The Press. — London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

IRISH AFFAIRS. (From our own Ccrrespondent.) DUBLIN, Thursday, April 23, 1857. Timm: are one or two facts in connection with the contest for the Dublin University with which you ought to be acquainted. Although nominally an independent candidate, Mr. Lawson was really the Castle nominee. Great exertions were made in his behalf. All the expectant members of the bar, and the least reputable, albeit more voracious, portion of the clergy, were enlisted by the Government runners, and it was !very confidently anticipated that Mr. Hamilton's seat would be won. The farcical can didature of Mr. Wilson, too, under the leadership of Dr. Blackwood "the grateful," was supposed to be likely to favour the Viceregal pet. With the result, so far as the public is concerned, you have of course been long acquainted, but it may interest you to know that the victory achieved over Palmerstonism in the Irish Universiti was really much more signal and triumphant than appears "on the record." When Mr. Lawson retired, a reserve of two hundred votes actually promised, and capable, in an emer gency, of being readily doubled, remained intact, and there is no doubt, that had the battle been fought out to the last, upwards of a thousand electors would have attested their full confidence in Mr. Napier and Mr. Hamilton ; and observe, the issue raised was not ambiguous here—there was no disclaimer of political bias, and no abnegation of party sympa thy. The Conservative candidates stood on Con. servative principles. They acknowledged an honest faith in the Conservative leader. Nothing, more over, could surpass the zeal and enthusiasm which was displayed by the whole constituent body in vindication of their convictions. Men came up to the poll from all parts of the kingdom, and one gentleman travelled a journey of more than 1,200 miles on this mission. Among the eminent sup porters of the sitting members was Dr. M‘Neile, a divine as remarkable for his eloquence as for his consistent Christian character. He, of Protestant champions the most able and the most philosophical, has not been infected with the Palmerston fever, but retains unshaken his allegiance to Lord Derby. Of all poor Lord Carlisle's electioneering tactics, his most petty and discreditable stratagem was his move in Leitrim. In that county Mr. Ormsby Gore occupies so high a position as to render his return certain in the event of his becoming a candidate. As soon as his address was issued he applied to the Lord Lieutenant to be relieved of his office of High Sheriff. It suited the Viceroy's purpose, however, peremptorily to refuse his resignation, unless he sub. jected himself to the very heavy fines exacted in such cases, and this, although such a course was most un precedented, and several gentlemen highly qualified were willing to serve in Mr. Gore's stead. So far as the political result is concerned, I regret to say Lord Carlisle has succeeded. Instead of two Conserva tives, one only will be elected for Leitrim. But it is imoossible that such an arbitrary and tyrannical exercise of authority can escape parliamentary atten tion and public reprobation. No apology whatever is offered for Lord Carlisle. His adherents treat the thing as a capital joke, and applaud the cleverness of the manamvre. I trust the subject will be fully and vigorously investigated, for such acts do more to bring the Viceregal office into contempt than even the " Birch" disclosures during the luckless rule of Lord Clarendon, and that is saying a very great deal. There will be several petitions against Irish re turns. At Sligo Mr. Somers will be accosted with tees of corruption which will make Mr. Coppock open his eyes. Mr. Ennis, too, will be called upon to clear himself of a participation in some dark d iings at Athlone. Of the petition of Colonel Higgins against Mr. Moore's return for Mayo, Ido not think much will come tending to improve that worthy's position or prospects. Credible informa tion leads one to conclude that an investigatiou will serve to bring out in bold relief the partiality of the paternal Higgins, as High Sheriff. Worthy father of a worthy son, he has as much right to be treated as a landed proprietor as one of the tenants of Mr. F. O'Connor's allotments. Colonel Hi gins had the advantage of Government support, most unscrupulously used and applied. All the landlords in the Palmerston interest, peers and commoners, rushed to the rescue. It would be a pity that Mr. George Moore should lose his seat, for, independent of his being a leader of a party, he is a man of ability and honesty. Who ever heard as much of Colonel Higgins? Those who entertain inch an opinion of the hon. and gallant ex-member f. Mko may be very numerous, but they are some what r: served and taciturn on the point, and that is dubioni friendship, atter all ! Sergeant Shee joins his brother hack in retirement ; or, shall we say, exclusion from public life. Considering the virulent aping in which the learned sergeant entered upon g THE PRESS. the contest, and the severe reproof he has received