DEAR SIR,-As the time for which I was elected an Alderman of Gateshead will expire on the 9th of November, I beg to state to you, to prevent unnecessary trouble, it is not my intention again to offer myself a candidate for the office; as I find I cannot attend properly to the duties of it without much inconvenience.

I take this opportunity to thank you, and all the members of the Council, for the kindness which I have always experienced whilst amongst you. I remain, dear Sir, very truly yours,

JOHN BARRAS.

William Kell, Esq. The Council proceeded to the election of three Aldermen in the room of Aldermen Barras, Brockett, and Davis, whose term of office had expired. Each member of the Council handed a voting-paper to the Mayor; and when the votes were cast up, it was found that

Mr. W. H. Brockett bad

Mr. Robert Davis

Mr. William Keumir.

Mr. Charles Bertram

Mr. Joseph Robson

17

17

17

1 1

For Messrs. Brockett, Davis, and Kenmir.-Aldermen Pollock and Wilson; and Councillors Bertram, Cook, Wilson, Garbutt, Pearson, Lister (senior and junior), Smith, Revely, Robson (Joseph), Robson (John), Edward, Kenmir, and Potts.

For Messrs. Brockett and Davis.-Councillor Hymers.

For Messrs. Bertram, Kenmir, and Joseph Robson.-Councillor Wylam.

The MAYOR declared that Messrs. Brockett, Davis, and Kenmir, were duly elected.

Mr. Ald. BROCKETT rose and said, that he esteemed as a high compliment his reëlection to the office of Alderman under almost unanimous circunstances. There was one fact connected with his reelection which he could not pass over in silence. Although he was already to meet opposition in the prosecution of what he thought to be a good cause, he was still more ready to meet and reciprocate good feeling and conciliatory advances; and he felt peculiarly called upon to express his satisfaction as to the votes given to him by two gentlemen on the present occasion. He had had the misfortune to differ from those gentlemen in public matters. It was with regret that he did so; but while acting with the independence becoming an Englishman, he hoped that he had also always manifested the courtesy that was due to honourable opponents, and to those feelings which should prevail between neighbour and neighbour. (Applause.)

Mr. Ald. DAVIS concurred in the sentiments of Mr. Ald. Brockett, and hoped that all animosity would henceforth cease. (Applause.)

Mr. Ald. KENMIR also briefly acknowledged the honour bestowed upon him.

Mr. Ald. Pollock was chosen Alderman of the West Ward, Mr. Ald. Wilson of the South Ward, and Mr. Ald. Brockett of the East Ward, for election-purposes.

The 5th of February, 7th of May, and 6th of August, were fixed upon as quarterly meeting days in 1845.

Mr. Ald. POLLOCK rose to move the following resolution:"That the cordial thanks of this Council are due, and are hereby voted, to John Barras, Esq., for the manner in which, for the last me years, he has performed his duty as a member of this Council; and that the sincere wishes of the Council for the health and happiness of Mr. Barras be conveyed to him at the same time."

Mr. Ald. BROCKETT, Mr. REVELY, and other members of the Council, simultaneously seconded the motion, and it was passed by acclamation.

Notice was given by Mr. Ald. BROCKETT, of his intention to move, at the next meeting, the adoption of a petition for the emancipation of the Jews from their civil disabilities; and routine business having been transacted (including the confirmation of a Report, presented by Mr. BERTRAM, on the subject of the new townhall,) the meeting was adjourned to the 20th inst.

The Mayor of Gateshead (Mr. Cummins) took the oaths and his seat as a Magistrate on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The business of the police-office will be transacted, on and after Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the new townhall.

BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD.

MR. JAMES HYMERS requests the attention of

his fellow-townsmen to the following copy of an
INDICTMENT.

-

DURHAM, TO WIT. - The Jurors for our Lady the Queen upon their oath present, that JAMES HYMERS, late of the parish of Gateshead, in the county of Durham, yeoman, on the thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four, with force and arms, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, in a certain footway, being the Queen's common highway, situate and being in a certain street there, called the High-street, and which said footway and highway is used for all the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen, to go, return, pass, repass, and labour at their free will and pleasure, unlawfully and injuriously did dig and make, and cause to be dug and made, a certain pit and quarry, containing in length fifty feet, and in breadth forty feet, and in depth fifteen feet, and the same pit and quarry, so as aforesaid dug and made, and caused to be dug and made, in the footway and highway aforesaid, from the day and year atoresaid, until the day of the taking of this inquisition, with force and arms, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, unlawfully and injuriously did continue, and still doth continue, by reason whereof the Queen's subjects, during the time aforesaid, could not go, return, pass, repass, and labour, in, by, upon, and along the same footway and highway, as they were wont and ought to do, without great peril and danger of their lives, to the great damage and common nuisance of all the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen, in, by, upon, and along the same footway and highway, going, returning, passing, repassing, and labouring, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, and against the Peace of our said Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity.

