The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

Vrobincial.

THE MANCHESTER ART TREASURES EXHIBITION,
to be opened in May next, promises to be well sup-
ported. The executive committee continue to
receive from noblemen and gentlemen possessing
valuable collections of pictures in various parts of
the United Kingdom the most gratifying offers to
place the gems of their collection at the disposal of
the committee. Among others, the Duke of
Manchester, Lord Feversham, the Duke of New-
castle, the Earl of Carlisle, and the Earl of
Ellesmere, shave placed their collections at the
service of the committee. The Duke of Rich-
mond has also expressed his readiness to pre-
mote the exhibition, end Lord Henry Gordon Lennox
is taking a warm interest in its success. Lord
Talbot de Malahide places all his pictures at the dis-
posal of the executive committee. The collection of
art-treasures will not, however, be a mere picture
exhibition. It will include almost every variety of
articles of antiquarian and archte 'logical interest,
statuary and sculpture, bronzes, china, and por-
celain (a magnificent collection of Sevres being
lent by the Emperor of the French), and all
articles of vertu, such as formed the attrac-
tions of the collections at Stowe and as were dis-
persed at the recent sales of Mr. Bernal and Mr.
Rogers. Among recent promises in these classes
of art-treasures is one of the oily two
pieces of sculpture executed by Raphael ; the
design—a dolphin carrying ashore a wound.d
child—is founded on the story of the dolphin and
the child Jesus, who one day sporting with the
dolphin wounded himself mortally with one of Cue
dorsal spines of the fish. The faithful dolphin
carried the body on shore, and expired at its side.
It was purchased in Italy, about a century since,
for a very large sum, by the Earl of Bristol, Bishop
of Derry, and is now the property of Sir H. Hervey
Bruce, of Coleraine. It has never been seen iu
England, and must attract general attention.
THE WELLINGTON STATUE AT MANCHESTE R,
erected in front of the Royal Infirmary, was inau-
gurated on Saturday. The statue of Wellington is
a full length bronze figure, thirteen feet high, de-
signed by Mr. Noble, the sculptor, standing upon *
square granite pedestal, nineteen feet high, with
subordinate figures at each of the four angles—one
representing Valour, and the others Wisdom. Victory,
and Peace. The figure represents the noble Duke
in the character of a senator, and the likeness is a
very truthful one. The ceremony of inauguration
drew together an immense concourse of people.
The mayor and corporation walked in procession
from the Town-hell to the Infirmary, accompanied
by the Bishop of 31arebester and the principal sub•
scribers to the statue, which has cost about 7,0001.
Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith and his staff
were also present, with troops lot the 7th Dragoen
Guards arid 25th Infantry, to aid the police in keep-
ing the lines. After the usual formal addresses had
been delivered the statue was unveiled amid hearty
cheers. The Bi-hep of Manchester made a few
spirited remarks, in which be paid a high compli.
ment to Sir Harry Smith, as "one who has shown
that he was no unworthy pupil of Wellington—one
who fought that battle in which he acknowledged
the God of Victory was with the forces of Victoria—

that battleof which the Duke himself declared that,
though he had read many an account of many a
battle, he had read none of any battle in which more
ability, more energy, or more experience was dis-
played." Sir Harry Smith said in reply:—

- -
1 owe my all to his Grace the Duke of Wellington, in
my military career, as well as his country owes to him the
honour ana the long peace of forty ',eats which his sword
achieved for it. Gentlemen of Manchester, lam proud
to see this statue erected to his immortal memory. There
is no man on earth who has desired to exist in the hearts
of the people as he did, and he proved it by that undaunted
courage, sagacity, disinterestedness, and honesty, which
he ever manifested.

THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE IMPROVEMENT COM
MISSIONERS AND THE INCUMBENT OF WEST HARTLE-
Poor, reached a disgra:eful point last Sunday. The
commissioners deny that there is any such district
as Christchurch, West. Hartlepool, and have given
formal notice to the lit • Mr. Burges, the incumbent,
to cease performing burial services in the local
cemetery. Mr. Burges declines to recognise their
authority, and insists upon the right of the bishop
only to withdraw the license to preach. On Sunday
last a funeral took place in the cemetery. Mr. Jack-
son and another commissioner locked Mr. Burges up
in the sexton's house, and a discreditable squabble
ensued, Mr. Burges ultimately escaping and carrying
out his point.
THE PREMIUMS FOR PRIZE FARMS, given by his
Grace the Duke of Northumberland, at Stanwich,
in North Yorkshire, were awarded last week. Five
competitors appeared on the list, and after a careful
survey, Mr. Ray, of Forcett valley, and Mr. Dent, of
Caldwell, were the successful candidates.

THE MANCHESTER MECHANICS' EXHIBITION INAU-
GURAL MEETING, at which Lord Palmerston was to
have been present, has been postponed in conse-
quence of the death of Sir W. Temple. The ex-
hibition itself will, however, be opened as originally
arranged on the 9th.

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE AT BARNSLEY has ter-
minated, after a ten weeks' struggle, many men
having returned to work under the present manager.
The loss to the proprietors has been very heavy.
A BLAST at the Pendyun limestone quarries, last
week, brought down some 12,000 tons of stone.