at the hands of his betrayed constituents, it may be that he will enjoy his " otium," in this sense, minus the " dignitate." Ile is a great riddance from the Senate, and Lord Palmerston will be relieved of the perilous duty of rewarding Lis elastic and supple toady with the Solicitor-Generalship. It appears thit Mr. Gregory, the elect for Gal way, is a supporter of Lord Palmerston. There is at once so much and so little implied and involved in that description, that it is hard to define the principles which attach t) such a political profession. We know that, as member for Dublin, Mr. Gregory was a Conservative. We will hope he is so still for his own sake and for the sake of the cause, of which he is calculated to be an ornament. As for the issue of the contest at Leitrim, it is of no cocsequence at ali, now that Mr. Ormsby Gore is not a candidate. Mr. Tenison is a Whig ; Dr. Brady is just what Mr. Hayter wants him to be for the nonce; and Mr. Montgomery is a staunch and valiant Conservative. He will, of course, head the poll. Whether Dr. Brady is allowed to devote his whole time and talents to his patients in London, and Mr. Tenison is sent to St. Stephens to swell the Whig clique proper, and join the Burkes, and Norreys, and Magans in their gentlemanly devotion to the Premier, is really a matter of no moment whatsoever, nor will the wise surrender five minutes repose to so unprofitable a subject. THE MANCHESTER EXHIBITION. THE final arrangements for the ceremonial of Tues day week, the rah May, have been concluded. All the formalities usual upon state occasions are to he adopted. Her Majesty's Ministers and the foreign ambassadors are to be invited to attend, and, as his Royal Highness the Prince Consort has expressed his intention of appearing in full uniform, every official will attend in Court costume. The interior preparations are now almost con cluded, while the decorations of the different galleries and the arrangements of the paintings and sculpture are completely finished. The executive cem • mittee have decided that the shilling admission shall commence within a fortnight from the opening of the Exhibition, while, simultaneously, excursion trains at reduced prices will commence running from all parts of the country. An " Apartment Registry " has also been opened at the committee's offices, so that all trouble of search for lodgings will be saved to the visitor. A great success is anticipated, and worthily so, for this magnificent display of the art treasures of the kingdom. The main object early indicated by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, in his letter to the late Lord Ellesmere, has been kept in view, and the public it is hoped will nobly respond to the offer made to then : If (wrote his Royal Highness) the collection yon pro• pose to form were made to illustrate the history of art, in a chronological and systematic arrangement, it would speak powerfully to the public mind, and enable, in a prac• neal way, the most uneducated e,e to gather the lessons which ages of thought and scientific research have at. tempted to abstract ; and would present to the world, for the first time, a gallery such as no other country could produce, but for which, I feel convinced, the materials exist abutdantly in private hands amongst us. With respect to the building, it differs materially from the Crystal Palace, but the elegance of its proportions are said to be quite equal. The roof is composed of a series of semic►rcular supports, springing from iron pillars and girders about five and twenty feet high. These are placed at intervals of about six feet, the intermediate space being filled with iron pannels painted aerial blue, with maroon lines. The roof is not glazed until the sixth panel is reached, but an abundance of light is admitted by glazing four of the panels forming the crown of the roof. By this arrangement there is no glare or unnecessary heat, and the atmosphere of the building is made more suitable to the climate, and better adapted for the preservation of the costly and valuable objects to be exhibited. The walls a►e painted deep maroon colour, as a ground for the series of historical portraits. Above is a richly ornamented frieze, containing tablets inscribed with th 3 names of the principal painters whose works will be found in the gallery. The columns support ing the roof are painted in imitation of bronze, richly gilt, and the other ornamental ironwork is decorated in a similar manner. The main arches of the roof are also of bronze, but the flat surfaces between the flanges are painted in Greek fret, or scroll ornament, red, on a vellum ground. The maroon colour of the walls is continued at each end of the grand nave, but ornamented next the arch by a broad band of subdued olive green, with scroll foliage. The side aisles, intended for pictures of early and modern painters, have the walls painted sage green, with ornamental friezes, in which maroon colour predominates. The galleries are divided by arched partitions, ornamented on the SATURDAY, upper part by decorative pannelling, introducing the names of the painters