The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-03 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS.

An exhibition of works of art and —.photographs,
harrowed from various parties in the neighbourhood,
has been opened in Bold-street, by the Liverpool Society
'of the Fine-Arts, at a season when exhibitions are-rife
in London,•but have been hitherto in Liverpool confined
to the collections of itinerant picture-dealers. There
are more than three hundred pictures, and, we are told,
four hundred photographs, but on the:latter:point we
cannot speak, as they are not all hung, and-no catalogue
of them has been published. The pictures by the old
masters, whether of Italy, Germany; or Spain, are not
:strong, though there are a few masterly examples; but
'there are better-works by the same painters to be found in
'this town, and we trust an effort will be made on a
future occasion to obtain, them.. Even of the living
painters, with a few expections which we shall enumerate,
there are much finer examples to be obtained in Liver-
Pool.and the neighhourhood ; nevertheless, it is n very
interesting eihibition ; and it is ail exhibition- of a class
which is calculated to 'be of the greatest advantage to
the artist, the patron, and the --public, • The artist will
be able to cOmpare his work with those of others executed
;either before or after his own, and .also with his own
previous or subsequent. works ; the' patrOn will be able
to judge whether his client or protege will sustain the
reputation anticipated for him ; and the public will be
able to learn whether their. impressions. of the merit in
an artist from a single work of art are likely to be justi
heir or not. Mr. George Arkle will have reason to be
proud of his selections, and the societymust hold them-
selves greatly indebted to him for his liberality in stripping
his walls, for their advantage,—Douglas's unrivalled
Alchemist ; Dighton's last and most successful effort,
Thebes ; Windus's best picture, Darnley signing the com-
pact for the murder of Rizzi° ; his fine DaynlßOberts, and
exquisite little Creswicks ; with others we have not space at
this moment to enumerate. Mr. Henry Grazebrook con-
tributes so me fine specimens; among them one out of Lord
Northwick's collection, by the late 'Henry Howard, for
forty-five years secretary of the Royal Academy of Lon-
don, and professor of painting to that royal establish-
ment. It is one of a' series of subjects he painted of the
history of Sabrina, from Milton's Comus. He painted
ft picture. from every incident related. He had the
nymphs holding up "their pearled wrists" and taking
her in; and this picture, where they are
• Bearing her straight 6 aged Nereus' hall. •
He afterwards represented her being. restored to life by
the nymphs, and departing from theta- "made goddess
of the river" Severn. He also painted her

Commending her fair innoCem..e to the flood,

to escape

The mad pursuit
Of her enraged stepd.ime Guemiolll4;
and various other subjects alluded to or described by
Milton. Mr. BaruchSon, as the 'chief patron. of the
society, 'has' done his utmost to sustain the repute of
their patronage of art. He has exhibited a new picture
by Lea; and two curious pictures, painted at Rome in
1797 by Panini, for the French ambassador the Duc-de
Choiseul ; and several others: " Honfall .and
Mr. S. Haigh have . also contributed :interesti bna• works
Of various kinds. ' Mrs. Rawdon has sent her "Marriage
df Cana,". by Faul,Yeronese., The fathily of the Rush-
tons have also sent some works of painting and engraving,
highly interesting ; and there are, in the present incom-
plete state of the catalogue,' a number, of valuable works
to which we. are unable to attribute owners, and in some
instances neither subjects nor painters. But we will
take another opportunity of looking in, when. the com-
mittee shall bt more ready for us.

ST. PAUL'S AND .ST. JOHN'S CHURCHES

Yesterday, a meeting of the. Commissioners of the
ChUrches of St. Paul and St. John, was held at the
ParishLeffices, Brownlow-hill, the Bev..,Bector Camp-
bell in the chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and
confirmed.
The Churchwardens of St. —Paul's submitted their
Accounts. The disbursements amount, to £62 18s id
and the receipts to £27.155, leaving a balance due from
the parish rates of £35 3s id.
. .
Mr.' NBEmil said the attendance at St. Paul's Church
had materially improved, especially at the evening.
lecture.

