverpool, they
took the name of the Goree' warehouses. Their de-
6
dock.
ware-
TT 2
644
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1762.
A.D. 1771.
Light-
houses.
struction by fire in 1801 has been described in a former
chapter.
The Act of 1762 also empowered the corporation as
distinct from the dock trustees, to construct lighthouses
where necessary for the navigation of the entrances to
the port. The lapse of a century had infused a little
more wisdom into the minds of the corporation. In
1670 they had petitioned through their member Sir
Gilbert Ireland against a scheme then brought forward
for the construction of lighthouses on the coast.¹ Bidston
Lighthouse was erected in 1771, on an eminence com-
manding the town on one side and an extensive sea view
on the other. This elevated ridge was also taken advan-
tage of for the erection of lofty flagstaffs, of which a goodly
range extended at one time from the lighthouse to the
Signal flag old mill. Each merchant had his own signal which was
hoisted by the look-out man when the particular ship was
recognised in the offing, thus giving a few hours' notice
of the arrival. The old churchyard and the merchants'
coffeehouse adjoining were the great resort for catching
sight of the signal flags and learning the arrivals. First
the establishment of a semaphore, and subsequently the
electric telegraph to Holyhead and the intermediate
stations, threw the old Bidston signals into desuetude.
One by one the poles, neglected and rotten, crumbled
and fell, and for many years not a vestige of them has
remained.
staffs.
A.D. 1786.
Trade.
Fifth act.
The flood tide of Liverpool commerce had now set in,
and rushed on with ever increasing force. The average
tonnage which in 1765 amounted to 62,390 tons, had
increased in 1786 to 151,347 tons. Increased accom-
modation became loudly called for, which led to the
passing of the Act 25 Geo. III. c. 15 (1785), which
authorised the construction of two additional docks south
of the Salthouse Dock, called respectively the King's and
Queen's. A difficulty here arose from the intrusion of
1 Vide supra, p. 145.
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
645
CHAP.
VII.
1786.
water
the Duke of Bridgwater's property into the line of the
docks. That enterprising nobleman obtained his Act for
the canal to Runcorn in 1759, and a few years after-
wards purchased a considerable tract of land in Liver- Bridge-
pool at the south end of the Salthouse Dock, as a canal.
terminus for the carrying trade. Here he constructed a
dock and outer channel which were opened in 1773,
and to which a lofty range of warehouses was subse-
quently added. This necessarily threw the site of the
new docks more to the southward, and effectually cut the
line of intercommunication. This evil was not remedied
until the construction of the Wapping Basin in 1858.
6
dock.
A.D. 1788.
The site of the King's Dock and quays containing King's
14 acres 4,356 yards, was given by the corporation. The
lands for the Queen's Dock having been previously leased,
had to be repurchased out of the dock funds at an
expense of 27,315l. The King's Dock was the first
completed, at a cost of 25,000l. It was opened on Opened
October 3, 1788. The first vessel which entered was
the Three Sisters,' a brigantine of 36 tons burthen, which
just a century before had been one of the fleet which in
1688 raised the siege of Londonderry, carrying troops.
from Whitehaven. She was not the only specimen of
the longevity attaching to the old English oak-built
vessels of the days of Blake and Benbow. The water
area of the King's Dock is 7 acres 3,896 yards. In
1852 it was reconstructed and narrowed 60 feet to make
room for the adjoining Wapping Dock. The entrance
basin common to the King's and Queen's Docks contains
a water space of 3 acres 3,542 yards. It was originally
an open tidal basin, but in 1852 it was converted into
a floating dock by double gates, respectively 70 feet and
50 feet in width. The advantage of this arrangement
is that ships where the draught is not excessive can be
admitted at half tide, thus escaping the danger of lying
in the river until the succeeding tide.
The Queen's Dock was not opened until April 17,
646
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
1796.
Queen's
dock.
CHAP. 1796. The first vessel which entered was the American
ship 'Baltimore,' Captain Johnson. The cost of the
construction was 35,000l. The dock in its original design
only extended to the bottom of Greenland Street, and
contained a water space of 6 acres 2,511 yards. In
1816 it was considerably enlarged and extended south-
ward beyond the limits of the borough, the additional
area being 4 acres 590 yards. Towards this enlarge-
ment the corporation contributed the sum of 15,000l.
In 1856 it underwent further alteration and enlarge-
ment, and was reopened on August 4 in that year.
ter basin.
The corporation in the meantime were not idle in
contributing to the progress of commerce. The town
A.D. 1785. improvements under the Act of 1785 have been de-
Manches- scribed in a former chapter. About that date the inlet
for river craft called the Manchester basin or dock was
first constructed, at the expense of the corporation, be-
tween George's Dock and the Canning Graving Docks.
This was subsequently (about 1818) enlarged and con-
verted into a floating dock for coasters. It contains
1 acre 595 yards of water space. Another small inlet
at the west end of George's Parade was constructed
about 1795, for the accommodation of the trade by the
Chester and Ellesmere Canal, also at the expense of the
corporation.
A.D. 1795.
Old
tobacco
Tobacco
trade.
In 1795 a large building was erected by the corpo-
ration on the east side of the King's Dock, as a bonded
warehouse. depôt and store for tobacco. The tobacco trade, espe-
cially that from Virginia, had been from a very early
period one of the great staples of Liverpool commerce.
În the reign of Charles II. it had become very important,
and by the end of the seventeenth century the Liverpool
imports of the article were the largest in the kingdom.
In the Norris Papers,' the correspondence in which gives
a curious insight into Liverpool trade in the early years
of the eighteenth century, some of the most amusing
letters are those from Sir Thomas Johnson, describing the
6

192
MINI LUI BE
LIVERPOOL
Hild
sani kuin s
TME CORNE WAREHOUSES, CEORGE'S DOCK
Walas
FISHAN SOI & CO LONDON, 1870
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
647
CHAP.
VII.
1811.
tobacco
manoeuvres of himself and others to overreach the Cus-
toms officers in the matter of allowances and duties.¹ To
avoid these complications and to give facilities to the trade,
the warehouse in question was built. In a few years it New
became too small, and in 1811 the corporation undertook warehouse.
the erection of a much larger warehouse on the west side
of the King's Dock. This building contains an area of three
acres, one rood, twenty-five perches, and cost, including
the value of the land, 140,000l. On the erection of the
new warehouse the old one was appropriated to general
merchandise, and subsequently removed to make room
for the Wapping Dock.
The last Dock Act to which I have called attention
was passed in 1785. In 1799 the trustees again went to A.D. 1799.
Parliament. The ships annually entered and cleared now Sixth Act.
amounted to 4,518, with a burthen of 400,000 tons. The
preamble of the Act 39 Geo. III., c. 59 (1799), gives the
usual recitals of the still continuing increase of the trade,
and the want of additional accommodation. Power was
taken to construct two additional docks, and to incur a
debt of 120,000l. on the security of the rates.
carried
Owing to the circumstances of the times this Act Act not
remained a dead letter, no attempt having been made out.
to carry out its provisions. The commerce of the port
went on increasing, but not quite at the earlier rate. In
1808 the number of ships had risen to 5,225, and the A.D. 1808.
tonnage to 516,836. It was felt on all hands that further Increase of
extension was necessary. The mercantile associations took shipping.
up the matter and pressed it on the attention of the town
council, which was at that time the managing body both
for the corporation and the Dock Estate.
Mr. (after-
wards Sir John) Gladstone, the chairman of the West
India Association, took a warm interest in the subject. A.D. 1809.
From a correspondence between him and the secretary of Correspon▾
the Dock Estate, Mr. John Foster, in September 1809, we dence.
learn that Mr. John Rennie, engineer, had been consulted,
1 Vide supra, pp. 177-8.
648
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1809.
Report.
Seventh
and had reported on the best means of increasing the dock
accommodation. It is stated in the report that the largest
number of ships at any one time in the port during an
average of three years had been 400 sail, of 190 to 200
tons, and 300 sloops or flats either in the docks or in the
river; and that to accommodate the above number of
vessels in a proper manner at least double the then ex-
isting dock space was required, without looking to any
further increase. It was recommended that a dock of
about seven acres should be constructed north of
George's Dock, which would contain seventy sail of
vessels of the average size of 200 tons, but that addi-
tional dock space could be obtained at the south end of
the town, in half the time and at about two-thirds the
expense. By this means and by enlarging the King's,
George's, and Queen's Docks it was proposed to give
additional accommodation to the extent of twenty-four
acres of water. In this report we first find allusion to
the unfortunate scheme for filling up the Old Dock.
No apology is made or reason stated, but the area of the
dock is deducted as a set off from the proposed extensions.
Some time elapsed before the plan was matured, but
A.D. 1811. in 1811 an Act was passed (50th Geo. III., c. 143),
which constituted a new era in the history of the Dock
Estate. After the usual recitals of the difficulties and
obstructions which the Act was intended to remove, it
proceeds to enact—
act.
1. That the south dock authorised by the previous
Act, and which had been so strongly recommended by
New North Mr. Rennie, should be abandoned, and that the new
north dock should be proceeded with, for the reason, in
direct opposition to the report of 1809, that it could be
made and completed in a much less space of time.'
dock.
Common
seal.
2. The mayor, aldermen, and burgesses are continued
as trustees of the Docks, with (for the first time) a com-
mon seal; but the management was to be delegated to
a committee of twenty-one, selected from the common.
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
649
council, whose proceedings were to be subject to the
veto of the council.
3. Dock rates, which had heretofore been limited to
the ships, were henceforward to be levied on the goods
in addition.
4. Power was given to increase the debt to 600,0007.
CHAP.
VII.
1811.
Dock rates
on goods.
5. Hitherto, whatever lands had been required from Purchase
the corporation by the Docks had been given without of lands.
any payment; hereafter any corporation lands taken for
dock purposes were to be valued and paid for by the
Dock Trust. The graving docks which had been con-
structed by the corporation were transferred by this Act
at a price to be settled by a jury.
old dock,
6. The preamble recites that great additional accom- Filling up
modation would be afforded to the port if the Old Dock
were filled up, and a Custom House and other commer-
cial buildings, offices, and conveniences, dock and police
offices, and an additional market thereon erected, and a
street of communication made from Pool Lane to Mersey
Street. The Act authorises the trustees to erect the
Custom House and other offices out of the moneys raised
on the rates.
In exchange for the land gained by filling up the Old
Dock the corporation agreed to pay for the land and the
cost of enlarging the Queen's Dock southwards as already
described.
sion.
This extensive scheme did not pass without much dis- Discus-
cussion and adverse criticism. In a plan issued by
Matthew Gregson, the antiquary, in March 1811, and
now very rare, the docks as proposed are laid down,
with the market, street, and buildings on the site of the
Old Dock, with the following note attached: 'Ridiculous
scheme, when dock room is wanted!!!' Gregson also
shows a plan for a large extension of the docks both
north and south, with a communication, long afterwards
carried out, between the docks and the Leeds and
Liverpool Canal.
650
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1811.
dock.
The filling up of the Old Dock has been very gene-
rally condemned as a wilful and useless sacrifice of water
space in the most central position in the town. Many
years elapsed after the passing of the Act of 1811 before
its provisions in this respect were carried out; but in
order to complete the account of the transaction the final
result may as well be stated here.
The corporation executed their part of the bargain in
the enlargement of the Queen's Dock, at an expense of
15,165l. 2s. 3d., besides the value of the land, con-
Site of old taining four acres. The intention of establishing a
market on a part of the site and the formation of a
street from South Castle Street to Park Lane were both
abandoned. Under the directions of the Act the Custom
House, Excise Office, and other public buildings were to
have been erected by the dock trustees and paid for out
of the dock rates, but a different arrangement was subse-
quently made. On condition of the Government ad-
buildings. vancing 150,000l. towards the building, which was to
cost 230,000l., the corporation agreed to pay the differ-
ence of 80,000l., besides the value of the site, 30,000l.,
for the erection of a Custom House, Excise, Stamp, and
Post-offices, including offices for the Dock Trustees, the
building to be the property of the Government.
New
revenue
A.D. 1816.
Prince's
dock.
6
The Old Dock realised the proverb that threatened
men live long.' Fourteen years elapsed from the passing
of the Act before any steps were taken. In 1825 the
council resolved to proceed with the works, and in Sep-
tember 1826 the dock was finally cleared of its shipping.
In consequence of the nature of the site the foundations
had to be sunk to an extraordinary depth, which occupied
nearly two years longer.
The first stone was laid on August 12, 1828 (King
George IV.'s birthday). The building was completed
and opened in 1839.
The Prince's Dock was constructed under the Act of
1811. The first stone was laid on May 17, 1816, by Mr.
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
651
C
СНАР.
VII.
1821.
(afterwards Sir George) Drinkwater. It was opened with
great rejoicings on the coronation-day of King George
IV., July 26, 1821. The first vessel which entered was
the May,' a Liverpool-built West Indiaman. The water Opened.
area of the Prince's Dock is 11 acres 1,490 yards. The
total cost of construction was 650,000l., of which sum
121,6197. was paid for the site. The Prince's was the
first dock enclosed with fence-walls, a method of security
which has been followed in all the newly-constructed
docks. The old Fort which had stood near the bottom
of Dutton Street since 1777 was taken down, and the
land absorbed into the dock.
