The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-14 00:00:00

PROVINCIAL.

1 •-• ...Jammu
CHARGE OF FORGERY.—Yesterday, at the Court-
house, Leeds, Mr. Alexander Blenkinaop, who has for a great
number of years carried on the business of a joiner and
builder at Leeds, but who lately relinquished that business
to his son, and confined his attention solely to the business
of a manufacturing chemist, which he had commenced about
eight or nine years ago, was brought up on a charge of
forgery. The evidence adduced on the occasion referred in
particular to a bill dated Sept. 6, 1847, for 1661. 4s. 3J., pur-
porting to be drawn by the accused upon, and accepted by,
Mr. J. Buraclough, of Calverley, farmer, pariah:eat Messrs.
Williams, Deacon' and Co's., London. It appeared from
the statements of Mr. Barrsclougb, and of his brother-in-
law, Mr. T. Watkinson, of Branchope-grove, farmer, that
for the last throe or four years post the prisoner had been in
the habit of assisting the latter person with loans of money
to make op his rent half yearly, ..nd that on those occasions
both of them had put their names to blank accept-
ances, which were given to the prisoner an secu-
rity for repayment, and that within the last few
months, on other oecoions, to accommodate the
prisoner, both Barraclough and hie brother-in-law had done
the like upon stamps that would carry a sum like the bill in
question ; but although Barraclough denied that the accept-
ance to the bill in question was his, he said that he could not
tell how many acceptances he had given, nor for what
amounts, as they were mostly given in blank. The prison-
er's son, who generally drew his bills, as the prisoner is an
indifferent writer, said that he filled up the bill in question,
and signed it with his father's name at his request, and that
when his father produced it, it had Mr. Barraelough'i name
written scram it, as former bills had had. The bid in ques-
tion had been paid by the prisoner to his bankers, Messrs.
Wm. Williams Brows and o whom, as was stated by a
clerk, the prisoner now owes Co.,;bout 1,4001. oa an open as
after giving him credit for the value of all bills he
had paid in ,but if all thosa bills were dishonoured he would
owe them about 3,0001. After the evidence of three or four
witnesses had been taken, the further investigation was ad.
jouzned till this day. Mr. Sanderson, solicitor, appeared for
the prisoner, but declined to cross-examine any of the wit-
nesses. A clerk, from the office of Messrs. Payne, Eddison,
and Ford, solicitors, attended for the prosecution.
CHESHIRE.
Tan STOCKPORT ELECTION has been fixed by Mr.
Moreland, the mayor, who is the son of the conservative can-
didate, for Wednesday, and nut yesterday, as has been
stated.

FLoone.—The recent heavy rams have laid ail the
low lands between Leicester and Derby under water. Many
of the fields have thus been temporarily converted into wide-
spread lakes; the Soar has become for a time a really run•
niag stream ; and the Trent and Derwent have rialk to the
dignity of majestic rivets.
f,14111101111117CM9

STARTLING FAcT9.--Th79li;;;in Mercury of yes-
terday says The gesettee of taking opium, laudanum, ether,
and morphia, has increased and is increasing amongst the
population of the fens of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire
to a frightful extent. It obtains amongst the aged, the in-
firm, and the young, and it is confined to neither sex—old
men, old women, and young females are equally its victims.
It may be safely averred that every second customer who
visits the druggist's purchases opium, laudaauns, or some
innate or narcotic, whilst every second customer of the grocer
is a purchaser of tobacco. It is common to see the man or
woman of twenty, th irty, or forty yeses with cadaverous coun-
tenance, tottering frame, and palsied step, daily going fort
his or her sixpennyworth of poison, and we have heard o
yearly bills of 201. in one family for opium and laudanum !
In the town of Wisbech alone there are 400 gallons of lan-
danumeold and swallowed every year_ •eight gallons of lauda-
num per week, one small shop actually vending two gallons
of this quantity The apothecary's practice is thus a lucra-
tive one in the fens. Take away the laudanum retail trade,
and the druggist's occupation is gone : it is the staple of the
trade. Added to this frightful consumption of laudanum,
there are 1,128,780 gallons of beer end 20,500 gallons of
ardent spirits consumed annually in W Mech. To menufao
tore the one and to vend the other there are no fewer than
2 =haters, 12 brewers, 9 wholesale dealers in ardent spirits,
48 innkeepers, and 15 tom and jerries. As if this were not
enough to vitiate the appetite, or rather to satisfy the cra-
vings of a vitiated appetite, there is to be added to the cata-
logue the fact of there being 170 persons retailing tobacco.
To counteract all this laudanum, beer, and spirit swallowing,
and tobacco inhaling, there are 70 dealers in coffee and tea,
with two coffee-houses nicknamed " temperance hotels."
lkscovraY OP A Fossm—On Wednesday week, a
discovery of some interest was made in a field adjoining
Barnwell. An elephant's tusk, almost complete and. in ex-
cellent preservation, was found in digging a drain, eighteen
inches from the surface, imbedded in a mixture of mould
and gravel. It was removed, the same evening, to the Phi.
lasophieal School, and it is expected that Professor Sedgwick
will refer to the subject.
SUFFOLK.
. .