2, 3, and 4. [The second, third, and fourth counts in the indictment, are a copy of the first, with the exception that the description of the footpath is varied. The second count describes it as the property of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses; and the third, as the property of the Street Act Commissioners.]

5. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their cath aforesaid, do further present, that the said James Hymers, on the said thirtieth day of August, in the said year one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, with force and arms, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, in a certain street there, called High street, being the Queen's common highway, used for all the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen, with their horses, coaches, carts, and carriages, to go, return, pass, repass, ride, and labour at their free will and pleasure, unlawfully and injuriously did put, place, and lay divers large quantities of stones, bricks, wood, lime, and rubbish, (to wit, two hundred cart-loads of stones, two hundred cart-loads of bricks, two hundred cart-loads of wood, two hundred cart loads of lime, and two hundred cart-loads of rubbish,) and the same stones, bricks, wood, lime, and rubbish, so as aforesaid put, placed, and laid in the street and highway last aforesaid, from the day and year aforesaid, until the day of the taking of this inquisition, at the parish aforesaid, in the county aforesaid, unlawfully and injuriously did continue, and still doth continue, by reason whereof the Queen's common highway last aforesaid there, and for and during all the time aforesaid, was obstructed, straightened, and incumbered, so that the liege subjects of our said Lady the Queen could not there, and for and during all the time aforesaid, go, recurn, pass, repass, ride, and labour, with their horses, coaches, carts, and other carriages, in, through, and along the Queen's common highway last aforesaid, as they ought and were wont and accustomed to do, to the great damage and common nuisance of all Her Majesty's liege subjects, going, returning, passing, repassing, riding, and labouring, in, through, and along the common highway last aforesaid, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity. KELL.

For a Nuisance.-A true Bill.

WHARTON.

}

Sworn.

THE GATESHEAD FREE-TRADE SOCIETY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TYNE MERCURY. SIR, I feel that it is due to myself not to allow the editorial notes of the Gateshead Observer upon the late Free Trade meeting, to pass without some observations.

1. It is quite true that I declined to cooperate with those who were not prepared to make the representation of Gateshead by a man who would entirely abolish the corn laws, and all protective duties, the object of the Free Trade Society. Let those who complain say for what other object we should continue to To spread our principles? That is done. We must

meet.

obviously either be silent, or endeavour to carry them out. I see it stated in the report, that I said we must consider ourselves defeated if Mr. Hutt were reëlected. I mean, as a fixed duty man. I repeat that, if Gateshead remains a fixed-duty borough, we must consider ourselves defeated; and I ask, if it be not to avert this, for what rational purpose can we continue to meet?

2. It is said that I put an ungenerous gloss upon the conduct of Mr. Hutt, in saying that he longs for a fixed duty. I simply mean that he would choose it in preference to total repealthat he looks to that as his end. I would vote for a fixed duty in preference to the sliding scale; and I am sure that the League would be found supporting the fixed duty when brought forward by a government that could carry it; but they would still bring forward their motion for the total repeal. Let our hon. member only say that he never intends deserting Mr. Villiers-that he will continue to give him his support-and our controversy is at an end. Till then, we can only, in truth, consider him as one anxious to retain a part of the bread-monopoly. 3. The Gateshead Observer agrees with me in condemning a fixed duty, and does not, like our hon. member, attempt to justify it on the ground of revenue. It is, however, contended that there is no more injustice in taxing imported corn than imported tea, sugar, and coffee. I am reported as having said that the duties on those articles at present went almost entirely to revenue. I said no such thing. I am not so ignorant as to be unaware of the existence of differential duties, which it is one of the main objects of the League to abolish. J said that a revenue might properly be raised by taxing imported articles not produced at home, provided they were taxed equally, without considering what countries they came from, because the produce of such taxes would all go to revenue; but that it was impossible to tax foreign corn without at the same time raising the price of English corn, and that consequently the maintenance of any duty on foreign corn was utterly inconsistent with renunciation of the principle of protection.