After the Queen's Dock was enlarged, in 1816, a small A.D. 1816.
dock was constructed to the southward, called the Union, Union
having regard to further extension, containing 2 acres dock.
3,505 yards, with a large outer basin, subsequently formed
into the Coburg Dock. In 1858 alterations were made
uniting the two docks into one, which retained the name
of the Coburg, containing about eight acres.
The gates
of this dock open direct into the river.
So matters continued down to the year 1825; but a
serious change was at hand. The business of the port Changes.
continued increasing in a very rapid ratio. Steam was
beginning to lend its powerful aid in stimulating and
quickening mercantile operations. In 1824 the number A.D. 1824.
of vessels entering and clearing had risen to 10,001, and Shipping.
the tonnage to 1,180,914. More accommodation was
wanted, and further powers were necessary.
The state of affairs at this time relating to the Docks
was very unsatisfactory to the mercantile community.
The Dock Committee was formed out of the common Com-
council, the members of which were self-elected for life, plaints.
and were practically irresponsible. Abuses had crept in.
Frauds and peculations of rather a serious nature had
been discovered, and more were suspected. The mer-
chants and shipowners who paid the dock dues considered
that they had a fair claim to direct representation at the
652
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1824.
A.D. 1825.
Eighth
act.
John
Foster.
Jesse
Hartley.
Board. To prevent a parliamentary contest, Mr. Wil-
liam Huskisson, who had succeeded Mr. Canning in the
representation of the borough, undertook to mediate
between the parties, and it was finally agreed to change
the constitution of the Dock Committee, so that eight
out of the twenty-one members should be elected
directly by the Dock ratepayers outside the council.
The chairman was to be elected by the council, who
still were to continue as trustees, and to have a veto on
the proceedings.
The Act 6th Geo. IV., c. 187 (1825), embodied these
conditions, and gave power to extend the docks both
northward and southward, and to increase the debt to a
million sterling.
A little before this time, in 1824, a very remarkable
man enters upon the scene, who has ineffaceably stamped
his mark and superscription on the Docks of Liverpool.
I have already mentioned Thomas Steers, the designer and
first engineer of the Dock Trust. He built the Old Dock,
the dry basin (now the Canning Dock), and the Salthouse
Dock. Who succeeded him and designed the George's,
King's, and Queen's Docks I have not been able to learn.
The name of Mr. John Foster first appears published as
the general surveyor to the docks in 1813. In 1809 he
was acting as secretary, and probably as surveyor also.
At all events, he and his son (afterwards surveyor to the
corporation) designed and carried out the works of the
Prince's Dock. On the eve of the large undertakings
which were now contemplated, the assistance of an en-
gineer of large ideas and great practical skill was
desirable, and such a one was found in Jesse Hartley,
whilom bridge master for the West Riding of Yorkshire,
who was appointed engineer to the Docks in 1824, and
for thirty-six years guided with a despotic sway the con-
struction of some of the mightiest works of the kind ever
erected. Personally he was a man of large build and
powerful frame, rough in manner, and occasionally even
IIISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
653
VII.
Hartley.
rude, using expletives which the angel of mercy would CHAP.
not like to record; sometimes capricious and tyrannical,
but occasionally, where he was attached, a firm and un- 1824.
swerving friend. Professionally he had grand ideas, and Jessa
carried them into execution with a strength, solidity, and
skill which have never been exceeded. Granite was the
material in which he delighted to work. His walls are
built with rough Cyclopean masses, the face dressed, but
otherwise shapeless as from the quarry, cemented together
with hydraulic lime of a consistency as hard as the granite
itself.
For a man of his undoubted mental power he was sin-
gularly slow of speech. Examination before a parlia-
mentary committee was his dread. He had as much
difficulty in making himself intelligible as his contempo-
rary, George Stephenson. In this respect he differed
materially from his son, associated with him in the
latter part of his career, who was one of the clearest
professional witnesses who ever stood the fire of a cross-
examination, and could baffle a counsel by retiring into
a thicket of mathematics where it was impossible to
follow him.
Jesse Hartley was a man of original genius, of sterling
integrity, and stern independence and self-reliance. The
vast hydraulic works which he executed in Liverpool are
his best memorial; but it is to be lamented that his name
at least is not somewhere commemorated in connection
therewith. The Victoria Tower, standing on the margin
of the river at the entrance of Salisbury Dock, from the
summit of which a general view is obtained of many of
his finest constructions, would afford a suitable position
for a simple inscription calling to mind the name of their
designer.
Mr. Hartley died on August 29, 1860, and was suc- Decease.
ceeded by his son, who after a short period was com-
pelled to resign, owing to impaired health.
The Brunswick Dock, the first at the south end con-
654
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
dock.
Opened.
structed by Mr. Hartley, was built under the powers of
the Act of 1825, and opened on April 14, 1832. It
1832. is the third largest dock in the port, containing 12
Brunswick acres 3,010 yards, besides a half-tide basin of 1 acre
3,388 yards. This dock was intended for the timber
trade, and is formed on the east side with an inclined
plane for the discharge of timber. Two large graving
docks open out from its southern extremity. The site of
the old tide-mill reservoirs-called Jackson's Dam, of
which an account is given in a subsequent chapter-was
absorbed into this dock. The lands belonging to the
corporation forming part of the sites of these docks were
purchased for the sum of 96,005l., by the verdict of a
jury.
A.D. 1827.
Clarence
dock.
Purchase
of land.
A.D. 1828.
The works at the north end were at the same time
pushed vigorously forward, the first stone having been
laid on December 5, 1826. The Clarence Dock was the
first constructed, intended originally for the accommo-
dation of steamers, and placed at some distance north-
ward, to avoid risk of fire. Immediately after the
passing of the Act of 1825 steps were taken to secure
the land, the principal part of which belonged to the
corporation. The quantity purchased, which comprised
the site of Clarence, Waterloo, Trafalgar, and Victoria
Docks, with their basins and quays, contained about fifty-
six acres, of which five acres were solid land, and the
remainder strand and foreshore. The price paid by the
verdict of a jury was 110,000l., nearly 2,000l. per acre,
or about eight shillings per square yard. The Clarence
Dock was so called in honour of the Duke of Clarence,
afterwards William IV. It was opened May 21, 1830.
The water space is 6 acres 273 yards, besides the half-
tide dock, 4 acres 1,794 yards.
In 1828 application was again made to Parliament,
Ninth act. which resulted in the Act 9th Geo. IV., c. 55. The
preamble recites that the purchases under the authority
of the previous Act had exceeded the estimates; that the
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
655
CHAP.
VII.
increasing trade of the port required the utmost expe-
dition in carrying out the works. Power was therefore
taken to increase the debt by the sum of 200,000%. No 1828.
additional powers for works were required, the previous
Act covering a sufficiently large extent. The number of Shipping.
ships had now (1828) increased to 10,703, and the ton-
nage to 1,311,111. The size of the ships, too, kept
steadily increasing. In 1811 the average burthen of the
vessels all told was 109 tons. In 1825 it was 118 tons.
In 1828 it had increased to 122 tons.
By the time the Clarence Dock was opened the money
again ran short. The new engineer aimed at thorough
good work regardless of expense, and time has shown
that he was right. Whilst a very large proportion of the
work at the Birkenhead Docks has either fallen to pieces.
or been found necessary to be taken down and renewed,
not a stone of Jesse Hartley's setting has ever required to
be disturbed. Nothing short of an earthquake could make
the slightest impression on it.
More money being necessary, the Act 11th Geo. IV., A.D. 1830.
c. 14 (1830), was obtained, giving further powers to borrow Tenth act.
200,000l., making the entire debt 1,400,0007.
dock.
On August 16, 1834, the Waterloo Dock was opened, A.D. 1834.
containing a water space of 5 acres 2,790 yards. This Waterloo
dock has since undergone considerable alterations, which
will be noticed hereafter. By reference to the map it
will be seen that the docks of modern construction, be-
ginning with the Waterloo, are differently placed in
reference to the river from the older ones. Each dock
is a parallelogram, the older ones having their longer
side parallel with the river. As commerce increased it
became necessary to economise space. Had the old
plan been continued the docks might have extended to
Litherland, if not to Waterloo.
Mr. Hartley changed the system. The new docks
designed by him are placed with their narrow ends to
the river margin. The size also was reduced, the object
656
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
1834.
CHAP. being not so much extent of water area as lineal ex-
tension of quay space. The docks are placed side by
side in as close proximity as the necessary convenience.
would allow. Covered sheds were provided for the pro-
tection of the goods discharged and loaded. These sheds
were gradually extended round the margin of the older
docks.
A.D. 1836.
Victoria
and
The Victoria and Trafalgar Docks were opened in
1836, containing together a water area of 11 acres 3,265
Trafalgar yards. In 1839 the steam trade had increased to such
an extent that it became necessary to appropriate the
Trafalgar Dock in addition to the Clarence for steam
purposes.
docks.
New
council.
Scheme
for ware-
houses.
Dock
ware-
houses.
A.D. 1803.
The powers of construction given by the Act of 1825
were so large that, as extended by the additional borrow-
ing power granted in the Acts of 1828 and 1830, they
sufficed to keep up with the growing prosperity of the
port. The Municipal Reform Act of 1835 effected no
change in the constitution of the Dock Board. The
old trustees being members of the unreformed corpo-
ration endeavoured in 1886 to carry a bill to take the
docks entirely out of the hands of the new council, but
this scheme was rejected by the House of Commons.
Before any further application could be made to Par-
liament, it became necessary to settle a question which
excited the fears of a powerful interest and led to
very important changes in the docks and towns affairs.
Hitherto no provision had been made for warehousing
goods adjoining the docks. A large amount of capital
had been invested in private warehouses in the lines of
streets contiguous to the docks, to and from which the
goods had to be carted. A vested interest had thus
been created of a very powerful character and influence.
This subject was by no means new as now brought
before the Liverpool public. From the year 1803
to 1811, the question of warehouse accommodation
had been repeatedly brought before the mercantile
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
657
associations of the town, and various schemes for
enclosed docks with warehouses attached had been
brought forward and successively abandoned. In 1810,
which was
a remarkably prosperous year, when the
docks were thronged with ships, and the river itself was
crowded like a dock, the mercantile interest felt the want
of warehouse room, and a plan for enclosed docks and
warehouses was prepared and sanctioned by the council,
as trustees of the docks. When this came before Par-
liament the plan was rejected, and the building of docks
alone was sanctioned. Capital was accordingly invested
by private individuals in warehouses to a large extent.
6
CHAP.
VII.
1810.
ware-
After the close of the war, commissioners were ap- Commis-
pointed to inquire into the regulations of the Customs sioners.
and Excise, with a view of facilitating the despatch of
business, affording accommodation to trade, and securing
and improving the revenue.' In 1821 these commis- A.D. 1821.
sioners reported voluminously on the various subjects
referred to them. In respect to Liverpool they say that Report.
two of the commissioners-one of them the chairman-
had visited Liverpool to make personal inquiries. In ad-
dition to the official information obtained, they had
consulted with gentlemen of great mercantile eminence,
among whom were Messrs. Gladstone and Ewart. These Report on
inquiries resulted in a strong recommendation to adopt houses.
the system of docks and warehouses which Parliament a
few years before had rejected. They say, 'Among the
ports of the United Kingdom which are enabled by the
extent of their transactions and the sufficiency of their
establishments to participate in the benefits of the general
warehousing system, Liverpool after London, holds the
first place, and there is probably no other in which there
are so many wealthy, respectable, and enterprising
merchants, ready to avail themselves of any general
measure calculated to extend the operation of the ware-
housing Acts. . . . There is, however, one point in
which as compared with London, Liverpool is im-
VOL. I.
U U
658
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
CHAP. perfectly prepared for such a measure. It is greatly
inferior in its establishments for the deposit of bonded
1821. goods, which are neither so concentrated, nor so secure
warehouse
owners.
6
6
in their construction as those of London, nor in our
judgment such as in a port of so great magnitude they
ought to be.' They, therefore, recommend the erection
of a contiguous chain of warehouses adjoining to the
docks, surrounded by walls, or otherwise insulated from
places of public access.' This report was made public on
Meeting of May 1, 1821. On the 12th of the same month, a meet-
ing of warehouse proprietors and other parties interested,
was held at the Golden Lion' to take the matter into
consideration. The report was read and comments made,
but the subject was considered of such importance that
it would be better to call together a meeting of a more
public character before coming to any resolutions. Ac-
cordingly such meeting was called at the Town-hall
under the presidency of the mayor on Thursday, June 7.
It is described in the newspapers of the day as one of
the most respectable meetings ever known in Liverpool,
almost every merchant in the port being present. The
meeting was addressed by Mr. Alderman Hollinshead,
Messrs. J. B. Yates, Moses Benson and Thomas Booth. The
Government scheme was very severely criticised, and a
series of resolutions were unanimously adopted and after-
wards published, stating the facts as mentioned above,
and proceeding as follows: That the recommendation
if unhappily carried into effect, would involve a com-
plete and ruinous revolution of the warehouse property
of the town, estimated to amount in aggregate value
to 2,000,000l. or thereabouts, which forms a most im-
portant part of the property of its inhabitants, and is,
in its present extent, much more than adequate to the
trade of the port, notwithstanding the unprecedented
accumulation of foreign grain, cotton, spirits, and other
merchandise which now exists.
