The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

THE PRESS:

ST. GEORGE'S HALL; LIVERPOOL.
Tins building, one of the grandest of our provincial
architectural attempts, was inaugurated on Monday
with great ceremony. The civic authorities appeared
in more thin usuld splendour, and a musical enter-
tainment was given, counting Viardot Garcia, Miss
Clara Novell°, Miss Dolby, Sims Reeves, and Formes,
among the soloists, but without either orchestra or
chorus worthy of the natne.
The building was originally purposed to find ac-
commodation for the musical festival driven but of
house and home by the refusal of the rector, Mr.
Brooke, to alter the parish church to be used for their
performance. In consequence of this a public meeting
was called by those who felt an interest in the
charities, and it was then resolved that a hall should
be built expressly for the festivals, and entitled " St.
George's-hall." A subscription was set on foot, and
a large sum gclaranteed, to be paid by instalments.
The first instalinent was duly forthcoming, hitt the
the second wail leas easy to obtain. Just at this time
the mayor and corporation of Liverpool, having also
come to the determination of building a hall for
judicial purposes (with the arriere pensie, no doubt,
of drawing the Lancaster assizes, to Liverpool),
proposed to the festival committee that their two plans
should be incorporated. This *as agreed to; what
remained of thg instalment which had been paid was
refunded, and the committee of St. George's-hall was
forth With instituted. From =tong El great number
of designs that of Mr. Henry Lonsdale Mines a
London architect, was accepted; in 1841 the building
was commenced, and 1851 was far enough advsnced
towards completion to be honoured by a visit from
her Majesty. Havltig accomplished a greater ptut of
hie design; Mr. limes went for the benefit of his
health, to Madeira, where he died of consumption,
and Mr, •Cockerell was appointed to succeed him.
Under the superintendence of the last-named gentle-
man St. George's-hall has been completed. •
The following account of the building is from
Liverpool publibittioh
• • it
must Isolating the building, from turroundipg objects, it
must be pronounced one a the most imposing combinations
of beautiful, massive, classic designs existing., The com-
position is a unity of several styles, the Corinthian order
being carried out throughout. The northern aspect is
semicircular, the columns
the
eight in number, and
attached. Viewing it front the north-east, a very striking
effect is produced by this projection, and the lung row of
pillars of the eastern facade. This is the longest aspect of
the building, and is 140 lards ; the columns rising to the
height of 45 feet, each four and a half feet in thickness. The
central colonade advances 26 feet, and extends 200 feet; on
either side the subordinate portion of the façade is
extremely effective, and a striking contrast has been pro-
duced by the introduction of square pillars and pediinents
for statuary on the screen which rises between thein.
Looking upon the building now from the south-east,
another change presents itself, and .it is the must com-
manding view which can be obtained. The eye t..lies in
the Whole range of columns in the eastern façade and
those of the southern entrance. The south front is u noble
design and specimen of workmanship, and were, it not that
the ground sinks rapidly the effect would be complete. A
terrace, however, has been constructed, from which the
portico and its stylobate ( carried onward to the eastern
side) arise. The height from the ground-line to the pedi-
ment is 05 feet. In this portico, which recedes 21 feet,
there is adouble row of massive, lofty pillars, eight in
front and four within ; and above these is a piece of
emblematic sculpture, specially worthy of careful inspec-
tion. The Motto On the hall, under this fine design is
Artibtis, Legibus Copciliis, locum Municipes conatitue-
runt. Anzio doinini 1841? The figures in this sculpture
are large and numerous, the weight of the whole being
about 50 tons. They were executed in Caen stone by
Mr. W. G. Nicholl, from a design furnished by Mr. Cockerel).
The uncovering of the sculpture in this pediment took
place in the autumn of P 350. The western side is different
from the other three, yet similar in style. Corresponding
ytiAb die projecting façade at the opposite side we ihave a
lofty .screen, with square Corinthian pillars, extending
upwards. In this screen windows light up, the numerous
sinall apartments connected with the courts of law; and
above, receding several yards, are the side windoivs,. which
throw light into the interior. The workmanship within is
massive, like that without, much of the carpentry bring of
oak, and all highly finished. Within we find many apart-
ments, most of which are subordinated to the grand pur.
poses of the hull—the courts of law."

Tire RIVER-TR4VEi.LIN4 Politic !Aim recently had their
cariosity somewhat excited by the presence of three
iessels-of-w it in the Thames. They are the Navarre screw
steam-frigate, 3i; guns ; the lindetzky, also a screw steam-
frigate, carrying the same number of guns ; and the Elisa-
beth paddle-wheel steamer. The Navarre has been lying off
tireenbithe for .the last mouth or so. She visited the
Thames fur the purpose of rawlplug the other two vessels,
the Radetzky and Eiizabeth, both of which were built fur
the Austrian Government by Mr.. Wigram, of Blackwell.
The Nadetsky frigate was towed down to Greenbithe oix
Moriday ' ' the Elizabeth remains off Blackwell, with her
pennant flying. The three are expected to nil in a few
days.
Ir hes been resolved to confer a grant of qtlarter sessions
upon Brighton, which has long been sought for by the in-
habitants of that increasing and prosperous locality. sir.
t...dwin James; ta.C., of the Bowe Ctreuit will be the first
recorder of Brighton tinder this new arrangement.

