The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-09 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OP MODERN ARTISTS.

BRITIBB EVITUUTION.
[Second Notice.]

'foe present exhibition displays an unusual paucity
of boldness snd sentiment in the choice of subject.
With the two striking exceptions of T. Denby's
"Moonlight Feast," and J. W olt's " Just Out," there
me few pictures of strong interest from a poetical
choice and treatment of subject in the whole place.
To these two paiutin"s, of which we have already
spoken a passing word, we desire to call more pati-
ent& attention. Danby's picture, representing a soli-
tary heron standing in • pool upon a lonely moor,
and making his supper of frogs, by the light of the
moon and the glow-worm, is a very beautiful work
indeed. That which is best in it is that which is
most indescribable—a strange, dreamy, ideal, moon-
light and sulithry feeling to which everything
on the canvas—from the melancholy bird to
the grouping of the very rushes, contributes in a
decided but unaccountable manner. The glow-worm
and the stars—trifles to paint—are yet so painted as
to be trifles no longer.
I. Wolf's picture of two birds of prey fighting, in
continence of a simultaneous attack upon a teal
which has escaped them, leaving its tail in their
possession. is a perfect work, as far as regards the
painting of the combatants, and of their intended
victim. Sir Edwin Landscer himself has seldom
surpassed the vigour and humour of this work.
It is • pity that the artist has not thought
it worth while to make the accessories of
rock, water, rushes, shrubs, &c., as perfect as the
principal objects. The Prceraphaelites have taught
e to be particular in this matter, and to expect that
tic. artist, like nature, shall make one thing as per-
fect as another. Probably the accessories men-
tioned in this picture have not been painted from
actual nature at all. They were painted by the
artist " to the best of his recollection," which may
he a eery good one, and yet fall far short of affording
a model at all comparable to original nature. Tins
fault, it is true, is common to nil the pictures in the
face but some score or so. 'l'here is, however, some-
thing so satisfactory in those pieces which have been
executed on the principle of finishing all the objects
in one and the same picture up to one and the same
point, that all works done on the old method
seem imperfect and incoherent after them. Among
these pictures which seem to us to have been
executed with this due deference to the con-
sistency and excellence of nature in all her
forms, we will direct attention to J. P. Pet-
tites view of " The Greta; " " Tho Winter
boset" of C. Bmnwhito (a truly conscientious
ar.d successful piece of work); " Lytham Com-
mon, Lancashire," by It. Ansdell; " Sheep Gather-
ing, Isle of Skye," by the same; "A King's Chain-
ter,Knole,- and "A Peep into a Cottage Dairy,"
both W. S. I'. Header/on; and " The Weld of
fient;''a belutiful landscape, by J. Linnell. Such'
pictures as tse show that the practice of the true
doctrine is not confined to those who have lately
as its apostles and sworn defenders. All
appeared
are executed with the simple purpose
of appro.ching as nearly as possible to the surpass-
e; charms of reality and simple nature. It will,
however, we fear, he a long time before the best
pictures in an exhibition come to be the moat gene-
rely attractive ; people have been so long accustomed
to pictures in which the truth of nature is ignored,
that nature has come to be praised for being occasion-
ally "like apicture," instead of a picture's being always
expected to be a likeness from nature. "On the
'harms, near Windsor," by W. Linton, is a picture
that will probably attract considerably more atten-
tion than any one of those last mentioned by as.
And why? For the plain nod intelligible reason
that people never saw anything "on the Thames,
near Windsor," or anywhere else, at all like it.
There may he points of great merit in such a picture :
then are points of merit in this : but it is not by
these that spectators in general will be arrested.
Mr. Liar's picture of " The Mountains of Ther-
mopylae" is one of the few landscapes in this exhibi-
tion which are at once good nod " striking." But
way striking? Because few people have had the
t'eportunity of knowing that the extraordinary blue
ci: the bills is true to nature.