Memorial.
6
A memorial grounded on the resolutions was adopted,
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
659
addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, deprecating the
proposed changes. This memorial averted for the time
the contemplated alterations, and the matter slept for
another fifteen or sixteen years.
CHAP.
VII.
1821:
A.D. 1837.
council.
Ev.us.
in council.
The reformed municipal council took up the subject
with earnestness and resolution. Many of the leading Action of
men both in and out of the council had come to the con-
clusion that the convenience and prosperity of the trade
of the port would be greatly promoted by the construction
of warehouses round the future docks. Foremost amongst
these advocates was Mr. Eyre Evans, a member of the Eyre
council and the dock board, a man of great ability and
of very determined character. In the various meetings
of the two boards, in the press and in private society,
dock warehouses were his constant and unvarying theme.
His enthusiasm produced its effect and action was taken
in the teeth of a violent opposition on the part of the
private warehouse owners. As the town council was at Contests
this time the governing body of the dock estate, this was
the arena in which the battle had to be fought. At the
same period, another question of a far different nature
agitated the public mind. The reformed council had
introduced into the schools supported by the corpora-
tion the Irish national system, which gave umbrage to
many on the grounds that the Bible was not employed
as an ordinary school-book. This gave rise to a bitter
religious controversy which was carried into the muni-
cipal elections. It was said that the warehouse owners
adroitly mixed up the two controversies, and promoted
the election of men adverse to dock warehouses, under
the pretext of zeal for the reading of the Bible. How- Liberal
ever that might be, the contest entirely changed the defeat.
aspect of parties. The short reign of the Liberals which
had only lasted six years was brought to an end, and
during the thirty years which have since elapsed, the
civic honours have been monopolised with one or two
exceptions by the Conservative party.
UU 2
660
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1839.
Albert
Dock.
All this, however, could not long delay the progress
of an improvement so much wanted. In February 1839,
Mr. Hartley brought forward designs for a large dock
to be constructed on the west of the Salthouse Dock, to
be surrounded with warehouses on the grandest scale.
After vehement opposition the plan was ultimately car-
A.D. 1841. ried, and in 1841, the very year which saw the displace-
ment of parties arising from this contest, the Act 4 Vic.
c. 30, authorised the construction of the new works.
Oct. 11.
Purchase
of lands.
Cost.
A.D. 1845.
Albert
Dock
opened.
Albert
ware-
houses.
The number of ships had now increased from 10,001
at the time of the last Act in 1825 to 15,998, and the
tonnage from 1,180,914 to 2,445,708, having more than
doubled in fifteen years. The average size too had con-
siderably increased, being now 153 tons, including small
craft. The Act gave power to increase the debt to
2,284,0007.
The amount to be paid to the corporation for the land
west of the Salthouse Dock was fixed by the Act at
221,8537. 16s., but this included several graving docks
and other valuable property. The cost of the construc-
tion of the dock was 141,7017. 15s. 9d., and that of the
warehouses 358,1817., amounting with the land to the
sum of 721,736l. 11s. 9d. The area of water space is
7 acres 3,542 yards.
The Albert Dock was opened with great rejoicings by
Prince Albert on July 30, 1845. The dock warehouse
system thus inaugurated has been found a most valuable
adjunct to the commercial facilities of the port, and has
since been extended and increased. The works for
strength and durability are unsurpassable, but it is to
be regretted that no attention whatever has been paid to
beauty as well as strength. The enormous pile of ware-
houses which looms so large upon the river, and in its
vastness surpasses the pyramid of Cheops, is simply a
hideous pile of naked brickwork. Jesse Hartley had a
sovereign contempt for the beautiful, but surely amongst
the merchant princes who interested themselves in the
661
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
structure, some might have been found to advocate the
mere fraction of expense which would have converted
the present incarnation of ugliness into something which
would have dignified the commercial by allying it with
the beautiful.
CHAP.
VII.
1845.
of lands,
In October 1843, an extensive purchase was made of A.D. 1813.
land and foreshore at the north end from the Earl of Purchase
Derby, consisting of 1,000 lineal yards of frontage to north.
the river in the township of Kirkdale beyond the old
boundary of the borough. For this Lord Derby was
paid the sum of 17,500l., and the Duchy of Lancaster
agreed to make over any claims to the foreshore for the
sum of 8001. This was a most valuable adjunct to the
dock estate, enabling the trustees to carry out a con-
siderable extension northwards.
south.
Further purchases were also made at this time at the Purchase
south end. Some time before 1840 a quantity of land of lands,
had been bought between the Brunswick Dock and the
Herculaneum Pottery and a company formed, called the
"Harrington Dock Company,' for the construction of
docks and warehouses which should be independent of
the general dock estate. In 1840 an Act was obtained
(3 & 4 Vic., c. 121) authorising the works, and granting
certain exemptions from the general port charges to
vessels using these docks. A similar Act was obtained
in the same session for the construction of docks on the
Herculaneum Estate, which was never carried out, the
property at a subsequent period having been purchased
by the Dock Trust. The Harrington Company spent
about 50,000l. in preparing the ground and in the con-
struction of two small inlets for river craft. On October
7, 1843, a proposition was submitted to the Dock Com-
mittee for the purchase of this property by the trustees.
The project was strongly denounced at the time as a job,
the scheme having been brought forward by a quondam
chairman of the company, who, however, had retired
therefrom and disposed of his interest. The purchase
662
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1844.
Oct. 12.
A.D. 1843.
Pool.
was confirmed, at the price of thirty-one shillings and
sixpence per square yard, amounting to 253,000l.
These arrangements north and south were ratified by
the Act of (7 & 8 Vic., c. 80) 1844, the preamble of
which states that the works hitherto authorised were on
the point of completion, and that the increasing com-
merce of the town required additional docks, basins, and
works. The number of ships entered now amounted to
18,411, and the tonnage to 2,632,712. The additional
sum of a million and a half was allowed to be borrowed.
The works authorised by this Act embraced docks on
the Harrington site, which have not been constructed,
and several new docks at the north end, including a
communication with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, by
means of a canal and locks, to which the Canal Company
contributed 50,000.
Before noticing the works constructed under this Act
I must call attention to a series of transactions which,
from the first fatal error, have led to a frightful amount
of litigation, and have ultimately revolutionised if not
seriously impoverished the entire Dock Estate.
The small creek or pool which served as the original
Wallasey harbour of Liverpool was not the only inlet of the kind.
A much larger one existed nearly opposite Liverpool,
being the outlet of a tract of low-lying land originally a
marsh, extending from the Mersey across the peninsula of
Wirrall to the sea. The portion of high land seawards
separated by this marsh was called Wallas-ey, or island;
hence the creek took the name of, Wallasey Pool. As
the increasing importance of the Mersey in a commercial
point of view made itself manifest, Wallasey Pool at-
tracted attention as a probable adjunct to the facilities.
for shipping, and various ideas were broached as to the
plans for its utilisation. A ship canal was proposed, to
cross the peninsula, so as to avoid the intricate channels
and banks at the mouth of the river; and at one time.
Mr. Thomas Telford was retained to prepare plans for
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
663
VII.
1843.
for docks.
docks on the Pool. The times, however, were not ripe, CHAP.
and nothing of a practical nature was adopted. When
Birkenhead began to develope, from 1818 to 1824,
several gentlemen of speculative tendencies made large Proposal
purchases on the margin of the Pool, and proclaimed
their intention to construct docks. Prominent amongst
these were Sir John Tobin, Kt., a member of the corpo-
ration, and mayor in 1819; Mr. William Laird, the
founder of Birkenhead; and Mr. John Askew, harbour
master of the port. The town council, who were the
trustees of the Docks, took alarm, and negociated for the
purchase of the lands in question. The result was a pur- Purchase
chase by the corporation of 206 acres, three roods, ten poration.
perches, at a cost of 180,2641. 12s. 4d. This took place
in 1828, and at the close of that year the corporation gave
notice for a bill to give power to construct docks on the
Pool. To this the Dock Committee objected, considering
that the dock accommodation provided and to be provided
by the pending works would be ample, and the bill was
accordingly withdrawn.
by cor-
scheme.
No further action was taken until 1843. Birkenhead
now had assumed a position of some importance, and
many gentlemen interested in its prosperity revived the
idea of making it a commercial emporium. Having ob- Dock
tained the countenance of several eminent capitalists,
amongst others Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Bailey and
Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmidt, they formed a company, and
retained the services of Mr. Rendel, C.E., who prepared
plans on an extensive scale for the construction of docks
on the Pool. These proceedings were kept a secret,
although known to many individuals. Application was
then made in the name of several persons to purchase
from the corporation the lands on the water's edge, and
a memorable discussion on the subject took place in the Discussion
council on October 30, 1843. The innocence and sim- in council.
plicity displayed by the council on this occasion would
have done credit to the celebrated wise men of Gotham.
664
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL
VII.
1843.
in council.
CHAP. The discussion is really quite as well worth preserving as
many of the harangues given by Thucydides and Livy.
The chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. G. H.
Discussion Lawrence, expatiated on the propriety of the course pro-
posed by the committee in selling the land. He said
'the corporation had expended, including interest,
360,000l. on land in Cheshire; that it was a matter of
importance to reduce the annual charges to the bur-
gesses; that the sales which had been, and which were
proposed to be made would benefit the funds to the
extent of 7,2001. per annum, and that there would be
still left 725,400 square yards of land.' The object for
which the land was originally bought seems to have been
entirely lost sight of, nor does there appear to have been
any inquiry as to what the purchasers of so large a tract
of land were going to do with it. Two or three mem-
bers only were found to lift up their voices against the
proposal. Mr. Isaac Holmes expressed his sorrow that
this property was to be alienated from the corporation.
He said a dock might have been made for 60,0007., which
would have relieved Liverpool to the extent of two docks
at least.
Eyre
Evans.
John
Stewart.
Mr. Eyre Evans strongly opposed the sale, on the
ground that the Pool might be made useful as sub-
sidiary to the Liverpool Docks, by embanking it across
the mouth and converting it into a float for vessels lying
up; a timber-pond, ship-building yards, and a variety of
other purposes. He said no inquiry had been made or
report of the surveyor sent in. Nothing had been gone
into; but with a legislation worthy of a grocer at the
corner shop of a small street, they had proceeded display-
ing only an anxiety to obtain a few thousands a-year. He
concluded by saying they had hurried into destruction
one of the most brilliant properties the corporation ever
had.
Mr. John Stewart said if he were the owner of the
land, and had during the short space of six weeks since

בגמנסיה:
Harwood.
TROP DOWN'S DOCK, Z WAREHOUSES, LIVERPOOL.
FISHER, TOLA CV LONDON, 1839.
Higham.

HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
665
VII.
the land was offered received tenders to take up 200,000 CHAP.
square yards of land, he would have strongly suspected
there was a great desire to obtain it, and would have held
back, sure of obtaining a higher price.
The discussion was very short, and on a division the
sale was confirmed by 31 to 25 votes.
1843.
Discussion
in council.
All this time there does not appear to have been the
slightest suspicion on the part of any of the members or
officers of the corporation of what was about to take
place. The Government officers and the Admiralty had
been consulted, the surveys and plans had been prepared,
submitted, and approved; and the Liverpool corporation
and Dock Committee slumbered on in a condition of guile-
less simplicity which almost deserves to be called fatuity.
That I am not overcharging the picture will appear from
what took place at a meeting of the Birkenhead Com- Birken-
missioners on November 7, just a week after the council head com-
meeting.
At this meeting Mr. William Jackson (afterwards Sir
William Jackson, Bart.) brought forward the dock
scheme. He said plans had been prepared, sections,
levels and notices, ready to proceed to Parliament. The
assent of the Admiralty had been obtained to the enclo-
sure of the whole space from Woodside Slip to Sea-
combe, 340 acres. The plans had been submitted to the
Admiralty, and their consent obtained to a tidal basin of
thirty acres; and by damming up the Pool they would
have dock space of 120 acres. This might take the
public by surprise; and if it did, and they taxed them
with moving so privately, he could only say that pru-
dence induced them to keep their own counsel until such
time as their plans were ripe and they received the assent
of the authorities.'
C
Mr. John Nelson Wood, one of the commissioners, and
also a member of the Liverpool corporation, said he was
much astonished in hearing this proposition. He be-
lieved the corporation would not have sold the land at
missioners.
666
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1843.
Birken-
head
Docks.
so cheap a rate, had they known the intentions of the
commissioners.
The sales amounted to 200,000 square yards, at the
price of 120,000l. on lease for seventy-five years. The
lessees covenanted to build walls fronting the land, with
a view to render the Pool ultimately fit for docks or
other commercial purposes. They had also permission
to construct docks within the limits of their own land, it
being intended to keep the Pool open for the scouring
purposes of the estuary.