Volittcal anb 63tatral.

897

THE ELECTION FOR KING% LYNN took place on
Saturday last, when Mr. G. H. Gurney was elected
without opposition. There was a total absence of
excitement; and nothing of importance in the speeches
made on the occasion.

--------
TilE ANNUAL DINNER of the Stow-on-the-Wold
AgricultUral SoCiety was held on Friday week. A
large number of influential gentry and yeomen were
present. The speech of the evening was delivered
by Mr. Henley, in responding to the toast, " The
Members for the Comity'
The right hon. gentleman observed that meet whoa
they might, and wherever they liked, the first thing each
man said to another was this—" Thank God for what fine
weather we have, and a fine harvest.'"rwice within the
apace of seven years had this country been almost in
some degree, if not quite, on the verge of famine. Twice
within that time had pestilence raged among them ;
and some people thought it had been most fatal in its con-
sequences 10 those years when there was a short supply of
food, when the force of the pestilence would in consequence
necessarily fall upon the poor with large families ; but, be
that as it might, this fact would come fairly home to the
minds of all men—that if the produce of our own country,
our native land, should be deficient, we should, therefore,
have to pay so much the more enhanced prices for that.
which we got from abroad. He was not going to reopen
the controversy which had been carried on upon that sub-
ject, for that was now at an end, but they could not shut
their eyes to the fact of how great a duty, how great an
obligation, was imposed upon them, and not only for their
own personal gratification, but alsothe great and important
duty, that the feeding of the people of this country must
depend on the eneritt, on the skill, on the resolution of
the agriculturists of this country,—to go on as they had
hitherto gone on, More and More keeping pace with the
increasing population for the vast supply of food, both
corn and meat, which recent circumstances had succeeded
I in bringing into the market, because on that alone would
depend whether the people of the country obtained their
food at reasonable and tit prices. He believed that all
great and important improvements which had taken place
during the last forty years had taken place front the skill
and energy, from the ability of the working owners anti
occupiers of the soil of this country, deriving great ad-
vantages, no doubt, from coming together to see the work
of others in societies of that kind, which had enabled
them to produce the vast-increasing supply of meal.
That there had been an increase iu the production of
corn there could be no doubt, for where three quarters of
corn used to be produced thirty years ago four quarters
were produced now, and where 11b. of meat was formerly
produced now 21b. were produced. The manufacturers
might scoff and sneer at the owners and occupiers of the
soil, but he (Mr. Henley) should like to know, if they had
been confined to the same number of mills for the last
thirty years, whether they would have doubled the
amount of their produce in the same way the farmer had
done?
A number of other toasts were given and responded
to in the course of the evening.
MIDDLESEX REGISTRATION.-TRE CONHERVATITE
LAND SOCIETY.—Mr. Lancelot Shadwell, the revising
barrister, held a court at BrentfOrd, On Tuesday, for
six parishes in that district. A htimber of claims
were made in respect of the Ealing rettOry estate,
purchased for the members of the Comiervitive Land
Society, which were opposed by the Liberal party.
Amongst the claimants were Viscotiht Maidstone, Sir
C. W. Codringtoh, Bart., M.P., the lion. Colonel
Lowther, M.l'., and many other eminent gehtlemen.
Mr. C. E. Lewis, one of the solicitors to the Conser-
vative Land Society, and Mr. JorieS, Supported the
claims. The first case taken was that of Lieutenant-
Colonel Abdy, who claimed as the owner of a plot of
ground in Ealing parish by deed of cenvieyance
dated 6th June, 1853, in consideration of 501. Proof
of vette having been demanded by the Objector, Dlr.
Lewis said the extent of the plot was twenty-seven
feet frontage by 110 in depth. There was no One
plot of the whole area worth less than 501., and some
had been sold for 701. Messrs. Pritchett and Dent,
independent surveyors, had gone over the whole
estate and measured the land. Mr. Pritchett gaie
evidence to the effect that the estate consisted of a
great many plots, each of which, judging by his ex-
perience; was of the value of 3s. h foot frontage of
twenty-seven feet, which, computed, Would give 41.
per annum. Good roads and drainage had tended
much lo improve the value of the property. As the
ground stood uncovered it was worth twenty years'
purchase; but, if covered, it would be worth twenty-
five years' purchase. Plots for which 501. had been
given frere now worth 801. It was stated that four
houses had been built on the estate. Ultithitely,
the whole of the claims in respect of the Ealing rec-
tory estate, ninety-one in humber, were placed on the
egister.
THE GRINNELL ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—The second
expedition sent out by Henry Grinnell, Esq., to the
Arctic seas, under the command of Dr. Kane, was
last heard from on the 23rd of July, 1853, when he
was at Upperiiiiie, on the vest toast of Greenland ;
but he is expected to report himself in New York in
the coin-se of next mouth. Should he not be heard
from at that time; it will be surmised that he has de-
cided upon spending another *inter at the North.