TXlllll.—The French government hoe received
11V0luits from Tahiti to the 25th October. According to
these the French establishments continuid to enjoy the
Mut complete tranquility, and had begun to effect ire-
frovemsato. A cu•dons-housa had been established in the
PGr. of Pipette, and works had been undertaken for let-
Prelol the port. Preparations were mak lair for the station
as afforest lines of stesn.ers which the English and Ameri
Peopoe to establish in the island. The Jlessager of
TAM gives an account of grand rejoicings which took
Vl^. au the commencement of the works for a road.
tbI•110 l'emare and all the principal chiefs wets present;;
dire
,4.'4 a good deal of dancing and firing of cannon, and
a• magnet toasts were drunk to the Prince President of
La It•rtedie, and the French Governor of the Mani.
Ltyr.nreqt. Lyn or COMMERCE. —The
tritseers appointed by the annual meeting of the Liver-
POlCisaather of Commerce (reported in our last publics-
-1,111) presented their report yesterday, by which it ap•
Pared that Charles Itolfrrtson. Esq , Joseph Hubback,
W J. Tomlinson, Esq , Edward lliigin, Esq.., and
A. Clint. EDI., were chosen director, by ballot.
U. Coglic, J. E Naylor, and R. Shiel, had each
Ihe same ntuaher of votes, end it required the decision of
ths committee as to which ,could be appointed.
4,814n0r T TOE DlGGlNGS.—Yoterday, at the
it'^„tl47 meeting al the Christian Knowledge Society, a
_, el' • read from the Bishop of Adelaide, in the course
*Leh h:s lordship remarked—" I perceive that the
itlex• pees tilt in England that the gold diggings have
I't's.! Wealth beyond bound into our laps. This is true of
4th p„ class, but the other classes were never so
7."41, P:ocvd. •t he east of suhsistence has doubled. All
-4,lar mid service wages are exorbitant. The eleray and
rttri, thdore, not unls find their incomes diminished,
„_:,•• thee n
sopply Islootir I, insufficient and wages high ;
..,7•10,1*. much discomfort. find it difficult to live and
:c ir children as before. Breed is 4d. per
induces
tt, • "the gond feeling of the wonting classes
111 the hatvi.t. instead of I.unting after gold,
Mud...sive Will be excti.l.llneat year."

COURT OF ALDERMEN.
FREEDOM OF TRADE IN THE CITY OF
LONDON.
Yesterday a court was held for the despatch of
public business. There was a full attendance of aldermen,
and the piper of business presented notices of several mo-
t' , the most important or which was that of Atilt ratan
Sidney—" That in the opinion of this court the prosecution
of retail dealers within the City of London for being nun-
Cfri,hlOß k inexpedient, unwi.e, aid unjust?' It will be
observed that Alderman Sidney's motion is directly in the
teeth of the resolution of the Court of Common Cuenca, by
which body it was determined that the City solicitor should
prosecute non-freemen who twriisted in offending.
The following report, which had been postponed until
the time arrived for the discussion of Alderman Sidney's
motion, was read :

" In Oliedience to an order of this honourable court, of
the ISth day cot January lan, to consider so much of tne
presentments made by the inquests of the several wards of
this City on Plough Monday last as relates to non-freemen,
and to take such steps therein as we may think tit. We,
whom names ore hereunto subscribed, your committee for
general purposes, do certify that, upon examining the pre-
sentments referred to us, it appeared that 18 out of tho 25
wards hail respectively presented several person. for carry log
on trade within the city not being free, amounting in the
whole to 1,328 persons. That we held a con'erence with a de-
putation of the Freedom Committee of the Court of Common
Council, and obtained in detail from them the proceedings
which they had taken against thirty-four individuals for
trading in the city, nn being free. that of those thirty-
four seventeen had taken up their freedom, and that pro-
ceedings were continuing against seventeen who had not
done so. Thu deputation withdrawing they shortly after
sent to us the following resolution.—That the Committee of
Aldermen be requested to obtain authority that the several
presentments by the Ward Inquests of Non-Freemen in
the City may be laid before the committee, for their in-
formation. All which we submit to the judgment of this
honourable court—Dated this Bth day of February, 1863.
(Signed) " THOMAS- Q. FINNIC
4' SAMUEL WILSON.
"D. W. Winz."
Alderman SIDNRT then rase to submit the motion of
which lie hail given astir..
Alderman Cawntexcznzonded the metion,which he con-
sidered to be very Important to the interests of the citizens
of Lon Inn.