No sooner were these documents signed than the bom-
bardment began. The mask was thrown off, and the
company marched out into publicity. Parliamentary
notices were issued and a bill introduced into Parliament
A.D. 1844. for the conversion of the Pool into docks. The corpo-
Parlia-
mentary
contest.
Birken-
bead
Docks.
ration were completely outwitted. They had, so to
speak, attempted to gather wool by the sales which they
had made, and certainly came home shorn. They op-
posed the bill in Parliament, but were put to shame by
the gross apparent inconsistency of selling land at a high
price without restriction, and then opposing the only way
in which it could be utilised. The bill passed triumphantly
into a law (7 & 8 Vic., c. 79, 1844).
Thus commenced a contest between the two shores of
the Mersey which raged for twelve years with much bit-
terness, and which has led to an extravagant and useless
waste of capital almost unparalleled.
The Birkenhead dock system was an exotic forced into
existence by artificial means, not arising out of the legiti-
mate progress of events. Most of the parties connected
with the scheme were extensive land speculators, and
looked principally to this source for the benefit to be
derived. In their parliamentary contests they were
backed by very powerful influence. The Cheshire
nobility and landed gentry, probably the most aristo-
cratic and feudal in their ideas of any in the kingdom,
rallied round Birkenhead to a man, with all their exten-
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
667
VII.
1844.
sive connexions. Manchester and the manufacturing dis- CHAP.
tricts, always jealous of Liverpool, imagined that their
interests would be served by a rival port, and thus an
amount of opposition was engendered which after a time
acted fatally on the progress of dock works on the Liver-
pool side. The object of the Birkenhead advocates has
always been to make it appear that Birkenhead could
offer better facilities for shipping than Liverpool, and to
urge Parliament to limit the permission to carry out works
in Liverpool, and to extend the powers for carrying them
out at Birkenhead, alleging that if Birkenhead had
only fair play, a large portion of the trade of the port
would settle on the Cheshire side. To such an extent
have these tactics succeeded, that whilst borrowing
powers in Liverpool have been repeatedly refused by
Parliament, and when granted have been grudgingly
given on a very limited scale, there actually exists no
limit to the borrowing powers on the Cheshire side. In Lament-
spite of all this the results have been most lamentable. able
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and ships will go
where there is trade for them. In twenty-six years the
amount of capital expended on the Birkenhead dock
property has been 5,259,0417. 19s. 9d. The returns
from this immense outlay do little more than pay the
working expenses; the difference has to be made up
from the revenue on the Liverpool side; so that in con-
sequence of this unfortunate rivalry the merchants and
shipowners are taxed to the extent of 200,000l. annually
more than would have been the case had the docks been
limited to Liverpool.
results.
head
I will now resume the thread of my narrative. Im- Birken-
mediately on the Birkenhead bill being passed contracts Docks.
were entered into, and the first stone of the works was Com-
laid with great éclat by Sir Philip Egerton on October menced.
23, 1844. In the following session a more extensive
scheme was sanctioned by Parliament (8 & 9 Vic., c. 4).
The capital for these dock works was provided by the
668
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1844.
Birken-
head Dock
Company.
Rendel.
issue of bonds similar to those of the Liverpool Dock
Trust. These bonds could only receive the rate of inte-
rest at which they might be issued. In order, therefore,
to partake of the golden harvest which was expected to
be reaped, another company was formed, called the Bir-
kenhead Dock Company,' for the construction of docks.
and warehouses, in which the shareholders' interest would
be as unlimited as the profits.
6
Mr. C. E. Rendel, the engineer of the Birkenhead Docks,
was a wonderfully clever and specious man, with a fine
presence and an attractive manner, the very man to im-
press a committee, to turn the corner of a difficulty, and
make the best of his cause. In this respect there could
not be a greater contrast than that between the dock en-
gineers of Liverpool and Birkenhead; but there is this
important difference also, that whilst Jesse Hartley's
work is calculated to stand till the crack of doom,'
nearly the whole of the work of his more showy com-
petitor has had to be taken down and replaced by the
son of his rival.
The works at Birkenhead were pushed on with such
A.D. 1847. vigour, that on April 25, 1847, the Morpeth and Egerton
Docks were opened by Viscount Morpeth (afterwards Earl
of Carlisle).
Docks
opened.
The brilliant éclat with which this celebration took
place turned out to be but a hollow sham. Instead of
400,000l., at which the works had been estimated on the
parliamentary inquiry, it was found that at least a million
would be required. The enthusiasm had begun to cool;
the land of promise produced little or no fruit, and a
Collapse. general collapse took place. In December 1847 a
meeting of the shareholders of the Birkenhead Dock
Company was held, when, in view of the gloomy pros-
pect of the future, it was determined to dissolve the
company and wind up its affairs. The company, how-
ever, was rehabilitated; and in the following session,
under the authority of an Act of Parliament (11 & 12
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
669
Vic., c. 42, 1848), they agreed to purchase the Hercula-
neum Dock Estate, on the Liverpool side.
In the same month an offer was made by the Birken-
head Commissioners to the Liverpool Dock Committee to
make over the whole of their undertaking at cost price,
but declined.
Leaving Birkenhead for the present to its romantic
vicissitudes, let us now turn our attention to the progress
of the works at Liverpool.
CHAP.
VII.
1847.
Docks.
The docks authorised by the Act of 1844 constitute Liverpool
some of the finest works of their able engineer. The
land on which they stand, as far as the boundary at
Beacon's Gutter, belonged to the corporation, and was
taken by the Dock Trust under the provisions of the Act.
The quantity was seventy-one acres, 2,400 yards, at the Purchase
price of 250,8791., or about 8s. 9d. per square yard.
of land,
north end.
When the Old Fort was taken down, to build the
Prince's Dock, a piece of land north of the Clarence
Dock was appropriated for the same purpose, and a bat- Battery.
tery erected by the Government. This being included
in the site of the new docks, it had to be repurchased by
the corporation, at the expense of 27,8501.
Docks,
The five new docks first completed were the Salis- New
bury, Collingwood, Stanley, Nelson, and Bramley-Moore. opened,
These were opened on August 4, 1848, by Mr. John 1848.
Bramley-Moore, the chairman of the Dock Committee.
The arrangement is admirable for intercommunication,
convenience, and commercial facilities. Space is econo-
mised on the same principle as that of Mr. Hartley's
earlier works, but further carried out.
It was long thought that in a rough tidal estuary
like the Mersey large outer basins were essential, to
enable ships to run into calm water before docking.
The facilities which steam affords have to a great New North
extent removed these difficulties. Instead of an outer Docks.
tidal basin, the Salisbury Dock with two entrances from
the river, gives opportunities for docking and departing
670
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
1848.
Stanley
CHAP. long before and after full flood tide, to the five docks
with which it is in connection. The united water area.
of these docks is 33 acres 722 square yards, with a
lineal quay space of nearly two miles (3,450 yards).
The Stanley Dock is situated to the east of Regent Road,
extending thence to Great Howard Street, being thus
out of the range of the other docks. The warehouse.
system has here been adopted: the north and south
quays being occupied by lofty ranges of warehouses of
deposit. The other four sister-docks have the quays
covered by sheds for goods in transit. Between the
Stanley Dock and the Leeds and Liverpool canal a
communication is opened, consisting of five basins con-
nected by locks.
Dock ware-
houses.
A.D. 1847.
Landing
stage.
A.D. 1819.
Welling-
ton Dock.
A.D. 1846.
In 1847 the landing stage off St. George's Pier was
constructed by the corporation at an expense of 35,1577.,
and thrown open on June 1. The stage is 500 feet
long, 80 feet wide, supported on iron pontoons. Mr.
L. Cubitt was the engineer.
The Wellington Dock and Half Tide Basin, the last of
the group authorised by the Act of 1844, were opened
in 1849. They contain together a water area of 11
acres 93 yards, with a length of quay space of 1,220
yards.
In 1846 the exigencies of trade demanded a further
Shipping. increase of accommodation. In 1845 the number of
ships had increased to 20,521, and the tonnage to
3,016,531. It will be seen that the tonnage has always
increased more rapidly than the number of ships, the
burden of the vessels employed constantly advancing.
At this time the average burden including small craft
was within a fraction of 150 tons.
On January 19, 1846, a plan prepared by the en-
gineer for further dock extension was brought before
the committee by Mr. John Bramley-Moore the chairman.
I have already alluded to the inconvenient interception
of the line of the docks by the intrusion of the Duke's
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
671
CHAP.
VII.
1846.
Dock.
Dock for the reception of river craft. The scheme
then propounded proposed to remedy this defect and to
provide additional accommodation by enlarging the
Salthouse Dock eastwards, by the construction of a new
dock to be called the Wapping Dock to the east of the Wapping
King's Dock, and by connecting the Salthouse and
Wapping Docks by a cut or basin behind the Duke's
Dock, having a connection therewith. For this
For this purpose
a large quantity of valuable property had to be taken
down, and the street called Wapping to be removed
considerably eastward.
The cost of these works was estimated at 531,386l.—
Being for works
And for the purchase of property.
154,386
377,000
£531,386
The sum to be paid to the corporation for property
taken under this Act amounted to 139,0647., but out of
this the corporation contributed about 30,000l. towards
increasing the width of New Wapping from 16 yards to
24 yards.
These arrangements were embodied in the Act 9 & 10 Thirteenth
Vict. c. 109, which also enlarged the borrowing powers Act.
to the extent of 1,000,000l., making the entire bonded
debt at that time 4,784,000l.
The improvements under this Act took a long time to
complete. The Wapping Dock with its fine range of
warehouses was not occupied until 1858. It contains a
water area of 5 acres 500 square yards.
Power was taken under this Act to construct a new
entrance basin between George's and Canning Docks,
but this was never carried out.
Derby.
In the latter part of 1847, an arrangement was made Land from
with the Earl of Derby by which a very large tract of Lord
foreshore passed into the possession of the dock trust.
This contract, which was mutually beneficial to each
party, was due to the foresight, enterprise and tact of
672
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1847.
A.D. 1849.
Four-
teenth
Act.
A.D. 1851.
Sandon
Dock.
Change in
Dock
Board.
Mr. John Bramley-Moore, at that time chairman of the
dock committee. Under the terms of this arrangement,
the whole of the foreshore to the extremity of the town-
ship (now the borough) of Bootle was conveyed to the
dock trustees. In the first instance, no money was to be
paid, but the spoil from the dock excavations was to
be used in embanking and bringing to the proper level
certain portions of other land belonging to the Earl. It
was subsequently found more advantageous to purchase
these lands, being 270,000 square yards for the sum of
90,000l., but this arrangement was not carried into
effect until some years afterwards, as will be hereafter
noticed.
The Act 11 & 12 Vict. c. 10, 1849, authorises this
contract in part only, and gives further powers to erect
warehouses on the dock quays, and to construct ad-
ditional docks. At this time the number of ships had
increased to 20,889 with an aggregate tonnage of
3,351,539 tons. The average tonnage of the ships had
risen to 160 tons.
The next dock constructed was the Sandon, containing
10 acres 100 yards, which was opened in 1851 and
named after Lord Sandon (afterwards Earl of Harrowby),
who represented Liverpool in Parliament from 1831 to
1842.
In 1851 an important change was made in the admi-
nistration of the dock estate. Disputes had arisen, to
which I shall again refer, respecting the liability of the
docks and of the corporate property to local taxation.
In the course of these differences, it was thought by some
that the corporate influence was used adversely to the
docks, and that a change in the constitution of the
governing body was desirable. A Bill to effect this
object was introduced into Parliament at the instance of
the American Chamber of Commerce. It was proposed
in this Bill that the dock committee should still consist
of twenty-one members, but that the corporation as
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
673
СНАР.
VII.
1851.
trustees should only nominate five, instead of thirteen as
heretofore; fifteen to be elected by the dock rate-payers;
the chairman to be chosen by the committee out of the
rate-payers. When the Bill was before the Committee.
of the House of Commons, after hearing the evidence,
they passed a resolution recommending a compromise,
which was adopted and embodied in the Act, 14 & 15 Fifteenth
Vict. c. 64. Thenceforward the committee was to con- Act.
sist of twenty-four, twelve nominated by the council out
of their own body, and twelve elected by the rate-payers;
the chairman to be elected by the committee out of the
council members; the council to retain the veto as before.
Under this constitution the dock affairs were managed
for about seven years.
Dock,
A.D. 1854.
The Huskisson Dock was completed and opened in A.D. 1852.
1852. It was originally intended to be used to a great Huskisson
extent by the timber trade, but has since been appro-
priated to the largest class of sea-going steamers. Its
water area was originally 14 acres 3,451 yards. In
1860 it was enlarged by a new cut extending eastward,
containing additional water space of 7 acres 572 yards.
In 1854 a new fort and barracks were erected at the
north-west corner of the Huskisson Dock by the Govern- Fort and
ment in place of the one taken down at Hogs Hey Nook
on the site of Collingwood Dock. It is built of red
ashlar stone, the barracks forming three sides of a
quadrangle, the fourth side open to the river, with an
embattled parapet having ten embrasures, and two port
holes for heavy guns, so placed at an oblique angle as to
enfilade the entrance to the port.
barracks.