The CiiAriimAri said he was glad to hear that there
was an improvement.
, • The accounts. were pasied en. the. motion of Mr.
• Roberts, seconded by. Mr. Cropper. - •
The Churchwardens of St.,John's Church submitted
their accounts, from which it appears that the receipts
during the' year had been from pew-rents £lO6 195.,
from ground rents £74 125., total £lBl.lls. It appealed
that there was a balance in hand of £2sBs lid, to be
handed over to'the parish-rates. .
On the motion of • Mr. Nickson, seconded by -111 r.
Byford, the accounts were passed.
Mr. ROBERT ii said there were wanted at St. Paul's
Church, surplices, matting, a stove and coals. He
wished to know how these things were to be provided.
There was a voluntary rate, and he. 'could see no
reason why the two parish churches should monopolise
all the money to the detriment of St. Paul's Church,
which
.was also a parish church. .
Mr. CROPPER was not aware that any application
had been made:to the chureliwardens for these things.
Mr. 'ltennaTs-Their I make it now. .
The CRArRIf 4.N said that vas not the time or the.
place to make the application.
Mr. CROPPER—You should have applied a month
ago; when we could have given you a decisive answer..
Mr. RO-RERTS-I lave done. so, and you gave me a
denial. .

The CHAIRMAN said the discussion was out of order
entirely.
. .On the motion of Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr.
Byford, the sum of £1.5 was voted to remunerate' the
clerk, sexton, and verger, of St. Paul's Church, in con-
sideration of
.extra services now performed by them.
.. Mr. ROBERTS then moved the following resolution:-
1 "That the gasfittings of St. Paul's Church he repaired;
and also that the report of the Liverpool United Gas-
light Company be further adopted as regards the gene-
ral arrangement and alteration recommended in their
report." • The report referred to stated that the gas-
piping, &c., was in very bad condition, and that the
repairs and alterations would be effected by the Gas-
light Company for the sum of £lO4. Mr. Roberts said,
the piping had been in use forty years, and although
it had had partial repairs, it had never undergone any
substantial repair.
Mr. BROWNBILL said there was no doubt that the
fittings were in a very defective state.
Mr. ROBERTS said he would move the adoption of the
resolution. The church ought to be made more attrac-
tive to the public. He' thanked the rector from the
bottom of his heart for having given them a clergyman
who would be the right man in the right place. He
had the most. sanguine expectation that much good
would result from that gentleman's ministrations.
Mr. J. W. CROPPER seconded the, resoltition because
it appeared that the present system of lighting the
church. was a very unsafe one.
:Mr. Byronp7--Iu fact the church might be blown up,
I :suppose ?
Mr. ROBERTS—To be sure ; and all the people in it,
unless veyny.great'care was used. • .
... •

;The resolution was thenreed to_ .
Mr. ROBERTS then moved the following resolution :
—" That, for the purpose of Carrying into practical
effect the, praiseworthy, intentions for Whieh. St. Paul's
Church was originally erected, endowed, and provision
made for its perpetual maintenance and repair, it is
essentially necessary for the promotion of these objects
that the boundaries of the present ecclesiastical district
should•either be augmented,. or a satisfactory arrange-
ment made for W:separate parish, comprising within its
boundaries in either case. the. number of about 8,000
souls." He said,. give the clergymen• some work to do,
dOn't let us have-three
.clergymen with a district of less
than ,8,000 souls.' I want to have these gentlemen
yoked in harness, and not to shake a loot:e lego. and
receive stipends for doing little or nothing.
:The CEIAIRMAN'—NOW, now, Mr. Roberts, you know
very Well— " •
:Mr. Itonewrs--8,000 souls. are not too much faz
three clergymen. .
iThe.CitAtabiAi---;-No one says they are.
;Mr. Roe-Elm—The reetor, has done his duty in the
matter, and I thank him ; but unless the rector will get
114 a legally-assigned district, and unleSs' the bishop will
give us it, let us have a separate parish udder the
Marquis of Blandford's act.

. .
:A CommisslONEß—But we have no power to do it.
,Ttle-CITAIRMAN—Novr, Ilfr. Roberts, what I want to
inipress upon your mind,..but what I have, faile,d Lin
doing hitherto, is what I have impressed on the minds
of. the other counniisioners, and it is this : You talk
about•metaphoricallano''mage---shaking a,loose leg--but
surely you .know- that, although there- is no district
legally assigned, there is a district pratt;cally as.,jgned.
• !Mr., ItOßEßTSAyet;:.iye,-blit that ;Won't do of
(Laughter.) .