1

806

jesty's Plenipotentiary, shows the imports during the
year 1853 to have been valued at 1,045,1411., and the
exports 3,250,2031.
Sir John Bowring was expected to leave for Hong
Kong via the other ports, a week after the Barracouta,
and the United States steamer Suequehannah on the
15th.
Numerous pirate fleets are cruising all over the
east coast ; one numbering fifty junks, crowded with
men, had lately congregated within forty miles of
Fu-chan.
It is stated from Ningpo that the Portuguese cor-
vette Dom Joao, with fifteen lorchas, had been firing
the town and plundering some war junks. A private
letter gescribes the country inland as perfectly qui-
escent politically, whilst commercially the utmost
activity prevailed in the tea market betwixt the
groirers and dealers from Shanghae. Rumours of
the war betwixt Great Britain and Rtissia were cur-
rent among the Chinese, who seemed assured that
England would have the worst of it.

tout wall jastion.

HER MAJESTY'S JOURNEY TO BALMORAL was com-
pleted on Friday week under the most satisfactory
auspices. From Edinburgh to Aberdeen the most
complimentary demonstrations on the pup of the
population marked ber progress ; and as the royal
train passed the castle of Starling a salute was fired
from the batteries. At Forfar Lord Panmure paid
his respects to her Majesty, and at Perth the Earl
of Mansfield awaited her arrival for, a similar pur-
pose. The local authorities were of course on the
qui viva, and attended the Queen through the dis-
tricts subject to their jurisdiction. The youthful
princes were attired in the highland costume, and the
national colours were also prominently displayed by
the Queen and the princesses. A detachment of the
depot of the 09th Regiment, stationed at Aberdeen,
bad been expected at a village on Thursday evening,
to form a guard of honour to her Majesty. They,
however, did not arrive, having been countermanded
for some reason or other. Fortunately a guard of
honour was not allowed to be wanting. About four
o'clock fifty of the clan Farquharson (of Invercauldl,
commanded by their chief, Mr. George Farquharson,
of the Scots Fusilier Guards, preceded by the sound
a the bagpipe, marched into the village and took up
theirlaosition near where the royal cortege were to
halt in order to change horses. These men, arrayed
in their highland costume, had a fine picturesque tip•
pearance, and the manner in which they executed their
movements was highly creditable. About half-past
five the royal cortege drove to the inn. Her Majesty,
with
,much condescension, acknowledged the homage
which the assembly were proud to render her. The
royal party having changed horses started for Bal-
moral, which they reached within an hour. The new
royal residence at Balmoral has advanced rapidly
during the summer. On the ground floor of the
west and north sides are the public rooms, and over
them are the principal bedrooms and other accom-
modations for the royal family. The other two sides
are three, stories in height, and will be reserved
chiefly for the accommodation of the suite. This
part of the building is intended, we believe, to be
ready for being occupied by the time of her Majesty's
visit to the Highlands next autumn. On the east
side a wing is being built seventy feet in length, and
in connection with a very prominent part of the
edifice, viz., a tower of forty feet square, which will
be about eighty feet high, with a circular staircase
pn one angle, making the height 100 feet The
louse is in the baronial or old English style of archi-
tecture. The south and west fronts especially are
very, handsome, there being some very fine carving
and moulding in the details. There are very fine
oriel windows for the principal rooms Queen's
sitting-room, bedroom, dressing-room, with
turrets on the .angles. The whole is to be fireproof,
according to Barrett's patent. It will be understood
that there are two buildings, the servants' accommo
dation being distinct, the space occupied by which
being more than equal to that of the principal
building. There is besides in the plan a ball room,
to supersede the present iron one, and the dimen-
sions of this will be 09 feet by 25.
Her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness
the Priuce walked out on Saturday morning. The
royal children took their usual riding and walking
exercise. In the afternoon the Prince, attended by
Major General the Hon. C. Grey and Colonel the
Mon. C. Phipps, had the wood driven for deer.
As at present arranged her Majesty the Queen and
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by
the younger branches of the royal family, and at.
tended by the ladies, and gentlemen of the house
hold, will arrive at Windsor Castle on the oth of
next month tor their usual autumnal sojourn.