...
THE QUESTION OP A NATIONAL POOR RATE is be
to attract more attention in the country than has hitherto
been given to it ; but not so muck as the importance of the
measure deserves, when it is considered that those who have
studied the subject and have written upon it have proved
that a general rate of one shilling and sixpence in the pound
would be sufficient for the relief of the poor for the year.
What a contrast this would present to our present heavy
and overburdened. charge ; and what a relief it would be to
that system of litigation as to settlement which has cost so
much, and which the new law is not calculated altogether to
eetUe. In Suffolk, public meetings have been held to peti-
tion parliament on the subject, and we should be glad to see
the question taken up here in r way that would tend to for-
ward so desirable an end.—Ssighlk paper.
OXFORDSHIRE.
LETTERS STOLEN BY A POSTAIARTER.—On Wed-
nesday last Mr. Jones, the postmaster of Tetsworth, under-
went a long examination before the magistrates on the charge
eistealing certain letters containing money, directed to the
Rev. J. H. Peers, the clergyman of that place. The painful
dimovery was made in the following manner: The rev. gen.
*man is about to erect a new church at Tetaworth, and, in
order to midst him in the accomplishment of this object, his
Moab have forwarded to him several sums of money
tiro& the Pardee. Ultimately he bad mason to believe
rot arra sum se hreterded had as erred hr.
MOOD somplelleos he earned to the Peetrolreernd,
ode bit It the foldowfpg 'method of debris the robbery.
Ofalkiday se'ssigbUlfr. Ellice, the emorrofrierk, eared
- rbablere to be (livered from the Omni Torellice to Mr.
' flesh containing marked Wirer min ; be followed
• ~ taTelsworth and placed himself la the bore of Mr.
Km,
roarg their delivery ors, Mari of the Mc let-
''• ~ Imei men reerodlecitedthree. Mr. lase dr pro-
Stir iisreemt, to
be the pedometer',
......4 loreinz
rag
ammieges ies leollberitetimest
ober 'tired to mirk bret arty two 1
' . llbb ININIIiia kr fatika mairoce.

HAVING ENOUGH LABOUR ON A FAR3L—At the
South Devon Agricultural lileeting, at Totness, last wart, '
Sir Jobe Buller said, that, as an sgriculturist, he did what
he could. He perhaps tried, and set on foot, experiments
which might be too expensive for the little farmer. But as
he (Sir John) wished his entire neighbourhood to see what
he did, so did his neighbours, observing hint, 60011 find
methods not only of doing the same doing, but excelling
him, and doing this also in a cheaper way. Although, then,
he could not pretend to the rank of an agriculturist, yet he
did hope that he might have been enabled to give an im.
pulse to improvement in this way. There was one thing which
they would excuse him for mentioning, but it was most im-
portant, and he ought not to omit it. It was that the agricul-
turists—at least very generally—do not spend labour enough.
It was not enough to pe in manure, but they must also see
to clean out all weeds; nen. must they take it amiss in him,
for he said it in the most friendly spirit, that ho would advise
thorn to be • little more cleanly tbeir crops. There way also
another point that, as he had often before said, would twist in
placing the Devonshire farmer on an advantage, and that
was attention to the mode of feeding their cattle. They
should seek out there methods that would tend in the quick-
est way to put on the fat, and ucertain if it would not be of
advantage to use cake with their hay aid turnips. By vary-
ing the kinds of food of animals also much practical know-
ledge might be nbt.,ined. ?duel' had been done then, but
much still remained to do ; and his belief was that the good
alresdy done, and the improvements which had been made,
were mainly owing to agricultural associations; and that in-
creasing knowledge and forwarding improvements were
among those merits which
OR N are pecuL.liar to these societies.
CWAL
THE MINING INTEREST in Newlan in Pyhdar
and the adjoining parishes is at present much depressed. A
great number of the smaller mines have suspended opera-
tions altogether, and the larger ones are reducing their este-
bliohments. The great fall in the price of lead has, doubt-
lees, had an injurious effect ; but, independently of this, the
pressure in toe money market, and the gloomy prospects of
all mercantile speculations, have been felt here as elsewhere.
CHANNEL ISLANDS.
THE STORM, it appears, did not spare the Channel
Islands. A correspondent of the Guernsey Star says
Alderney was visited by a severe gale, which commenced
on Saturday evening liter, and continued till Tuesday night.
Considerable damage was done to some of the houses rind
outbuildings. The violence of the wind seas so great, that
almost the whole of the men employed on the government
works were unable to continue their occupation. The Ex-
periment cutter, lying in the harbour, had part of her but-
works stove in, and the Princess Royal steamer was nearly
adrift. Had one more line failed she must inevitably have
gone ashore and been dashed to pieces. No such gale has
occurred here for many years. Much of the stone which
had been deposited in the breakwater now being constructed,
especially that part abeve low water, which as yet was un-
protected by masonry, has been washed down, and not a
little has been carried round the point of the breakwater,
arid formed a considerable beach nearer the shore. A con.
siderable quantity of wreck has been washed on shore on
various pine of the c -not."