:The CHAIRMAN—Then, sir, you have no business to
make use of such language as "shaking a loose leg,'
beicause that district is, in point of fact, in actual opera-
tion, and three clergymen are working in that district
with three separate divisions of it assigned, one to each
of, them. 'Theretare, sir, don't talk ahotit "shaking
loose legs," because that is accusing gentlemen of idle-
ness, and bringing what is not tt coirect`;accii§ation.
agnink them. liknOw that there is tio legal' digfrict,
assigned, and I have laid the matter before the bishop
as strongly as:l can. I have senta plan of the district,
and I have requested his lordship-to give a legal assigii.
Mut. -The bishop has my request tinder his consi-
deration. Ile has a right to take time to consider ; he
is taking time, and if you choose to pass this resolution
in`order to give him a little impetus in the matter, there
wil be no very greats harrdin it. All I want to do is to
vi dicate these three clergymen from the imputation of
idleness. The district they have under their care is so, as
mach as if it were legally assigned.
Tlr. ROBEitTsL—What assigned ?
he CHAIRMAN—Don't be captious and pass verbal
criticisms, Mr. Roberts. The district is practically
assigned.' The three clergymen are working in it'prac-
tically. They have-each a sub-division of the district,
and they are, I repeat, working in it just as much as if
it was legally assigned.
Mr. ROBERTS—But it is not legally assigned.
The CHAIRMAN—I know that:

Mr. ROBERTS—And I know it as well as you do. I
know the net as well as you do. Look at the sections.
The CHAIRMAN—Oh, never mind the sections.
Mr. ROBERTS—But I call for them. You shall not
tell me. I know the law as well Rs you. '
The CHAIRMAN—Sir, you should not talk about
" loose legs.":

Mr. ROTSERTS —But don't tell me, sir. I know the
law. Tam right.
The CHAIRMAN—WeII now Mr. Roberts I will tell
you what to do. It won't cost you much. Go by
railway, 'second class, to t hester and-see the bishop.
Mr. ,RQBERTS then proceeded to read some of the
sections of the act, and said that legal transfer must-be
got by the rector.

V The CniiitNiss—Nonsense ; there is.no must in it.
Mr. ROBERTS—Sooner or later the rector mast get it. ,
The CukinstAN-4 tell you sir, there is no must
about it. ,
After some further conversation Mr. Nickson seconded
the motion.
Mr. CROPPER asked , if there was any probability, of
the 'assignment. being made within the next twelve
months. Could the chairman give any information on
that point
The CiwRIUAN—I have been in, communication with
the bishop on the subject within the last six weeks.
Mr. CROPPER—IS there any chance of the assignment
taking place'?
The-CHAIRMAN—Upon my honour I can't aay.
The resolution was then agreed t 0..,
Mr. ROBERTS then moVed the'following.resolutien:—;-
" That it is absolutely requisite for. each of the two
tars of st. Paul's, respectively and personally,' to

officiate is the reading-desk or pulpit, whenever Divine ser-
vice is performed, Sunday morning and afternoon ; as well
also, upon all other occasions appointed by the United
Church of England and Ireland. That the adaptation
of such a procedure is obviously in accordance with the
intention of the 7th Geo. „111., cap. 80, sec. 14, and
the Endowment Act, Ist and 2nd Victoria, cap.. 98,
sec. 35."

Mr. BROWNBILL said be had two letters from the
Rev. Mr. Read and the Rev. Mr. Stafford, which con-
ceded what was required. They considered the motion
was a very obnoxious one, and they rather capitulated
than that it should be allowed to pass.
Mr. R.osEnrs—Well, I have no objection to with-
draw my motion, as these gentlemen themselves have
shown that- I am perfectly right on the point.
The resolution was then withdrawn, and the two
letters referred to directed to be recorded on the minutes.
A vote of thanks to the venerable rector for his con-
duct in the chair closed the proceedinz.