Alderman SALOMONS said he acquiesced in the opinion
that the course adopted by the Court of Common Council
was inexpedient, but he must also say that it would t e
extremely imprudent in the court to pass a severe een
sure upon anot►er branch of the corporation. (Cheers.)
Ile must say that the constituency of the City of London
ought to be enlarged. and that it would be absurd to
pro•ccut.•, but the language which he should use for the
purpose of accomplishing so desirable an oject ought, in
his opinion, to be that of conciliation and persuasion, and
not that of censure, which Well calculated to injure the
whole holy in the public mind. ((fear, hear.) Ile would,
therefore, propose an anondmenr, which he trusted th.
court would adopt, as being better calculated, by the
spirit of conciliation which it would exhibit, to attain
the obj••et they all lisii at heart. The following wa►
the amendment propo,,d by Alderman &lament :
s. That it in the opinion of this court that the prose-
cution of retail dealers within the City of Lotion
for being non-freemen, is inexpedient ; and that fur the pur-
pose so generally desired tor enlarging the constituency of
this corporation, the most rif,ctual coarse would be to make
forthwith a renewed application for the assistance of the
legislature, in which this court would cordially join."
(Cheers.)
Alderman SIDNEY —Certaii.lT, I consider that an im-
provement upon my motion, said I most willingly • lopt it.
Alderinin Witts seconded the amendment, which he
hoped to see carried without division.
The amendment was corned unanimously, after some
conversation, amidst cheers, and the court adjourned.

COMMITTAL OF ELIZABETH VICKERS FOR
TILL ALLEGED MURDER AT BRIXTON.

At Lsmbeth police-court, last evening, Elizabeth
Vickers, late housekeeper to Air. William Jones, of
Springfield-cottages, Brixton, and who stood remanded for
the wilful murder of he•r late master, was again placed at
the liar for final examination.

IS.irgeant George Guianese, P 1, deposed that since the
prisoner's last examiostino, he, accompanied by his super
intendent, Mr. Lund, visited the late residence of the de-
emed, Mr. Jones, for the purpose of making a note
minute search of the things in the house. On examin.ug
the couch in the back parlour, on which the deceased OLD
represented to have died, they found stains of blood on the
lining et the to or head part. The horse-hair covering was
worn away, and the status of blood were visible on the can-'
vas that remained. There was a small bed placed on this
conch, and on two places in this bed marks of blood were
quite visible. (The prisoner here in a mast vehe-
ment and violent manner, which surprised every
one presets?, here exclaimed, " No, no. I say, no.")
Sarge-nt Quinoear—On removing a coloured cotton case
from u pillow used on the couch, and turning it inside out,
we found evident marks of blood on it, whiith had been
endeavoured to be removed by washing, but which were
notwithstanding still quite observable.
Prisoner (vehemently)—They are not stains of blood,
they are stains of porter.
Quinuear—On searching amongst the dirty linen, heaps
of which were in all parts of the hytise, we found another
sheet with stains of blood on it, and this we have taken
away with the pillow-ease. We searched the house very
enmity, and could find no money, though from inquiries
I hire made I have reasan to believe that a short time
before the deceased, Mr. Joan, had received 231. odd, the
amount of his dividends. The only money found was
IS. Gs. G. 1., which was on the person of the prisoner when
she was taken into custody. Since the last examination I
have seen a man of the name of Collins, a gardener, who
had been examined biers the coroner's jury, and ho on
being so examined swore that he had seen the deceased fall
in has own garden, when his head came with some violence
against the wall. I have asked this person to point out the
spot where he saw the dee, used fall, and he has done s
but it is my opinion that, Prom his description, it is quite
impossible, if even he had fallen there, that he could have
hit his head against the wall, or injured himself. We found
the house in a most shocking state, in fact it stunk most
offensively. Heaps of soiled and half washed clothes wen
in every part of it, and in my opinion not a single article
had been washed there lOr five or six months.
Prisoner—How do you know that?
Guininar—l was told it by Miss Allen, who informs me
'that fur several months she has not observed a single article
hung out to dry.
Prisoner—Miss Allen had better mind her own business.
Mr. John Neale, sbopasan to Mr. Filthier, pawnbroker,
in Kennington-road, opposite Kennington-common, depend
that the silver snuff-box, the silver watch, and other articles
he then produced, had hien pawned with him at his nes-
ter's shop, en the 13th of last month, for 31. by the prisoner.
She then gave the name of Elisabeth Vickers, and her
residence is Acre-lane, Brixton.
Prisoner—l did pawn the things, and the property is my
own, though Jones may swear to it if he dares. The arti-
cles were purchased for and presented to me.
The prisoner here became so vehement and violent that
her own solicitor had to beg of her to be quiet, assuring
her that by her conduct she wee doing herself much
mischief. _ _ _