No application was made to Parliament for further A.D. 1855.
powers until the Session of 1855. The number of vessels Shipping.
had not increased since 1847, being in fact rather fewer
in number, 20,024, against 20,889 in the former year,
but the tonnage had reached 4,096,100, being an in-
crease of 744,561 tons, showing the much larger size of
ships employed, and requiring special accommodation.
VOL. I.
X X
674
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1855.
Contest in
Parlia-
ment.
Sixteenth
Act.
Sale of
Birken-
head
Docks.
An Act was accordingly applied for to give power to
borrow the large sum of 3,500,000l. to be expended in the
construction of docks, and 1,000,000l. in the construction
of warehouses on the dock quays. This was the signal
for an opposition of the fiercest description. The Birken-
head Dock Trust and Birkenhead Dock Company had
also introduced Bills to facilitate their operations, and
the group was referred to a select committee of which
Mr. Labouchere was the chairman. The object of the
Birkenhead promoters and their friends was to prove to
the committee that if the Birkenhead Docks were en-
couraged there was no need of further extension in
Liverpool, that Birkenhead had not had fair play, being
crushed and prevented from developing by the jealousy
of Liverpool; another object was to get rid of the town's
dues, a subject to which I will shortly revert. This
phalanx of opposition was so strong, that the Liverpool
Bill failed in its main object and intention. Instead of
four and a half millions which the dock trust wished
to have power to expend, they were limited to the com-
paratively insignificant amount of 850,000l. The great
scheme of extending the property of the docks along the
foreshore of the Mersey as far as the extremity of Bootle,
by arrangement with the Earl of Derby, was finally con-
firmed to the great advantage of the dock estate.
In the same session an Act was passed (18 & 19 Vic.
c. 171.) by which the undertakings of the Birkenhead
Dock Company and of the trustees of the Birkenhead
Docks were transferred to the mayor, aldermen, and
burgesses of the Borough of Liverpool. The Birkenhead
dock affairs were in a hopeless state of insolvency with-
out any prospect of recovery, but desperate efforts were
made to lighten their burdens by getting rid of the pay-
ment of the charges called 'Town's dues,' which were
levied on all goods entering or leaving the port, on both
sides of the river, for the benefit of the town of Liver-
pool alone. Under these circumstances it was thought
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
675
desirable by the leading members of the Liverpool cor-
poration to neutralise the opposition so far as might be,
by the repurchase of the Birkenhead property which
twelve years before they had so foolishly parted with.
After some negociations, the bondholders agreed to take
a composition of about 13s. in the pound on their claims.
The purchase money amounted to 1,143,000l., for which
the corporate estate as well as the Birkenhead Dock
property became liable.
We have now arrived at the most critical period in the
history of the Liverpool Dock and corporation affairs.
During a period of a hundred and fifty years, the cor-
poration had been identified with the construction and
management of the docks, but the time had come when
it seemed to the legislature fitting that this connection
should be dissolved. Before giving the particulars of the
Act by which this severance was effected, it may be
desirable briefly to review the circumstances which led
to this result.
СНАР.
VII.
1855.
dues.
When King John founded the town and port of Royal
Liverpool, he reserved to the Crown certain fee-farm
rents and tolls; jura regalia, which were sometimes col-
lected for the Crown, and at other times leased to indi-
viduals, reverting back after a term to the grantor. These
royalties were made appurtenant to the palatine duchy
of Lancaster and finally reverted to the Crown on the
accession of Henry IV. In 1628, these duties were sold
by Charles I. to certain merchants of London, by them
to the Molyneux family, and, finally, to the corporation
of Liverpool by lease in 1672, and by sale of the rever-
sion in 1777. The duties on goods landed and shipped, Town
at first trifling, amounted at length to a considerable dues.
sum, and formed a large proportion of the corporate
revenue, out of which, however, payments were made for
purposes connected with the port.
Down to 1830 the title of the corporation remained Title of
undisputed. In that year a number of the Liverpool corpora-
tion.
I I 2
676
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
1833.
Trial.
Royal
Commis-
sion.
CHAP. merchants, amongst whom Mr. Thomas Bolton (mayor in
1840) took the lead, refused to pay the dues, and defied
the corporation to prove their title to receive them.
After a protracted litigation, the cause was tried before
Chief Justice Denman in May 1833, and decided in
favour of the corporation. The litigation was continued
by the tender of a bill of exceptions by the defendants,
but ultimately it was withdrawn and the title left unim-
peached. At the same time much dissatisfaction was
expressed in the manufacturing districts at what was
considered an unjust exaction, and the Birkenhead Dock
trustees gladly co-operated in the attainment of the com-
mon object of getting rid of the impost. This feeling
was increased by a very general opinion, though entirely
unfounded, that the dock dues in some mysterious way
contributed to the coffers of the corporation. In re-
sponse to this general feeling, a royal commission was
issued on March 19, 1853, to inquire into all local
charges on shipping and goods in the ports and harbours
of the United Kingdom. The commissioners were Mr.
Cardwell, once Member for Liverpool, but then sitting
for Oxford, President; the Hon. Manners Sutton, Captain
Bethune, R.N., and Colin Blackburn, Esq., since one of
the Justices of the Queen's Bench. The commissioners
visited Liverpool and other ports, and held an inquiry in
each; after which they prepared their report, in which
they recommended that a new body should be appointed
to take charge of the docks and harbour to whom all the
property and the dues should be transferred; and that
the town dues should no longer be applied in payment of
interest of any debts not contracted for strictly harbour
purposes; and that such corporate debts should be in
future a charge upon the inhabitants.
Report.
Govern-
In accordance with these views, the Government in
ment bill. the early part of the Session of 1856 introduced a Bill
. into the House of Commons, embodying the recom-
mendations. This Bill met with considerable opposition
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
677
on the second reading, and after a single night's debate, CHAP.
it was withdrawn.
6
VII.
1856.
committee.
Immediately afterwards, on March 14, 1856, a Select
Committee was appointed by the House to inquire into Select
and report upon the several matters referred to the
commissioners' previously appointed by Her Majesty.'
Mr. Robert Lowe was appointed chairman. The names
comprised Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Cobden,
and other men of eminence on both sides.
After sitting three months, and collecting a large mass
of evidence, a draft report was submitted by Mr. Headlam,
the conclusion of which was that the committee do not
find that there is sufficient reason to disturb the settle-
ment of the question made by the Municipal Reform
Bill.' On a division, the numbers being equal, the report Report.
was negatived by the casting-vote of the chairman, and
the committee reported the evidence to the House with-
out note or comment. Encouraged by these demonstra-
tions, the opponents of the then existing state of things
in the commencement of the Session of 1857, introduced A.D. 1857.
a Bill into the House of Commons for the transfer of the Bill to
dock estate to an entirely new body of trustees and
managers, and to take away the town dues from the
corporation. The ostensible promoters of the Bill were
the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Manchester
Commercial Association, and the Great Western Railway
Company.
The Bill was referred to a Select Committee of which
Sir James Graham on the part of the Government, was
appointed chairman. The contest was long, bitter, and
expensive.
On June 26, the chairman announced the decision of
the committee in substance as follows:
1. The preamble was declared proved.
2. The dock trustees in future to be twenty-eight in
number, of whom three were to be Government nomi-
nees, the remainder to be elected by the dock rate-
transfer
town dues,
678
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. payers. The chairman to be elected out of the general
VII.
body.
1857. 3. The town dues to be taken from the corporation
and made over to the dock trustees.
Bill in
Lords.
Compro-
mise.
New con-
stitution.
4. The Birkenhead Dock Estate to be made over to
the new trustees charged with the then existing debt of
1,400,000l.
5. The bonded debt of the corporation at this time
amounted to about 1,150,000l. Of this sum it was pro-
posed that 600,000l. being the amount supposed to have
been expended on harbour purposes, should be trans-
ferred to the dock trust; the remaining 550,000l. to be
a charge on the borough fund or provided for out of
local taxation.
There were some minor arrangements respecting what
were called the reserve lands at Birkenhead, which it is
not necessary to quote as they did not affect the prin-
ciples of the Bill.
The Bill after passing the Commons was sent up to
the Lords and committed; but in this calmer region a
more conservative instinct prevailed. Their Lordships
hesitated in adopting a course which had the appearance
at least, of confiscation, and came to a resolution that no
transfer would be sanctioned which did not provide
reasonable compensation for the revenues abstracted.
Ultimately an arrangement was come to and embodied
in the bill by which the sum of 1,500,000l. was agreed
to be paid in compensation for the transfer of the town
dues. The other provisions of the Bill were in the main
left intact.
Under this constitution the amalgamated docks of the
Port of Liverpool have since remained, doubtless to the
advantage of all parties concerned. A corporate body
representing a capital of fifteen millions sterling, with a
revenue of nearly a million per annum, must be an im-
portant and influential board. The vigour, energy, and
prudence, with which the vast and complicated affairs
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
679
VII.
under their control are managed, place the Mersey Docks CHAP.
and Harbour Board in the first rank of administrators in
the country.
1857.
head
One of the first objects to which the attention of the Birken-
new board had to be directed was the completion of the Docks.
works at Birkenhead. To this they have been stimu-
lated not only by the natural desire to render the large
outlay to some extent remunerative, but by the jealous
watchfulness of those interested in Birkenhead, who,
when application has been made during successive ses-
sions in Parliament to obtain powers to extend the docks
in Liverpool, have buckled on their armour, and aided
by the Cheshire landed interest and the union of the
railway companies, have warned back their adversaries
from the promised land of improvement. At the time
of the transfer in 1857, the bonded debt of Birkenhead
Docks was 1,400,000l. On June 24, 1871, it amounted
to 5,259,0417. 19s. 9d., being an outlay on the Birken-
head Docks in twelve years of 3,859,0411. A consider-
able portion of this expenditure was incurred by having
almost entirely to reconstruct the works executed by
Mr. Rendel, and in deepening the Great Float. The
constructions at Birkenhead are now amongst the finest
works of the kind in the kingdom. The hydraulic ma-
chinery, executed by Sir William Armstrong, is a marvel
of scientific skill. The warehouses for corn and other
produce afford convenience of the highest description,
and yet with all these advantages, the Birkenhead Docks,
in a pecuniary point of view, have hitherto proved any-
thing but a success. The interest on the bonded debt
amounts annually to 223,644l., towards which scarcely
anything is contributed from the earnings of the docks
and float. The balance has of course to be made up
from the earnings on the Liverpool side. This would
have been an intolerable burden but for the profits de-
rived from the investment in the town's dues. The sum
paid to the corporation for the purchase in 1857 was
680
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1857.
Cost and
returns.
Landing
stage.
Timber
trade.
Canada
Dock.
1,500,000l., representing at the average rate of interest
paid 66,7501. per annum. The proceeds of these dues
for the year ending June 24, 1871, was 226,8897., leav-
ing a balance to assist in making good the deficiencies of
Birkenhead of 160,1391.
The dock works at Liverpool have not proceeded
with the same rapidity since the amalgamation with
Birkenhead.
On September 1, 1857, the new landing stage op-
posite the Prince's Pier was completed and opened. It
was erected by the corporation from the designs of
Mr. T. Cubitt, at the cost of 130,000l. It is 1,002 feet
in length, and 81 feet wide, connected with the land by
three bridges rising and falling with the tide.
The timber trade of Liverpool was originally located
at the south end, the Queen's having been the original
timber dock, to which succeeded the Brunswick, con-
structed with a special view to that object. As the
timber trade increased additional accommodation was
required. This it was at first designed to give by ex-
tending the docks southward, with which view the Har-
rington dock estate was purchased in 1844. It was
ultimately found that the space for storage at the south
end was limited and expensive, and that difficulties
existed with reference to the docking of ships in special
conditions of the tide and weather. It was therefore
determined to construct a timber dock at the north end,
and to transfer to that locality the bulk of the trade.
The result was the construction of the Canada Dock
which was opened on September 16, 1859, the Cunard
steamship 'Asia,' Captain Lott, being the first vessel
which entered. It contains a water area of 17 acres
4,043 yards, with a lineal quay space of 1,272 yards.
Large provision was made for the timber trade, by a
wide landing quay on the east side communicating with
extensive timber yards extending from the quay back to
Regent Road, where they are in connection with the line
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
681
VII.
1857.
Basin.
of railway. Extensive as has been the provision for the CHAP.
timber trade, it has not been commensurate with the
growing wants of the port. A half-tide basin has been
constructed north of the Canada Dock, locking down by
three sets of gates on the west side into the outer tidal
basin. On the east side, two cuts or docks have been
formed extending to Regent Road. These were ori-
ginally intended for the carriers on the river, but the
exigencies of the timber trade have been such that the
larger one is almost exclusively used for landing timber,
having extensive storage ground beyond. The half-tide
dock has been extended northwards, giving an additional
timber quay 900 feet in length.