4. This is all that relates to myself, except a compliment to my honesty, coupled with a doubt as to my wisdom, and a hint that I am somewhat uncharitable. Truth, sir, I believe is wisdom; and it is a spurious charity that is ever in opposition to truth.

The Gateshead Observer, which I look upon as representing the seceders, expressed perfect satisfaction with the conduct of our hon. member on the corn law question. I and others could not feel that, and we therefore declined to act with those who said they did. They are contented. We are not. That is our ground of difference. I have never impeached their motives; but as I would not censure without strong reason, so neither would I praise. Whenever I feel any admiration for their conduct I will not be slow to express it.

I must allude to one subject more. Colonel Thompson was mentioned at the meeting. I could not allow his name to be mentioned without expressing the deep respect I have for him, and my opinion that he ought to be in parliament. His is an instance of generous self-devotion rare indeed, and hitherto unrequited. He has sacrificed wealth and position in society to His abilities as a what he believed was for the public good. political economist are of the first order. He may be called the Father of Corn-Law Repeal. His services on this question are so incalculable, that I think those who have it at heart should support him, even if they differed with him upon other points. I own that when I think of his age and services, I am much affected at the thought that he should not be placed in the house for the remainder of his days.

But, on the other hand, I must say that Mr. Cook was mistaken in supposing that I intended to give any pledge about bringing him forward-and I should have said so at once. He will, I am sure, have the good sense to see that I could not, if I would, pledge the Society to any course without consulting them. We must ascertain our strength, and be guided by circumstances. I do not anticipate any sudden success. Many of the electors who, I am persuaded, would stand by us at a pinch, may be disposed to wait before taking any decisive steps. Our reliance is upon the truth and justice of ourea use; and if we only work hard enough, and have enough patience, we mus succeed in the end. I am, Sir, your obedientS ervant, GEORGE CRAWSHAY. [We transfer this letter to our columns, not for purposes of comment, but that our readers, having seen our remarks of last

tiously, opposed. Mr. Kenmir, the present Mayor, it is believed, will be selected by the Town-Council as the successor of Mr. Barras.]

SUNDERLAND.'

SUNDERLAND WARD. Retiring Councillors, Messrs. Christopher Bramwell and John Ritson. Candidates, Messrs. John Murray, William Carling, and J. M. Cooper. Elected, Mr. Murray (134), and Mr. Cooper (105). Defeated, Mr. Carling (104). A Liberal and a Tory take the seats of two Tories.

BISHOPWEARMOUTH.-Retiring Councillors, Messrs. Joseph Lee and Thomas Brown. Candidates, Messrs. Thomas Brown and John Ray. No opposition. Tory and Liberal returned, in the room of two Tories. MONKWEARMOUTH.-Retiring Councillors, Messrs. G. Bolam and T. Oliver. Candidates, Messrs. W. Baynes and William Burdis.

ST. MICHAEL's.-Retiring Councillors, Messrs. John Hopper and James Hills. Candidates, Messrs. Hills and W. Dobinson. No oppo. sition.

BRIDGE.-Retiring Councillors, Messrs. Joseph Young and William Dobinson. Candidates, Messrs. William Muschamp, W. T. Bell, and T. Burn. Elected, Messrs. Bell (58) and Muschamp (53). Defeated, Mr. Burn (15).

EAST.-Retiring Councillors, Messrs. William Nicholson and John Barry. Reelected.

WEST-Retiring Councillors, Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., and Mr. William Muschamp. Candidates, Sir Hedworth and Mr. Matthew Kearney. No opposition.

[The Liberals have increased their strength in the Council by the present elections. But if the Sunderland Herald speak truly (and we believe it does), the burgesses are to be told, on Saturday next, that polities are to be disregarded in municipal elections, and that they are all in the wrong when they vote against such candidates as Messrs. Bramwell and Ritson!]

DURHAM.

ST. NICHOLAS' WARD.-Returned, Messrs. Veitch (125) and Tiplady (123). Defeated, Mr. Telfair, a Tory, (120). Two Liberals elected.

NORTH WARD.-Messrs. W. Brignal and John Marshall, Whigs, and Mr. T. Monkhouse, Tory, were the candidates. Result uncertain, au objection being taken to Mr. Monkhouse.