Mr. William Jones, the nephew of the deceased, next
got into the witness bon, and when sworn said that to the
best of his belief the watch and other articles produced be-
loed to his uncle.
Pimner—Thea you have sworn to a he ; they are mine,
and therefore you have taken a false oath. The snuff box
was given to me by your node, and also the watch and
other things.
Witness—The watch I saw hanging op in my uncle's
radm the last time I was with him. 1 pertioularly noticed
the paper inside, and saw the name of Hunter ou it, as it
now appears. The snuff bus he was then using, and gave
me a pinch of snuff out of it ; and the wrist buttons ath, I
am sure, thoss worn by him at the time.
Prisoner—You know within about them; they are my
property.
Mr. Solomon, who was for the prisoner, here remarked
that a queothm might arise as to whether the prisoner was
not entitled to the property as residuary legatee.
Prisoner—lndependent of that it's my property.
Mr. Elliott observed that, whether each was the case or
not, the piston had no right to passer herself of the pr--
perty without the sanction of the executor.
Mr. John Mhsworth, clerk to Messrs. Seadding and Son,
*elicitors, Gordon-square, said—l produce an official copy
of the last will and testament of Mr. William Jones, of No.
4, Springfield-cottages, Acre-lane, Brixton, which I re-
c. ived and compared with the original will in Doetors'-
commons to-day. It is a correct copy of that will, and there
is upon the same a memorandum of probate granted the
24th of January, 18j3. The will bequeathed legacies to
the amount of 1,1001. Three-and-a-Half per Cent. stock,
land a legacy of 3001. sterhng ; and Elizabeth Vickers, de-
scribed in the will as housekeeper to the testator, is made
the residuary legatee to the unite. This witness reminded
the magistrate of the fact that the officers had found a ear-
tifieate of the transfer of 1,0001. stock, in the month of
November last, from the name of the deceased into the
jisiet names of himself and the prisoner. This, it would be
' recollected, had been done upon the recommendation of
Mr. Key, the medical attendant of the deceased, at a time
when the prisoner was using every effort with her master
, to have the amount transferred to herself individually.
Mr. Elliott remarked that this fact already appeared on
the depositions.
'1 he prisoner was here asked, in the usual manner, if she
had anything to say to the charge, and Mr. Solomon M-
t plied in thu negative, upon which Mr. Elliott committed
her to tyke her trial at the next session of the Central Cri-
minal Court for wilful murder.

THE ORDNANCE St:nem—About 1,300 persons
are at present employed on the Ordnance survey. They
have now completed snaps of al large towns in Eng-
land, on a scale of 60 inches to the mile; of Ireland, Lanca-
shire, Wigtooshire, and portions of Kircudbrightshire
Lewis, Yorkshire, and Dumfrieshire, on a scale of 6 inches
to the mile, and of the south of England on a scale of ore
inlh to the mile. Maps on a scale of 6 inches to the mile of
several other Scotch counties are preparing, as well as one-
inch maps of Ireland and Scotland.
NEW LINE OF TELEGRAPH TO 111sxcursrm—A
large number of workmen, yesterday, commenced opera-
tions for laying down the telegraph from the Central
Sln-
ti•le, at Lothbory, direct to Manchester, the wires to extend
the entire distance under the turnpike roads.

E:itu

THE ISTHMUS OP DARIEN AND THE
PROJECTED SHIP CANAL.