whose works will be ex hibited. To the right of the transept an Oriental Court has been formed under the superintendence of Dr. Royle, of the East India-house. The Lne of the walls are sage green, with light pendant ornaments, and a frieze elaborately wrought with Oriental characters. The principal contributors to this department will be her Majesty and the East India Company. Some magnificent specimens of arms, clothing, and furni• tura have already arrived ; and the court, when completed, will present a curious display of Eastern art and luxury. The products of Indian art will be arranged along the north side, and those of China and Persia at the south. A magnificent tent, formerly the property of Tippoo Saib, will be placed in the centre of the court, and rich specimens of the Indian and Circassian looms will be suspended from the walls. A room has been prepared for the accommodation of the Prince Consort and suite at the north side of the main entrance. The apartment is decorated in the style of the Fourteenth Louis. The walls are divided into panels of a pale-green ground, with rich " fillings," and the roof is supported with pilasters of white and gold. The ceiling is divided into elaborately-worked compartments, and the letters " V. R. are introduced into the cornices. In the ancient gallery, Raphael will be represented by ten or more pictures. They will include three well-known paintings of the " Virgin and Child," one of which was in the Rogers collection, the two others being contributed by Earl Cowper; also two of the "Agony in the Garden," besides the "Christ on the Cross," from Citta di Castello, in Raphael's earliest style; and a portrait of Joanna of Aragon (mother of Charles V.), which is a duplicate of one in the Louvre. One of the greatest works of Titian, the " Europa," is exhibited among the examples of that master. On the same waits are Michael Angelo's " Christ and the Woman of Samaria," the " Nine Muses," of Tintoretto; a splendid collection of pic tures by Perugino, Veronese, Bartolomeo, Caracci, Murillo, and Salvator Rosa ; portraits by Velasquez and Vandyck ; " Peter the Great," by Kneller; the " St. Agnes " of Domenichino, from Windsor Castle; the "Adoration of the Kings," by Mabuse ; the " Misers," by Quentin Matsys ; a number of the finest works of Rubens, Poussin, and Snyders, and a great many by Rembrandt, Vanderveldt, Jan Steen, and Teniers. This enumeration can give but a faint idea of the appearance presented by the walls of this gallery, glowing with the splendour of nine hundred paintings by the greatest masters of Italy, Germany, Spain, and Flanders. . . _ Great and glorious as that collection is, it will be rivalled in extent and in attraction by the gallery of the moderns. Here there is not much restriction to chronological sequence, or to any arrangement but that which may best exhibit the merits of each painting to advantage and at the same time contri bute to an harmonious effect of colouring in the whole series. The accomplishment of this task has been, and will be for nearly a fortnight to come, one of the greatest delicacy and difficulty. There are not here, as in ordinary exhibitions, any inferior productions to be disposed of, but every picture is one of the most celebrated works of the greatest English painters and their foreign contemporaries. Most of these pictures have become widely known amongst the people by the numerous engravings or copies of them, and in proportion to this universal ac quaintance will he the warmth of the greeting when the long-concealed originals are recognised. Amongst the works of Hogarth will be found the " March to Finchley," " Southwark Fair," " Garrick as Richard III.," the " Scene from the Beggar's Opera," and the " Lady's Last Stake ;" and not far off are the wonderful portraits by Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Lawrence, the landscapes of Gainsborough and Wilson, Haydon's " Mock Election," Wilkie's " Rent day," "Card Players," "Blind Man's Buff," and many other favourites; West's " Death of General Wolfe," " Departure of Regulus," " Cupid and l'syche," " Battle of the Boyne," and " Death on the Pale Morse;" then some splendid works by Con stable, and at length a profusion by Etty and Turner. The various styles of the last-named are all illus trated by specimens. The gallery is further en riched by the Royal Academy's contribution of diploma pictures, and by many works of foreign artists, including Canaletto, Ary Scheffer, Delaroche, and Vernet. Amongst the great number of works by living artists are Eastlake's " Christ Weeping over Jerusalem," Mulready's " Wolf and the Lamb," " Travelling Druggist," and " Barber's Shop ;" " Landseer's " Rat-catching," " Life in the Old Dog," "Dignity and Impudence," and " Stag at Bay ;" the " St. Michael's Mount " of Stanfield ; the " Sirens," the "Sea Cave," and others, by Frost; "Autumn Leaves," by Millais; " Stray Sheep," and several other pictures, by Hunt; "Lady Jana Grey and Roger Ascham," by Horsley; and many works of Herbert, Pickersgill, Uwins, Maclise, E. M. Ward, Linnell, Cope, Creewiek, Newton, and Collins.