SOUTH WARD.-Returned, Messrs. E. Peele (122) and A. Wilkinson (94). Defeated, Mr. Shields (60), a Whig. Two Tories elected. STOCKTON.

EAST WARD.-Elected, Messrs. Edward Hodgson, Thomas Plews, and Henry Walker.

WEST WARD.-Elected, Messrs. John Ecles, Robert Cass, and James Sudron.

MORPETH.

Retiring Councillors, Messrs. Anthony Charlton, Thomas Jobling, John Creighton, and George Hood. Reelected.

GATESHEAD FREE TRADE SOCIETY.-The annual business-meeting was held on Monday, Oct. 28, at Miss Murray's, the Half Moon inn. About thirty of the members were present, (Mr. Joseph Clephan in the chair). Officers and committee were elected for the ensuing year, (George Crawshay, Esq., being chosen President and Treasurer, and Mr. T. Pringle, Secretary). It was resolved that weekly meetings should be held during the winter, to diffuse free-trade principles and information in the borough. The first public meeting will shortly be announced.

GATESHEAD BRITISH SCHOOLS.-The Committee are now so fully impressed with the necessity for having spacious and well-ventilated school rooms, that they have determined on making an effort to raise a fund, by public subscription, for the erection of a suitable building. If the Committee carry out their resolution with spirit and vigour, they will no doubt meet with that liberal support so excellent an object deserves.

BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD.

HE Persons hereinafter named and described, COUNCILLORS of the several Wards of the said Borough hereinafter inserted :

EAST WARD.

JAMES HYMERS, Ellison-street, Gentleman. WILLIAM COOK, Bridge-street, Brewer.

WEST WARD.

WILLIAM KENMIR, Mulgrave-terrace, Brewer.
THOMAS CUMMINS, West-street, Painter.
SOUTH WARD.

JOHN ROBSON, High-street, Draper.

CHARLES JOHN PEARSON, High-street, Builder.
WILLIAM KELL, Town Clerk.

Town Hall, November 1, 1844.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE EAST WARD OF GATESHEAD.

GENTLEMEN, to again see in me, ENTLEMEN,-I beg to offer you my Thanks

electing me, once more, as one of your Representatives in the Town Council.

I feel also much obliged to the Windmill-Hills WallBuilders and their followers, for the distinguished honour they, too, have conferred upon me:-I mean, the honour of their paltry trickery and powerless opposition. And I beg to assure both you and them, that I shall never cease from urging upon the Town Councillors of Gateshead, not only the necessity of protecting the inhabitants of the Borough from those rapacious experiments on their property, to which, for several years past, they have been exposed, but the propriety, also, of remembering that Councillors are elected for the purpose, not of defeating, but of promoting, the ends of justice. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant,

Ellison-street, Nov. 1, 1844.

JAMES HYMERS.

TO THE BURGESSES OF THE SOUTH WARD OF THE BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD.

GENTLEMEN, I beg to tender my best thanks

for the honour you have conferred upon me, by electing me one of your Representatives in the Town Council, and to assure you that my utmost exertions shall always be used in promotion of any measure that, in my opinion, may tend to the improvement of the Borough generally.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES J. PEARSON.

High-street, Nov. 1, 1844.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE WEST WARD OF GATESHEAD.

GENTLEMEN, Most sincerely I thank you for

the kind feeling you have this day expressed in again electing me one of your Representatives in the Town Council. Having already served you for nine years, I feel great pleasure in knowing that my conduct is so much in accordance with your wishes. Be assured that I shall endeavour to retain your good opinion. I am, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient Servant, 14, West-street, Nov, 1, 1844. THOMAS CUMMINS.

TO THE BURGESSES OF THE WEST WARD OF GATESHEAD.

GENTLEMEN, I thank you for Reelecting me

one of your Representatives in the Town Council. I shall endeavour, by an an attentive discharge of my Duties, to continue to deserve the confidence you have again reposed in me. I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient Servant, Mulgrave-terrace, Nov. 2, 1844, W. KENMIR.