A considerable part of the timber trade migrated from
the south to the north in 1859–62, but a portion by no
means inconsiderable still remains rooted to its original
locality.
laneum
At the extreme south end the Herculaneum estate Hercu-
which had been laid out for the construction of docks and Dock.
warehouses by a joint-stock company, passed into the
hands of the Dock Trust about 1848. It lay for many
years dormant, but at length a small dock and two
extensive graving docks were constructed. These were
opened in 1864. The floating dock called the Hercu- A.D. 1864,
laneum,' contains about 3 acres, opening directly from
the river by two pair of entrance gates.
I
a.d.
Docks.
may here mention that the graving docks in Liver- Graving
pool number eighteen, with an aggregate length of floor
of 10,136 feet, and with entrances varying in width from
32 to 100 feet. In Birkenhead there are three, with a
length of floor of 1,968 feet.
In 1867 extensive alterations were made at the A.D. 1867.
Waterloo Dock. The dock was reconstructed in two por-
houses.
tions. The inner one is surrounded on three sides by lofty Waterloo
vaulted corn warehouses replete with every convenience corn ware-
for raising, storing, turning, ventilating and discharging
grain by means of the most improved machinery.
682
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
1867.
Rating of
docks.
I have thus brought down the history of these really
marvellous constructions to the present time. I propose
to have a few parting words before finally taking leave,
but before doing so, I must refer to a subject connected
with them, which long agitated the town and which has
only been settled at a period comparatively recent; I
mean the liability of the dock property to local tax-
ation.
6
In the original Dock Act of 1709, it was directed that
the revenue received from the docks was to be expended
for the purposes of the Act, and for no other use or
purpose whatever.' I have no means of ascertaining
whether in the first instance this clause was held to
exempt the docks from the payment of parish and other
local rates, but at the commencement of the present
century I believe they did so pay. In 1806 a decision of
Lord Kenyon's in the case of Rex v. the Commissioners
of Salter's Load Sluice,' established the principle of ex-
emption in a parallel instance. In 1825 the case of the
liability of the Liverpool Docks was tried before Lord
Tenterden in the Queen's Bench. The decision, which
was given in 1827, was in favour of the exemption, based
on the previous dictum of Lord Kenyon. This was not
called in question until 1841, when the Bill for erecting
warehouses on the dock quays was before Parliament.
Clauses were introduced at the instance of the parochial
authorities, rendering the warehouses to be erected liable
to local taxation, and were adopted as part of the Act.
6
In 1848, the subject was revived and discussed with
great earnestness, both as regarded the docks and the
corporate property. The case is stated very clearly in the
brief for the corporation on the Bill of 1857, summing
up the history of the controversy: It was argued that
the decisions of the courts of law against the liability to
rates where no beneficial interest or occupation existed,
was grounded only upon the wording of the Acts of
Parliament relating to the making of such rates, and that
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
683
VII.
1857.
Rating of
abstractedly, and as a general proposition, all property of CHAP.
every description and however held, should be liable to
contribution for rates. The corporate estate, until the
passing of the Municipal Act, was liable and did con- docks.
tribute to the rates, and in consequence of the decision
of the Court of Queen's Bench that after the passing of
the Act municipal property was not liable, the legis-
lature had interposed, and passed an Act (4 & 5 Vic.
c. 48) for the express purpose of making corporate pro-
perty liable to rates in certain cases, though inoperative
in Liverpool. As to the Dock Estate, it was urged, that
no reason or principle existed why that property should
not be rated; that all other docks in the country were
liable because held by companies; that part of the
Liverpool dock estate, the warehouses, were by express
provision declared liable although held without bene-
ficial interest; that in the course of the extension and
improvement of the docks, large masses of property had
been purchased and removed, which previously con-
tributed to the rates, and thus property liable to rates
being withdrawn from contribution, a heavier rate was
necessarily imposed on that which remained; and that
for all these causes, application ought to be made to
Parliament to make both the corporate and dock pro-
perty liable to rates.' It was urged on the other hand,
that it was inexpedient to propose to rate the Liverpool
Docks, inasmuch as such rate would be a tax upon the
commerce of the port; that the prosperity of the town
depends upon the prosperity of the docks, and their
prosperity upon cheapness; and that the corporation was
in actual receipt of 100,000l. per annum, arising from
town dues and anchorage, and that to this extent the
ratepayers of the borough were relieved from rates.'
In March 1848, on the motion of Mr. William Earle, A.D. 1848.
a special committee was appointed by the council to Committee
consider and report on the law applicable to rating, and
on August 7 they brought up their report, which stated
of council.
684
VII.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. amongst other recommendations, 'That in the opinion of
the committee all property vested in the trustees of the
1848. Liverpool Docks, or used, or occupied by them, should
be rated to and pay local rates,' and that application
should be made to Parliament for a Bill to carry out this
recommendation.
Rating
bill,
A.D. 1852.
Rating of
docks.
Birken-
head.
A.D. 1857.
Contro-
versy.
Rating
bill.
On this report being submitted to the council, it was
rejected by eighteen votes to sixteen; but at a subse-
quent meeting this decision was reversed, and in No-
vember 1848, the parish authorities gave notices for Bills
to rate the property both of the corporation and of the
dock trustees. A majority of the dock committee was
opposed to the measure, and a petition against the Bill in
the name of the dock trustees was prepared. To this
petition, the dock chairman refused to affix the common
seal without the consent of the council, who were legally
the trustees. Much angry discussion ensued. The Bills
so introduced, for some unexplained reason, were dropped
before the second reading.
In 1852, the Birkenhead Docks were rated by the
overseers to the poor rate. The trustees claimed ex-
emption under the previously decided cases, and after
appeal brought the case before Lord Campbell, then
Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, who notwithstanding
the ruling of his predecessor on the subject of no bene-
ficial interest, confirmed the rate.
In 1857 the subject was revived in Liverpool, and
a somewhat excited controversy was carried on in the
newspapers, in which Mr. Eyre Evans took a prominent
part, against the rating, denouncing his opponents as
actuated by unprincipled selfishness, paltry avarice, hypo-
crisy, and other good set terms of compliment.
A Rating Bill was in the same year introduced into
Parliament at the instance of the parish, but without
success. After the separation of the docks from the
corporation, a Consolidation Act was passed in 1858.
Into this the parish endeavoured to insert rating clauses,
HISTORY OF THE DOCK ESTATE.
685
CHAP.
VII.
1858.
but failed to do so. In the same session a select com-
mittee was appointed by the House of Commons to con-
sider the subject of local rating and the exemptions from
it. Before this committee evidence was given from Select.com-
Liverpool as to the injustice of the exemption enjoyed by mittee.
the docks. The committee reported against the exemp-
tions and in favour of rating all property. A public Bill
founded on the report of this committee was introduced
in 1859, but subsequently withdrawn. Another Bill
applicable to Liverpool only was brought forward but
lost on the motion for second reading, March 1.
rated.
Undeterred by these repeated disappointments, the
parish authorities still persevered. In 1858 the docks Docks
were charged with the poor rate, and refusing to pay, a
summons was taken out and distraint followed. Two
courses were then open to the dock board. By the ordi-
nary mode they would have appealed to the Quarter
Sessions and thence on the point of law to the Court of
Queen's Bench. The course actually adopted is a memo-
rable instance of legal astuteness overreaching itself. Had Appeal.
the case been carried to the Queen's Bench, Lord Camp-
bell would have been the presiding genius, and looking
at his previous decision in the Birkenhead case there was
great fear that he would overrule Lord Tenterden's
dictum and pronounce against the exemption.
might or might not have been the case. It is more
probable that he would have upheld the law as laid down
by his predecessor, finding some subtle distinction be-
tween the two cases. In that event the decision would
have been final and binding until dealt with by Act of
Parliament. In order, however, to steer clear of Lord
Campbell, the legal advisers of the Dock Board pro-
ceeded by an action of replevin in the Court of Common Action of
Pleas, which opened the whole question of right. The replevin.
difference between the two proceedings was this; that
whilst the decision of the Queen's Bench on the law of
the case would have been final, the proceeding by action
This
686
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
CHAP. could be carried from court to court up to the highest
tribunal in the kingdom, the House of Lords. So it
1858. actually happened.
Rating of
docks.
The Court of Common Pleas acting on the recorded
decisions, decided against the parish. Thence the case
was carried by a writ of error to the Exchequer Chamber,
where the previous decision was supported. At length
after six weary years, the cause reached the House of
Lords, where after four days' argument by counsel in
A.D. 1864. February 1864, certain questions were submitted by
their Lordships to the judges, bearing on the liability.
On July 7, the judges presented their replies deciding in
favour of the liability to rating by a majority of six to
A.D. 1865.
Docks
rateable.
View of
docks.
Rimrose
Brook.
one.
The final judgment reversing the previous decisions.
and establishing the liability of the docks to local rates
was pronounced on June 22, 1865.
It is curious to remark after the long controversy
between the docks and the town extending over many
years, how nearly the final result came to a drawn battle.
The dock board gained the town dues but lost the ex-
emption from rating. They were saddled at the same
time with the Birkenhead estate which may or may not
hereafter become profitable, as it is now useful.
Before quitting the docks, I will ask the courteous
reader to accompany me in a rapid survey of the general
aspect of their every day existence, and for this purpose
we will commence at the extreme north.
The dock estate commences at Rimrose Brook, which
is the northern boundary of Bootle, a few years since a
petty hamlet, now a chartered municipal borough, with
parliamentary possibilities in the future. This boundary
is about three and a half miles from the Exchange, which
is the commercial centre.
The dock property first shows itself in the shape of a
long granite sea-wall far advanced from the original coast
line into deep water, the land behind rough and to a
THE DOCK ESTATE.
687
CHAP.
great extent unformed, but ready for further dock ex- VII.
tension when the fates shall be propitious, and the
guardian angel of Birkenhead caught napping.
Dock.
trade.
The Canada is the most northern floating-dock. Let Canada
us approach it on the eastern side where the timber is
discharged. The first thing which strikes a stranger is Timber
the gigantic scale on which everything is laid out-the
quays, the timber yards, the storing ground, the size of
the ships, everything wears a Brobdignagian aspect. It
will be observed that the square timber here and else-
where in Liverpool is piled up on shore. At most other
ports it is kept floating in large basins or ponds. When
the Canada dock was first projected, ponds of this de-
scription were proposed. Whether expense, want of
space, or the prejudices of the trade prevented their
being carried out, I am not able to say.
Dock.
The tidal gates and locks are worthy of special ex- Canada
amination for their completeness and the excellence of
their arrangements. At the time of the construction of
this dock great complaints were made that the large
ocean paddle-steamers had to lie in the river although
paying dock rates, the entrances being too narrow to
admit them. To remedy this defect, two of the gates Gates.
to the Canada and Huskisson docks were made 80 feet
wide, and the one before us 100 feet. Strange, however,
are the vicissitudes of fashion in commerce as in other
things. No sooner were these conveniences provided
than they were no longer required. The screw was
found so much more economical and advantageous, that
for ocean purposes the paddle has become a thing of the
past. The tendency now is towards excessive length,
with a narrow midship section. Steamers are now built Long
of the length of 350 or 400 feet, with a breadth in mid- steamers.
ships of 35 to 40 feet, and many of the ships built a few
years ago are being cut in the middle and lengthened
40 or 50 feet. The large gates and bridges are opened Hydrau-
and closed by hydraulic machinery, constructed by Sir
lics.
688
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
Huskisson
Dock.
Size of
ships.
William Armstrong of Newcastle. For the purpose of
accumulating the power, several towers have been built
along the line of docks. The one before us is a lofty
structure in grey granite with some subordinate attached
buildings in a sort of castellated style. Whatever may
have been the merits of Mr. Jesse Hartley as an engineer
-and they are undoubtedly great-a feeling for the
beautiful was certainly not one of them. This tower is
double, having a broad and a narrow side surmounted by
an immense machicolated parapet, with a large circular
hole in the broad face, probably intended for a clock.
The general effect is that of an eight-day clock case of
gigantic proportions. The upper part is decorated with
spears, axes, and swords, cut in intaglio on the face of
the granite, with what meaning or intention it would be
hard to say.
The Huskisson Dock which we now approach is gene-
rally occupied by screw steamers and ships of the largest
size. Although 500 yards in length, three ships end to
end not unfrequently occupy the entire space.
6
Two points are remarkable in the shipping of the
present day. The first is the great increase in size and
especially in length. It is not so many years since a
ship of 300 tons burden was considered a large vessel.
Now 1,500 or 2,000 tons is thought a size of very mode-
rate proportion. The Great Liverpool,' built by Sir
John Tobin, in 1838, 1,150 tons burden, was considered
at the time so large and unwieldly as to be almost useless,
whilst only seven years later in 1845, the Great Britain'
Iron ships. Was launched of 3,500 tons burden. The other point is
the almost exclusive employment of iron for the material
of ship building. The Richard Cobden,' the first iron
sea-going ship from Liverpool, was built about 1840, but
the adoption of the principle was very slow, until all at
once as by common consent, timber was abandoned and
iron almost universally adopted. One effect of this in
Liverpool has been the almost entire disappearance of
THE DOCK ESTATE.
689
6
6
C
6
6
CHAP.
VII.