Great interest attaches at present to the proposals
brought forward for cutting alhip canal :terms the lethinei
which separates North and &nth Am, r.ca. The route,
via Nicaragua and the Isthmus of Darien ars the two to
which public attention has been chiefly dir. meet ; bat it ties
long been seen that the former route could never be carried
out, as such a canal, instead of ce.sting 4,00,0001., would,
as shown by the surveys of eminent Esglish engineers, In.
solve an expenditure of et least 11,000.04U1. sterling, and
would probably then be inefficient. The N.caregue
project seenamg to prove abortive, there is more disposi-
tion to discuss the merits of the Darien route. Subjoint6
is a reasons of the diflkulties to be overcome iu c.ch
ease, as stated by the parties interested in the last•named
roue :

Comparative Table of the engincerisg features of the
Nicaragua and the Darien proposed ship canal routes, com-
piled from the " Map and Profile of the Route fur the Con-
strucion of a Ship Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean across the Isthmus to the State of Nicaragua, Ceneral
America, surveyed for the ATlVriCall Atlantic and Pacific
Ship Canal C..mpany, by 0. W. Childs, cbi.t esuinetr ; J.
1). Fay. principal assistant, F. F. Curry, G. Fitsgerald, sod
J. E Cropsec, 26,4s:riots, IS-id 51, J. and 1). Manus, Leith,
177, Broadway, New York ;" and "Darien Ship Nasiga-
bon, Engineer 'a Report to Messrs. Fos, Henderson, and
Brassey, London, 1852, Saunders and Stanford, 6, Char-
ing-cress ; and " The I.thmus of Darien Ship Canal. with
Ma" by Dr. Callen," Landon, 1552, Effingham Wilsuu,
11, Royal Exchange:
NICAUAL:VA. DAUM:.
_ _ _

llarbours.—San Juan del Caledouti Bay, Port Es-
Norte, on the Atlantic, of coces, and the Channel of
iusullicient capacity. and Sfasardi, on the Atlantic
death of water. Brno, wt side, have au extent of I l
the Pacific, has no title miles of safe anchorage in
whatever to the name of all winds, and great depth
harbour. otwater. The Gulf of San
Miguel, on the Paelie Aide.
would hold the shipping of
the world.
Locks necessary. Four- No locks necessary.
tees. locks on the Atlantic

side, from an Juan to tha
rapids of Cutillo and Toro

0:i the lake; and 14 on the
Pacific aide from the lake to

Distance acroas,l94 miles. Distance across, :19 miles.
Summit level,ol lake, 128 Greatest depth of cutting
feet, to be locked up to on neceeery, 150 141, let
each side. scarcely two miles.

Li.ligth of canal neceseory, Canal to be cut, 25 to 30
47 miles; leng.h of river to miles. No dredging or deep-
bo deepened and dredged, 91 ening of rive necessary.
miles. Total length of work
to be done, 13.3
Artificial harbours, pier., No such works necessary
embankments, necessary at —nothing whutsver to be
each end of the lake, the ap- done but a simple cut.
preach to the shores of which
is impracticable, owing to
shoals and sandbanks.

Could not be made naviga- Can be made navigable for
Isle for large ships, say of Airs of the greatest draught
1,000 tons Walken. of water.
Disputed territorial boon- Concession from New Ora-
darica —concemsion in litiga- uada—recogni.ed by ell gu•
tion—failed in f••rmind a vernments—uotspireil term
company. of eneyear,within which they
. .

are required by the conces-
sion .aid by the Bulwer and
Clayton treaty to commence
operations unexpired—com-
pany formed.
Volcanoes in a state of ac- No volcanoes within some
tivity along the route. hundreds of miles.
Earthquakes in neighbour- None have everbeen known
hood.. to have occured.
Charter of incorporation Company provisionally re-
from State of New York cisten it and will receive a
infringed. royal charter of incorpora-
tion.
Depth originally 17 ft., and Depth 30 ft.
then only 12 It.
Tornadoes and papagayors, Coasts peculiarly exempt
or violent hurricanes oa the from stenos and hurricanes.
coasts. See pilot books and Captain

Probable time necessary Transit can be effected in
for tzaosit from sea to tea, six to eight hours.
through so many locks six
days.