REDUCTION OF THE STADE TOLLS. THE Stade tolls, after a period of thirty years of almost unresisted abuse by the Sovereigns of Hanover, have been reduced to something more like their legal proportions as they were settled by treaty. By an arrangement recently concluded between the Governments of Great Britain and Hanover, these imposts have been cut down to about one. third of the amount to which King Ernest made pretension; and the claim which his Majesty somewhat arrogantly advanced to vary them at pleasure, has, as we are informed, been finally abandoned. The tolls are, moreover, to be collected for the future in a manner the least troublesome

and injurious to commerce in the Elbe. This is certainly a concession. It comes somewhat late, and it is, still, less than Great Britain had a right to demand; but we have no hesitation in saying that both the shipowner and owner of cargoes proceeding up the Elbe will find their burdens sensibly diminished by virtue of this treaty. Perhaps we could not better illustrate the benefits which the treaty has conferred on British navigation in the Elbe, than by quoting the following interesting letter, which was addressed a few days since, by Mr. John Ormston, of Newcastle, to a gentleman of this town:

DEAR SIR,-I am glad to tell you that the Stade charges have under. gone a change; and a very pleasant one it is for shipowners having vessels visiting the Elbe. I had two vessels there during the present month-both the same size:-the one was charged the old rate of Stade duty, viz., 45 marks: the other the new, which is only 10 marks. Dif ference, 35 marks; being a saving of about £2 3s. 6d.

I thus consider myself a debtor to the excellent Member for Gateshead, Mr. Hutt, to a considerable extent, as the like saving will happen with each of my traders. Yours truly,

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, October 29, 1844.

JOHN ORMSTON.

Mr. Ormston's letter relates to the reduction of tolls on the shipowner :-we have no doubt that similar acknowledgments will soon be made of the yet more important abatement of tolls on cargoes.

The payments to which commerce on the Elbe used to be subject, under the name of Stade tolls, were of various kinds. First, taxes on the cargo of every ship (the flag of Hamburgh excepted) proceeding up the river. The printed tariff under which these taxes were levied was an extremely curious article in the history of modern commerce; curious, not merely on account of the rate of the tolls, but for their variety and complexity. It was, indeed, a revolting instru ment of exaction. It taxed, in detail, 2,368 articles by name; but by frequently imposing on the same article dif. ferent duties, according to the form it assumed or the name by which it was described, no less than 6,688 various kinds of duties came into operation. There were 35 different duties imposed upon iron goods, 32 upon yarn or twist, 18 upon sugar, 42 upon leather, 36 upon oil, and 126 upon wood. The consequence of all this complexity was most serious embarrassment to commerce. The merchant trading to the North of Germany could never inform himself, beforehand, how much his goods would pay, in transit up the Elbe, for Stade duties. Instances have been cited in which these duties exceeded the invoice-value of the goods. But this was not all. The proceedings of the Hanoverian collector, in the case of any erroneous entries or mistakes in the ship's papers, were vexatious in the highest degree. Mr. Hutt mentioned, in the House of Commons, a case in which the eminent Hull firm of Messrs. George Loft & Co. had to pay a fine of £215, and to suffer a long detention of their ship, the Fairy, by the Hanoverian authorities, because three

bales of cotton-twist in her cargo were entered in one of the bills of lading as "bales of cottons," the difference in the Stade duties being 7s.! We believe that the official pamphlet which the Hanoverian Government published in reply to Mr. Hutt, denied the correctness of the pecuniary statement. It admitted the other facts, but alleged that the fine was only £150! Such, however, were, by confession, the tender mercies of Hanover.

The second class of taxes were taxes on the ship. They were of two kinds. The ship toll and the oar-duty. These rates were very high- --were unwarranted by treaty-and were liable to an almost arbitrary augmentation on the part of the collector.

Thirdly, there was a class of exactions passing under the names of "commission," "ship's expenses," and "return certificate;" which, though they were disclaimed by the Hanoverian Government in reply to Mr. Hutt's speech, were uniformly exacted by the collecting officers, who suffered no ship to be cleared till they were paid.

Such were the means by which the Kings of Hanover had not scrupled to raise a considerable revenue from the commerce in the Elbe. Mr. Hutt, in the absence of official documents, calculated the revenue, we believe, at £60,000. Subsequent inquiries, however, have shown that it did not, on an average of years, exceed £50,000; of which Great Britain paid more than one-half. The injury which the collecting of it has done to our commerce, must not, however, be estimated by the amount of this forced contribution. Germany has been by far the largest customer for British goods; and of the five or six millions' worth of British commodities imported into Germany, five-sixths were carried up the river Elbe, and became the subject of Hanoverian exaction and caprice.