American ships from the docks. Time was when the
trim American liners' were the pride of the port, and
on July 4, the spread of the stars and stripes in honour
of American independence was something marvellous.
Now, the liners' are all iron steamers built in Great
Britain; the Cunard,' the Inman,' the Guion,' the
National,' the Allan,' and other lines, all own alle-
giance to Old England. Another great change is the Steam
gradual supersession of sailing ships by steamers.
rapidity and certainty of the voyage and the great im-
provements in the application of the screw will account.
for this. The number of ships entering the port in the
year ending June 24, 1871, was 20,121, of which 12,696
were sailing vessels, and 7,425 steamers. The tonnage
amounted to 6,131,745, of which 2,724,571 tons were
sailing ships and 3,407,174 tons steamers.
The average
The ships.
burden of the sailing vessels was 211 tons, and of the
steamers 458 tons. There can be no doubt that, before
long, the great bulk of the commerce of the country will
be carried in steam bottoms.
The facilities for discharging cargo are worthy of Discharg
notice. It is not an unusual thing for a steam ship of ing.
the largest size to enter the dock and discharge her
cargo in twenty-four hours. Steam is the powerful agent
for the accomplishment of this. Many of the vessels
have steam cranes;
some have donkey' engines on
board, or if not, they can be hired temporarily, and thus,
with a rapidity heretofore unexampled, a cargo of 2,000
tons is landed under the covered sheds or discharged
into the warehouses in a few hours.
C
The Sandon Basin which we next approach is one of Sandon
the few open tidal basins remaining. It is the central Basin.
point of access to five docks. As we approach the pier
we find a first class sea-going ship about leaving the
dock. In the olden time when a ship of very moderate
dimensions had to be hauled out into the river, it was a
very serious undertaking. Many seniors may remember
VOL. I.
Y Y
690
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
Docking.
Hauling
out.
Marine
the bawling, uproar and gesticulation, not to mention
the decidedly unparliamentary language which was fre-
quently indulged in; the dock master strutting about
with an enormous speaking-trumpet under his arm, which
he sometimes applied to his lips with the tremendous
effect of Stentor summoning the Grecian host; the limbs
and eyes of the laggard sailors being occasionally con-
signed to the inferior regions. Now all is changed,
warp lines are carried out at the bow and stern to fixed
points on the pier. The 'donkey' is set to work; the
capstan flies merrily round; a word or two in a mild tone
or a wave of the hand from the dock master, indicates
the course of the movements. Slowly the huge mass
projects her bows into the narrow entrance. A steam-
tug in waiting, backs in within reach; a hawser is carried
on board and made fast. Turn a-head, slow!' is the
word of command, and majestically the leviathan makes
her way into the river to wait the favouring gale which
is to carry her to distant climes. Scarcely a word is
spoken above the breath, and yet the power and pre-
cision of the whole arrangements are admirable.
In this and in several of the other entrances from the
river, the great height of many of the large ships above
the water has rendered it necessary to raise the masonry
of the piers several feet above their original level.
All along the lines of the docks marine parades are
parades. carried between the enclosing walls and the water, with
stairs at intervals down to the river. These parades are
very little frequented, but they are well worthy of a
visit for the splendid views of the river and shipping they
afford and for the health-inspiring breezes which usually
prevail.
To those who wish to study the lines of naval archi-
tecture the graving docks, of which there are six opening
from Sandon Dock, besides the lock which is also so
used, offer to notice many very fine specimens.
The Wellington, Bramley-Moore, and Nelson Docks,
THE DOCK ESTATE.
691
VII.
ton Dock,
closely resemble each other. They are connected to- CHAP.
gether and surrounded by sheds, protecting the mer-
chandise whilst discharging and loading. Along the
east side of the Wellington and Bramley-Moore Docks, Welling-
there runs a high level railway, a branch from the Lan- &c.
cashire and Yorkshire line, for the shipment of coals,
completed in 1855. This system, which prevails all over
the northern and eastern coal ports, has not been de-
veloped here as might have been expected from its great
convenience. In the construction of any future docks it
is not likely to be overlooked.
The Salisbury, Collingwood, and Stanley, are three Salisbury,
docks en suite extending from west to east, connected by &c.
tidal lock gates. The Stanley Dock lying eastward of
Regent Road is the only inland dock since the filling up
of the Old Dock. The warehouses on its quays worked
by hydraulic power give great facilities for imports.
Two long double graving docks are inserted between
the Collingwood and Clarence Docks, and the small basin
giving access has what is called a 'gridiron,' being a
strong wooden frame on which ships can be placed for
the examination of their bottoms without going into the
graving dock.
Passing the Clarence, Trafalgar, and Victoria Docks, Clarence,
which offer nothing special to our notice, we arrive at &c.
the Waterloo, which within the last few years has been Waterloo.
reconstructed with an outer and inner dock, the latter
surrounded on three sides with warehouses for storing
grain. The design of these buildings is a great improve-
ment on the massive ugliness of the Albert warehouses.
The ground floor is an open arcade supported by granite
piers and arches with fine vaulted floors above. The
openings in each storey are double lights, with semicircular
heads in brick, and rough stone string courses. The
building is surmounted by a bold cornice partly corbelled
out in brick with stone brackets or cantalivers. The
hoisting machinery is fixed in turrets rising above the
Yr 2
692
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL:
VII.
Prince's.
tory.
CHAP. general line of the structure. On the whole the design
though simple is characteristic and effective, showing
evidences of thought and power of adaptability. The
Prince's Basin adjoining was remodelled at the same
time with the Waterloo, and converted into a half-tide
dock with three outer entrances. A tower is built for
the accumulating hydraulic power, on the north entrance
pier, which though less pretentious is much superior in
design to the granite tower at Canada Dock. The pre-
sent one is brick, octagon in plan, standing on a bold
spreading base, simple in design, having a clock in the
upper part on four of the faces. It is crowned by a
deep machicolated battlement, surmounted by a slated
conical roof with dormers and iron cresting. The site
of this tower was formerly occupied by the Liverpool
Observa- Observatory, erected by the corporation of Liverpool in
1844, and furnished with instruments of the most modern
character. When the improvements in the Waterloo
Dock were contemplated a new observatory was erected
on the summit of Bidston Hill near the Lighthouse,
which was completed in 1867. As we pass, here is a
steamer lying alongside the quay, occupying nearly the
entire length of the basin which is more than 400 feet
long. Crossing the lock gates we approach the Prince's
Parade. When the Prince's Dock was first constructed,
this parade being easily accessible, the town extending
a very little way beyond it to the north, it was a favorite
resort, especially on Sunday afternoons and evenings,
serving the same purpose of flirtation and gossip as the
neighbouring ladies' walk had done to the mothers and
All is now
grandmothers of the then generation.
changed; the parade has been widened and converted
into a cart-road to the great landing-stage, which down
beneath us
Parade.
Prince's
landing
stage.
Prone on the flood extended long and large
Lies floating many a rood; in bulk as huge
As whom the fables name, of monstrous size,
Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr'd on Jove;
THE DOCK ESTATE.
693
VII.
Prince's
Here the sea-going steamers, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, prin- CHAP.
cipally congregate and take their departure. On a fine
spring or summer-day, the scene is an animated one;
bands of music enlivening the air, streamers floating landing-
in the wind, touters enticing the unwary passengers to stage.
their respective boats; bands of cheap trippers from
Bolton or Chowbent, strong in the vernacular of the
county palatine; hand-bell ringers from Manchester on
a visit to the Isle of Man. A little farther the steamers
for Mostyn, Rhyl, or Beaumaris, display on the fore-deck
a gathering of blue cloaks with the sputtering gutturals
of the ancient British tongue in their sharpest accents.
Paddy and Sawney have also their representatives in the
swift and strong boats which ply regularly to the various
ports of the northern and western kingdoms.
But the scene is altogether changed when
the autumn night
Has a wondrous sight
And a step both bold and free.
The arrival of a crowded steamer after a rough pas-
sage-say from the Isle of Man-is a pitiable spectacle.
The deplorable woe-begone looks and feeble steps of the
victims as they once more scramble on terra firma, re-
solved never again to tempt the dangers of the seas,
present a sight more deserving of sympathy than is
usually accorded. A few hours spent on the great
landing-stage in the height of the season with the varied
aspects of society passing under review, and the splendid
outlook of the moving panorama on the waters, will
amply repay anyone of a reflective turn of mind.
Basin.
George's Dock Basin as it formerly existed, was the George's
centre of the line of docks and afforded the only fine
glimpse of the river and estuary to be obtained. The
view from St. Nicholas's Churchyard presented as pic-
turesque and animated a marine prospect as could any-
where be seen, whilst the view of the town from the
694
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
Altera-
tions.
CHAP. river combining the noble steeple and lantern of St.
Nicholas, the telegraph tower and neighbouring build-
ings with the shipping in the foreground has formed the
subject of many a painter's pencil. I speak of these
things in the past tense, for whilst these pages are passing
through the press a vast change is going forward. Under
the powers of an Act obtained in the Session of 1871, the
basin is being converted into dry ground with a canal or
inlet in the middle for a floating-bridge, giving access to
a new landing-stage uniting the two already existing,
and enormously increasing the facilities for embarkation.
That this arrangement will be a great public convenience
there can be no doubt. Its æsthetic effects can only be
judged of hereafter, but it will be a source of regret if
the fine view, the only one left in the town, should be
seriously interfered with.
George's
Parade and
stage.
Landing
stage.
Baths.
6
We now approach George's Parade and the river
landing-stage constructed in 1847. The avenues, the
pier, and the stage, present a moving panorama of the
rush and whirl of human life such as is rarely to be met.
with. The Railway Station' as illustrated in Mr. Frith's
celebrated picture, presents the same sort of aspect, but
more fitful and spasmodic. Here the tide of human life
sets in with a steady intensity which never flags from
morn to night. The ferry is a great leveller; rich and
poor, high and low, gentle and simple, must all take the
same course and mix irrespective of rank. Like the
river of death, which every pilgrim must pass for himself,
here all distinctions cease. It is strange that with a sea-
board of six miles, all the transit across the river should
be concentrated on a single point, but so it is. Attempts
have been made at various times to establish ferries
higher up the river but always without success, and it is
probable that the present arrangement will permanently
continue.
The baths on George's Pier were erected by the cor-
poration in 1826 in lieu of baths which formerly stood in
THE DOCK ESTATE.
69E
Bath Street, and which were absorbed into the enclosure
of the Prince's Dock. They were opened in 1829. The
design was from the pencil of Mr. John Foster, junior,
at that time surveyor to the corporation. The building
is low and somewhat mean looking; in the style of
Pseudo-Greek, so much in vogue at the period of its
erection. The narrow strip left between the baths and
the edge of the quay is a serious defect which is quite
inexcusable, as there was ample room and verge enough
behind for any reasonable depth of margin.
CHAP.
VII.
Baths.
The land on the west of George's Dock was originally
occupied by timber yards; subsequently a battery was
erected on a portion of the space. The two inlets were
constructed for the use of the ferry-boats which formerly
were the only means of communication with the Cheshire
side of the river. After the introduction of steam, the Ferries.
only mode of access to the steam-boats was by a number
of narrow steep stairs of the most dangerous character.
The frequent occurrence of accidents at length forced the
attention of the authorities to the subject, and a wide
granite stair was constructed, which to some extent
obviated the evil, but was far too circumscribed to meet
the ever-increasing demand. The steamers also were
liable to be grounded at low tide, to remedy which a sort
of sliding telescope stage was constructed, running up
into a tunnel as the tide rose. The enormous increase of
traffic soon rendered this scheme altogether insufficient,
and an advertisement was issued and premiums offered
for the best design for a landing-stage. A number of Landing
plans were sent in, but none of them were considered stage.
adapted to meet the requirements, and ultimately Mr.
Lewis Cubitt, C.E., was instructed to take up the subject
and prepare a plan, which resulted in the construction
of the present stage which was opened in 1847. It has
answered the purpose very well; but the bridges of com-
munication with the pier are so steep when the tide is
low as to render them useless for carriages.
696
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP.
VII.
Basin.
South of George's Pier we arrive at the Chester and
Ellesmere Basin and the Manchester Dock, principally
used for the coasting and carrying trade on the river, for
Ellesmere which purpose they were constructed soon after the com-
pletion of George's Dock. The streets hereby take the
name of Mann's Island and Nova Scotia. The ware-
houses and buildings are (for Liverpool) of ancient date.
They originally belonged to the corporation, but under
the Act 9 & 10 Vic., c. 109, the property was sold to the
Dock Board in 1851 for the sum of 112,5841.
Mann's
Island,
Canning
Dock.
Bridge
Street,
&c.
Sailors'
riots.
The Canning Dock which we now approach was ori-
ginally the tidal basin leading to the Old Dock. Its
form and capacity have not been much changed, but an
exterior half-tide dock has been formed giving access
both to the Canning and Albert Docks. The land on the
east side of the Canning Dock and the western part of
the Old Dock was formerly a labyrinth of narrow dark
crowded lanes, of which Strand Street and Wapping were
the eastern margin. Some of the streets, especially Bridge
Street and Bromfield Street, were notorious for houses of
ill-fame, frequented by sailors. In the days of impress-
ment, it was no uncommon occurrence for the press-gang
to enter these houses and kidnap the seamen they found
there. On such occasions, the graving dock bells were
converted into tocsins to sound the alarm, when seamen
and ship carpenters rushed to the rescue and frightful
scenes of riot and sometimes bloodshed took place. One
of the most serious of these riots, arising however from a
somewhat different cause, occurred in August 1775.