TON CALORIC ENGINE invented by Captain Ericsson has
been finally abandoned, and is to be taken out of the ship
bcaring his name, steam boilers being substituted. From
the beginning this result has been foreseen by practical
and scientific men, notwithstanding the alleged complete
success of the experiment.

141 it PRESS.

3rtiant.

Musa PRIVY COUNCIL—At a Privy Council held on
Saturday at Dublin Castle, the Lord Chancellor, the
Archbishop of Dublin, and the Right Hon. Sir Edward
Blakeney, G.C.8., were sworn Lords Justices during
the absence of the Lord Lieutenant.

ONE OF THE MOST ATROCIOUS ACTS of mingled
bigotry and villany on record was perpetrated in
Derry on Friday week. It aimed at nothing less than
the destruction of nine hundred Orangemen at a
single blow. The means chosen was the upsetting
of a railway excursion-train, on its return from
Londonderry to Enniskillen, where it had conveyed
the number above mentioned of Enniskilleners to
fraternise with the 'prentice boys, a return for a
similar visit paid some weeks since by the Derr"
boys to Enniskillen. The 900 Enniskilleners, headed
by Lord Enniskillen, reached Derry at ten o'clock,
welcomed by a large array of Derryites and others,
with Sit Robert Bateson at their head. When these
Enniskillen and Derry columns had effected their
junction, they moved in combination round the walls
to the place where Walker's Pillar stands. Here
there was plenty of shouting, and spouting, and
enthusiasm, of Kentish tire, and waving of banners,
on which were inscribed the words " Derry,"
" Enniskillen," " Aughrim," and " Boyne." Then
Sir Robert Bateson made a speech. Then there was
a lunch and toasts and more speeches, and more
Kentish fire ; and the whole assembly roared out,
" No surrender ! " In the evening (says a contem
porary) the visitors left Derry. Two engines being
placed to the train, the journey was accomplished
without anything occurring until the train, after
passing Dromore, in the county of Tyrone, reached
a townland named Stranagomer, near the crossroads
leading from Trillick to Lowtherstown, when a
sudden shock, preceded by a slight jumbling of the
engines, took place, and immediately down went.the
engines, flying off, as it were, at right angles. The
second engine, on which, along with the engine-man,
were Lord Enniskillen and one of the , railway
officials, Mr. George Younger, ran into the first,
jamming his lordship between the engine and first
carriage, from which perilous position he was rescued
by the joint exertions of seven or eight of the
Enniskilliners, who had left their carriages when the
concussion took place. His lordship was but very
slightly bruised, although one of the engine drivers
was killed, and another had a leg broken.. This
man, we understand, is not expected to live. A
third man, belonging to the company, is suffering
also very much from a dreadfully mangled thigh, off
which the flesh was completely torn. At the hour
the accident occurred it was, of course, quite dark,
and there were, we have learnt, but two lamps avail-
able. The cause of the accident was found to be
several stones—one of them weighing close upon
three cwt.—which had been placed by some fiendish
miscreants upon the line, and these were preceded
by a few smaller ones, evidently designed to throw
the engines off the rail before coming to the larger
block, in the hope that the latter would then the
better turn them down a precipitous steep of about
thirty or forty feet in depth, caused by the earth
which had been thrown in at this spot to raise the
line to a proper level, and at which there is no
parapet or protecting wall. As a train had passed
along the line about twenty minutes previously, it is
manifest the fiendish concoctors of this diabolical
scheme, which exceeds anything we ever read of in
murderous intention, were lying in wait some time
to accomplish their purpose, and that the object of
their deadly intention was the more numerously
freighted train containing the Derry visitors; and,
so solicitous were they that failure should not attend
them, that about a mile further on the line was
similarly obstructed. Happily at the time of the
collision the engines were proceeding rather slowly,
to which may be attributed, in a great measure, the
slight nature of the casualties ; for had they been
going at a rapid rate, and turned off down the em-
bankment, taking the carriages along with them, few
could have escaped with their lives. As it was, the
scene of confusion is indescribable, and to add to the
terror inspired at the moment a rumour was raised
that another train would be likely to come up with
them. Shortly after the occurrence took place a
crowd of country people assembled, and, although we
blush for our common humanity when we pen such a
sentence, yet the truth should be told, which, as we
have been informed by an eye witness, is most dis-
creditable to the peasantry of that district. Our in-
formant states that hardly one of those who came up
would condescend to put a hand in order to render
the slightest assistance ; and although one fellow
was paid liberally for bringing a little water, and
another was paid to bring a door to carry off the
poor sufferers, neither of these fellows returned.
That such an occurrence should take place in a
Chrissian country, and be characterised with such
hardheartedness in the hour of need, will scarcely be
believed, and, God krows we write it more with feel-
ings of regret than indignation. Our readers can all