Our representative, Mr. Hutt, having directed much study and attention to the question of Hanover's right in this matter, demanded of our Government the restoration of the tariff to the form prescribed by treaty-an alteration which would have brought down the receipts of Hanover from £50,000 to about £5,000 annually. Some communications on the subject were made to Hanover by the British Government, and the King pointedly refused compliance with the demand. "Upon which," says the Edinburgh Review (vol. 74)," the question was brought under the notice of Parliament by Mr. Hutt, whose speeches on this subject, and on the Sound dues, entitle him to the thanks of all interested in British commerce. A strong expression of opinion went forth from both sides of the House. This circumstance so far abated the pertinacity of Hanover, that Lord Palmerston succeeded in inducing the Government of that country to consent to a revision of the existing tariff." Lord Palmerston thea formally and distinctly notified to Hanover that Great Britain would no longer consent to the continuance of these tolls, except on the legal basis of onesixteenth per cent. on the value of cargoes, as marked in the invoices. On this footing it is pretty certain that the tolls would have been adjusted for the future; but a change taking place, at that crisis of the negotiation, in the Government of this country, the settlement was again postponed, and Lord Aberdeen seemed disposed to let it repose once more beneath the cobwebs of the Foreign Office. Mr. Hutt therefore very properly returned to his labours, and again claimed the protection of Parliament for British commerce against the exactions of Hanover. The negotiations were consequently resumed; and exactly thirty years after Hanover had recommenced collecting its arbitrary Stade tolls, the tolls have been formally recognized and regulated by a treaty of commerce with the British Government. The rate has been fixed too high. One-sixteenth per cent, which Mr. Hutt justly contended for, would have reduced the payment of our merchants and shipowners to about one-ninth part of what has hitherto been exacted from them by Hanover. Mr.

week, may also see Mr. Crawshay's reply. We may briefly observe, however, first, that Mr. Hutt, in his speech at the dinner, nowhere said "he would choose a fixed-duty in preference to total repeal-that he looked to that as his end," but quite the contrary; secondly, that if "the League would be found supporting a fixed duty, when brought forward by a government that could carry it, but would still bring forward their motion for total repeal," then the League would just follow the policy which we, and the "discarded" members of the Free Trade Society, are proscribed for advocating; thirdly, that we never mentioned "tea"-which may serve as a set-off for the error stated to have been committed in our report, but which error does not invalidate our reasoning-for coffee and sugar notoriously yield a revenue to monopolists at the expense of the consumer; and, fourthly, that Mr. Crawshay was certainly incorrectly interpreted by Mr. Cook-the former gentleman having pledged the Free Trade Society to nothing more than a canvass on the point at issue between the Society and the seceders.-ED. G.O.]

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GATESHEAD OBSERVER. SIR,-Will you be kind enough to allow me, through the medium of your extensively-circulated paper, to make public my intention of moving, at the next anniversary meeting of the Gateshead Mechanics' Institute, for a Committee to report upon the best means of extending its usefulness. The basis of my plan is the combination of the institution with the New Public Rooms that I hear are proposed to be erected adjoining the New Townhall.

I shall say no more at present, as the support of the public will depend upon their opinion of the Report of the Committee. am, Sir, your obedient Servant, GEORGE CRAWSHAY.

Gateshead, Nov. 19, 1844.

THE WINDMILL HILLS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GATESHEAD OBSERVER. SIR,-I intended to have proposed the following resolution at the meeting of Boroughholders on Thursday last, but, owing to a misunderstanding on my part, which it is unnecessary to allude to, I retrained from doing so. My opinions relative to the Borough Property remain unchanged; but owing to the judicious manifestation of feeling by the inhabitants in public meeting assembled, I am willing to forego my private right, to meet the views of my fellow-townsmen.

Your insertion will oblige your obedient Servant,
GEORGE WATSON,

One of the Stewards.

Bottle-bank, Gateshead, Nov. 22, 1844. Resolved, That we, the Boroughholders and Freemen of Gateshead, anxious for the recreation and happiness of the people, beg to state, in reply to the resolutions agreed to by the inhabitants, in public meeting assembled, on the evening of the 14th of September, that we are quite willing, and are now ready, to present the Windmill Hills, including the fields adjoining Hood's property, for the purposes mentioned in the resolution alluded to, provided that the inhabitants assist in legally securing, by Act of Parliament, to ourselves and our heirs for ever, all the other land and property, together with all the rights, privileges, and immunities now exercised and enjoyed by us; also four sites at the ends of Millfield-place, and the property occupied at present by Messrs. Wardman, Potts, and others.