Owing to the depression of trade, an attempt had been
made to lower the wages of the seamen on board a slave-
ship or Guineaman-the 'Derby,' Captain Yates. This was
resisted, and led to altercations and disputes breaking out
into open violence. The sailors rose in a body and cut
away the rigging of the ship, with that of others also pre-
paring for sea. Some of the rioters being secured and
lodged in the Old Tower in Water Street, a mob of about

Barwood.
THE PRINCA'S DOOR, LIVERPOOR,
F. R. Hay.
THE DOCK ESTATE.
697
CHAP.
VII.
riots.
2,000 assembled and attacked the gaol, which surren-
dered at discretion, and the prisoners were carried off in
triumph. They then paraded the streets and levied con-
tributions on the houses of the principal inhabitants. Sailors'
In the course of these proceedings they visited the house
of Mr. William Leece in Water Street, a little above
Tower Garden, where they only found to confront them
She
a young lady Miss Leece, and the female servants.
courageously stepped to the front and quietly asked their
business. Whatever Jack's faults may be, insensibility
to female charms is not one of them. The leader imme-
diately stepped back, took off his hat, and in the most
gentle manner stated his case and solicited a contri-
bution, which having received, he made his bow and
retired with his myrmidons. The gunsmiths' shops were
broken open and a violent attack made upon the Town-
hall. Firearms were used in its defence and two or
three persons killed. It is said that several pieces of
ordnance were brought up by the rioters and pointed
at the building. In the afternoon of the following day
a detachment of the 1st Dragoons arrived from Man-
chester, at the sight of whom the mob took to flight and
dispersed. Many of them were caught and impressed
into the naval service.
1
Dock.
The Salt House or Salt Works belonging to Mr. Black- Salt
burne after which the dock was called, stood on the east House.
side between Salthouse Lane and Campbell Street. The
new line of Wapping runs over the site. The Albert Albert.
Dock is well worth a visit from the completeness of its
arrangements and the vast stores of merchandise laid up
in its fireproof floors. The site of this dock was formerly
the great shipbuilding district. The Rathbones, Gray-
sons, Fishers, and Earles, here had their establishments
at the time when Hearts of Oak were our Ships,' long
before the Age of Iron dawned upon the world. This
6
1 Miss Leece afterwards married Mr. James Drinkwater, mayor in 1810,
and was the mother of Sir George, mayor in 1829.
698
VII.
Dock.
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. neighbourhood underwent a complete transformation
under the authority of the Act 9 & 10 Vic., c. 109 (1847).
The Duke's Dock for river craft was thrown into the
shade by the advancement of the general docks to the
Wapping eastward and the formation of Wapping Dock and ware-
houses. The interconnexion of these docks and the con-
venience of the arrangements for facilitating commercial
business are admirable. The east side of Wapping Dock
is lined with warehouses, the lower storey being an open
quay. On the west side the whole space between the
Wapping and King's is covered by a magnificent open
roof, giving ample room and verge enough for the de-
parture and arrival of produce to any extent. The west
side of the King's Dock is occupied by the Queen's
bonded tobacco warehouses where all the tobacco im-
ported is required to be stored. In the midst of this
stands the Queen's tobacco-pipe, probably the largest
in the world, the stem being about 100 feet in length,
with a bowl of corresponding size. This is the furnace
and chimney in which the damaged tobacco not allowed
to be manufactured is consumed.
Tabacco
warehouse.
Queen's
Basin.
The Queen's Dock Basin has been converted into a
half-tide dock from which two graving docks branch
southward. Westward of these extending from Baffin
Street to the river the land is occupied by ship-building
yards, where the clink of the wooden mallet has been
superseded by the harsh clatter of the rivetting hammer.
Baffin Street takes its name from the whalefishery which
flourished in Liverpool for a considerable number of
years and had one of its depôts in this locality. Liver-
Greenland pool appears to have taken part in the Greenland fisheries
Fisheries. in the early part of the last century. In 1764 three
vessels were engaged in the trade. In the year 1775,
the first whaler built in Liverpool was launched from
Mr. Sutton's yard in Mersey Street. The trade went on
increasing until it reached its culminating point in 1788,
in which year twenty-one ships of the average burden of
THE DOCK ESTATE.
699
CHAP.
VII.
about 310 tons-large ships at that period-were em-
ployed. The next year the trade received a shock. Out
of seventeen vessels sent out from Liverpool four were
lost. From this time the whaling enterprise from Liver-
pool gradually diminished, until in 1823, only one ship
theBaffin,' commanded by Captain William Scoresby, Captain
sailed from the port, and with this the Greenland trade Scoresby.
came to an end. Captain Scoresby was a very remark-
able man. Born at Whitby in 1789, descended from a
race of hardy mariners, he very early in life accompanied
his father to the Arctic seas and acquired those habits
of sagacious observation, the results of which he after-
wards embodied in his published Account of the Arctic
Regions.' Besides being an excellent seaman he was
something far beyond this, being a man of scientific
attainments and literary capacity. After his retirement
from the command of a whaler, he entered the church
and was for some years the chaplain of the floating
church for mariners, which he quitted on being presented
with a living in the south of England. He was subse-
quently vicar of Bradford. He was the author of several
works and of contributions to scientific societies. He
died at Torquay in 1857.
C
Craft
The River Craft Dock immediately adjoining Baffin River
Street belongs to the corporation and is found conve- Dock.
nient for letting to private firms which require water
frontages for river and coasting vessels.
The Coburg Dock was originally the tidal basin giving Coburg.
access to the south end of the Queen's Dock, and was
subsequently converted into a floating dock. Its ready
access direct from the river makes it very convenient for
the steam trade.
On the south side of the Coburg Dock, with a small
inlet and a river frontage, stands the dockyard and Dock-
engineering establishment of the Mersey Docks and yard.
Harbour Board. It acquired its eminence under the
management of the Hartleys, father and son, and since
700
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
CHAP. the accession of their present eminent successor, Mr.
Lyster, it has certainly not lost any of its prestige.
Heart of oak is none the less sound and strong from
having some of the protuberances dressed down, and by
the acquisition of a little polish.
Bruns-
wick.
Increase
of timber
trade.
Graving
Docks.
The Brunswick Dock which we now approach is the
great south timber depôt. The broad eastern quay,
sloping down to the water's edge for the convenience
of discharging the timber, allows the bulk and height of
the ships to display themselves in all their huge pro-
portions.
The increase of trade in the port may be gathered
from the fact that only a very few years ago, the Bruns-
wick Dock and its appurtenances furnished sufficient
accommodation for the timber trade of the port. Since
the bulk of the trade was removed in 1859 to the Canada
Dock, the imports at the south have so far recovered as
to seem pretty nearly equal to what they were before
the transfer. The west side of the dock is devoted to
merchandise other than timber though there are exten-
sive storing grounds adjacent.
The south end of the Brunswick Dock has two at-
tached graving docks, and west from these there is a
settlement of manufactories and yards. These were all
originally ship-building yards, but from some cause or
another the building of ships does not appear indigenous
in the Mersey to the same extent as on the Clyde. No
better work is turned out than that from the building
yards on the Mersey. The establishment of Messrs.
Laird has built some of the finest ships in her Majesty's
navy, but price is an important element in commercial
affairs; and it is possible that the northern ports, having
labour cheaper and iron close at hand, may render it
difficult for the builders on the Mersey to compete
with them.
very
A little south of Brunswick Dock, there is a small
THE DOCK ESTATE.
701
6
VII.
Toxteth
inlet furnished with tidal gates called the Toxteth Dock, CHAP.
the precincts of which are surrounded by walls on three
sides, shutting it out from the bustle of the outer world.
This little enclosure is quite a curiosity in its way, being Lock
an oasis of quiet in the midst of the surging roar of
commerce outside. It is the only spot in the long line
of the Liverpool Docks where the grass grows on the
quays, but here there is a plentiful crop. It is, never-
theless, not a private establishment, but a veritable public
dock, occupied principally for the purposes of the Dock
Board. The last time I paid a visit to the locality, I
was strongly reminded of the description of Salem U.S. in
the introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter.'
There were lying afloat one of the light-ships with an
attendant barge; a river flat, and a three-masted ship,
but all quiet and silent without a sign of life on board.
On the grass-grown quay, stood a man and a boy, lazily
watching a pitchpot under which a fire was burning.
Two or three seamen were idly lounging about with
their hands in their pockets, but of trade or work going
forward there was not the slightest sign. The existence
of a little tranquil nook like this where the rapid current
of life gets into an eddy and ceases to flow, is positively
refreshing by its marked contrast with the hurry-scurry
on every side.
Station.
We are now nearly opposite the Brunswick Railway Brunswick
Station, the terminus of the Midland, the Manchester
Sheffield and Lincolnshire, and the Great Northern
Systems, the line of which is being carried by a tunnel
to the new terminus in Ranelagh Street. A little to the
south commences the railway or tramroad which extends Tramway.
along the entire line of the docks, with branches to the
respective railway goods stations, and communications
with the various dock warehouses and sheds. The con-
venience and saving of labour by means of this line are
incalculable. It is no uncommon thing for produce from
702
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
CHAP. abroad sold to customers in various parts of the country
VII.
South
Ferry.
Hercu-
laneum
Dock.
previous to its arrival, to be broken up into parcels, de-
livered from the vessel at once into the railway waggons,
and sent north, south, east and west, direct to its desti-
nation, thus avoiding the expense of brokerage, cartage,
forwarding, agency, and other expenses.
The tramway is also used for omnibuses which traverse
the whole length of the docks, preceding each other at
intervals of about ten minutes.
Beyond the Toxteth Dock we come to the unformed
land formerly the estate of the Harrington Dock Com-
pany. Two small inlets have been constructed with
tidal gates, used for coasters and river barges. Nearly in
front floats the south ferry stage, waiting patiently in
calm solitude for the far off future which shall bring the
obdurate public to appreciate the advantages of a southern
ferry. A little farther south, the Bridgwater trustees
have a small dock and yard for river traffic. There is
ample room and verge enough at the south end for the
extension of the dock system should circumstances ever
require it, but with the vast expanse of Birkenhead yet
unproductive the time appears somewhat distant.
We here enter upon the precincts of the old Hercu-
laneum Pottery Estate. The works stood upon a pro-
montory nearly at the foot of Wellington Road, a little
south of Egerton Dock, and with their smoking chimneys
and groups
groups of buildings backed by the high steep green
fields to the east, they formed a conspicuous object from
the river. Their work is done, their day is over; their
busy industry has given place to activity of another kind,
which may hereafter in its turn, yield to other influences
as the world runs its course and fulfils
The promise of the golden hours.
The Herculaneum Dock is but small in extent and seems
devoted to nothing in particular. It gives access to two
THE DOCK ESTATE.
703
noble graving docks, where the largest ships and the
longest steamers can be accommodated. Ship-building
is carried on to some extent in the immediate vicinity.
With the southern extremity of the graving docks, the
dock estate abruptly terminates.
CHAP.
VII.
The remaining space to Dingle Lane, the only sea Park Hill
margin in the municipality not belonging to the Dock House.
board, is occupied by the grounds of Park Hill House,
which looks tranquilly from its pleasaunce on the bustle
of commerce which has advanced to its very border.
We have now completed our walk of six miles from
Rimrose Brook to Dingle Point. It would be difficult to
find on the face of the earth a line of equal distance
containing hydraulic works of equal magnitude and
grandeur of construction, or exhibiting more decided
marks of commercial progress and prosperity.
*
The eulogy of Erskine in his speech in a celebrated Eulogy of
cause connected with the town in the year 1792 has Erskine.
often been quoted. It is at the present day far more
true than at the time when he pronounced it, and I can-
not do better than employ his eloquent words to bring
this chapter to a close. He says, I had before and
often been at the principal seaports in this island, and
believing that having seen Bristol and those other towns
that justly pass for great ones, I had seen everything in
this great nation of navigators on which a subject should
pride himself, I own I was astonished and astounded
when after passing a distant ferry and ascending a hill,
I was told by my guide," All you see spread out beneath
you that immense place which stands like another
Venice upon the waters-which is intersected by those
numerous docks-which glitters with those cheerful habi-
tations of well protected men-which is the busy seat of
trade, and the gay scene of elegant amusements growing
out of its prosperity-where there is the most cheerful
face of industry-where there are riches overflowing and
704
MEMORIALS OF LIVERPOOL.
VII.
CHAP. everything which can delight a man who wishes to see
the prosperity of a great community and a great empire;
all this has been executed by the industry and well-
disciplined management of a small number of men since
you were a boy." I must have been a stock or a stone
not to have been affected by such a picture.'
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
LONDON: PRINTED BY
SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE
AND PARLIAMENT STREET
}
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