THE Council met on Wednesday, the 20th of Nov., in the new townhall, (the house formerly occupied by E. Graham, Esq., near the new railway-station).

The TOWN CLERK read the minutes, and also a list of the attendances of members at meetings of the Council and Committees, held during the last year, (as advertised in the Observer of the 5th ult.)

Mr. J. R. WILSON gave notice of a motion to rescind the rule requiring members to be in attendance at Council meetings

within a quarter of an hour of the appointed time, in order to their being recorded as present in the published list.

Mr. REVELY presented a Report from the Town Improvement Committee-which led to the following among other resolutions, viz. :

1. That Mr. William Sharp, of Westgate-street, Newcastle, be accepted as contractor for the mason-work of the proposed sewer from East Bailey-chare to Cannon-street, (his tender being the lowest, viz., 10s. 6d. per running yard).

2. That the letter of Mr. Walker, on the subject of his application to the Council to bear part of the expense of flagging the path in front of Walker-terrace, be considered by the Committee, and reported upon at the next meeting.

3. That the flagging in Easton-street be restored.

4. That the proceedings in regard to the indictment against Mr. James Hymers go forward. [An attempt, originated by Mr. Cook, to bring about an arrangement, was not successful. Concession, it was argued, should be proposed by Mr. Hymersnot by the Council.]

A Report from the Watch Committee was read. It contained nothing of interest.

Mr. Ald. POLLOCK presented a Report from the Finance Committee-which, like an epigram, had a "sting in its tail;" for it recommended that a borough-rate of a penny in the pound be laid.-Confirmed.

The MAYOR withdrew his motion respecting the clock of St. Mary's church. An attempt, he said, was now in progress, to get rid of the old debt; and at present, therefore, it would not be politic to commence a subscription for a clock.

The various Standing Committees for the ensuing year were appointed.

The resolutions of the public meeting, held in the National School on the subject of the Windmill-hills, were laid before the Council by the Town CLERK, to whom the Committee had communicated them.

It was thought desirable to postpone the consideration of them, until after the meeting of the Boroughholders, on the following day (Nov. 21).

Mr. REVELY also deemed it right to defer his motion in respect to the hills.

Mr. Ald. BROCKETT brought forward his motion for the adoption of a petition in favour of the Jews. At that late hour, he said, he would not detain the Council with any arguments in support of the motion. The proposed petition, indeed, was so obviously just, that the mere reading of it would be sufficient to insure its adoption. It was as follows:

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the Borough of Gateshead, in Council assembled. Humbly sheweth,-That disqualifications for civil offices, on account of religious opinions, are not only at variance with the spirit of the British Constitution, but discreditable to the age in which we live.

That your petitioners consider that the obstacles at present presented by law to the admission of persons professing the Jewish religion to municipal offices, whilst to the office of High Sheriff or Justice of the Peace no such obstacle exists, ought to be immediately repealed.

Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honourable House will be pleased immediately to abolish all declarations or oaths which interfere, in any degree, with the religious opinions of individuals, and thereby preclude the conscientious from taking upon themselves certain corporate offices to which they may be elected by the suffrages of their fellow. countrymen.

And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

Mr. REVELY and Mr. J. R. WILSON rose to second the motion, and it was unanimously passed.

It was then resolved, on the motion of Mr. Ald. BROCKETT, seconded by Mr. Ald. KENMIR, that Lord Ravensworth be requested to present the petition to the House of Lords, and Mr. Hutt to the House of Commons.

Some further business having been disposed of, merely routine, and the meeting having been adjourned to the 11th of December, the MAYOR invited his colleagues, at the close of their somewhat dry debates, to join him in a glass of wine, in celebration of the opening of the new townhall. This invitation, we need hardly say, was as frankly accepted as it was given; and in a few moments the Town Clerk's books and papers were dismissed, and "the glasses sparkled on the board."

YANKEE ELECTIONEERING.

THE Americans are indeed a funny sort of people. Among the many droll squibs arising out of the present contest for the