if= eils.
ROYAL ACADEMY.—DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.—
During the pad week the works executed by the students
in competition for the Royal Academy's prizes have been
on view within the walls of that institution. Taken
altogether, they may be said to exhibit the usual average of
merit. This being what is termed the biennial year—when
the president delivers his adOress at the distribution of the
three gold medals for original compositions in painting, sculp-
ture, and architecture—a ler,:e number of students have en-
tered. The subject for the gold medal in the clue of paint-
ing was " The young Men of the destroyed Tribe of Ben-
jamin seizing their destined Brides in the Vineyards ;" and
for this there were six competitors. In the class of sculpture
the subject was " The Murder of the Innocents," for which
two groups competed. In the class of architecture the sub-
, ject was A Design for a Cathedral." Four competitors
contributed in this class. In the painting school, the picture
presented to be copied was Niccolo POUENO's welldtnown
" Triumph of David earning the Head of Gash in Proces-
elan," lent by the managers of the Dulwich Gallery. Of
this there were three copies. Eleven drawings in chalk sad
two bas reliefs formed the competition list in the class of stu-
dies from the living model. Oue set of nine architectural
drawings of the Temple Church, comprising plans, elevation,
sections, and perspective views, composed the competition
for the silver medal its that class. Twenty-one sets of draw-
ings, each consisting of four, comprehending a study of the
group of "The Boxers," " Head of a Warrior," and a hand
and a foot--the last three of the natural size—were offered
for the silver meddle to be given in the class of drawings
from the antique—and six boa reliefs copied from the statue
of the Discobolon, made up the competition in the study of
sculpture from the antique for the remaining silver medals.
—Athencurn.--Friday last having been the 79th anniversary
of the foundation of the Royal Academy of Arts a general
assembly of the academicians was held, anti the following
distribution of premiums took place—viz. :
To Mr. lobo Everett Millais, for the best historical painting, the
geld medal, and the discoomesof the Eres,dentsßeynolds and West.—
To Mr. George Osionoon Adams. fee the test historical poup in sculls-
, two, the geld medal, and the discourses of tbe Presidents Reynolds
and West—Ts Mr. Edward Ramsey, for the best architectural de.
sign, the gold medal, and the &weenies of the Presidents Reynolds
and Weak—To Mr. William Proctor, fur the bast copy made in the
reboot of psinting, the Miser medal, and the lectures of the Professors
Fusel' and Plesman.—To Mr. Thos.Geo. Duvall, for the best drawing
from the life, the silver metal, and the lectures of the Prolevon
resell and Floaman.—To Mr. V. Pickering, for theneet beet drawing
from the life, the silver medeL—To Mr. James theater Leoadown,
for the best architectural drawings of the entrance and totes kir of the
Temple Church, the silver medal, and the lectures of the Professors
Fusel' and Flames—To Mr. Charles Compton., for the beet drawings
from the antique, the silver medal, and the lectures of the Professor
Fusiii.—To Mr. Edmund Eagles, for the nest beet drawing from the
antique, the silver medal.—To Mr. Edward James Physics, for the
best model from the antique, the sliver medaL--In consequence of
the continued indispestion of Sir Martin Archer Sbee, the president,
the premiums were distributed by George Jones, Esq., the keeper,
who deterrent a short address to the students.
APPOINTMENT OP OPPICIIRE.—The general assembly
afterwards proceeded to appoint officers for the ensuing year,
wbea Sir Martin Arthur Sheet was unanimously re-elected
president. Council.—New List: Frederick Richard Lee,
William Wyon, Esqrs,_Sir Richard Westmacott, and John
Peter Deering, Esq.-01.1 List : Th:mas Webster, Patrick
MacDowell, John Rogers Herbert, and Thomas Uwins
E:ecir• Visitors in the Life Academy.—New List: William
Mulready, Daniel Maeise, Solomon Alexander Hart, Henry
William -Pickergill, and William Wyon, Esqrs—Old List :
Abraham Cooper, Thomas Webster, John Rogers Herbert,
and Patrick Macidowell, Esqrs. Visitors in the School of
Painting.- _New List : Solomon Alexander Hart, Daniel
Macke, William Frederick Witherington, and Clarkson
Stanfield, Esqrs.—Old Liit : William Mulready, Charles
Robert Leslie, Thomas Webster, and John Roger, Herbert,
Rages. Auditors re-elected : William Mulready, Esq., Sir
Richard Wes'macott, and Philip Hardwick, Esq.
GIBSON'S STATUE OF HUBKISSON.—A marble statue
of the late Right Hon. W. 11 uskirsion, which bad been
executed at Rome by Mr. Gibson, was landed at the
port of Liverpool from Italy in 1845, and deposited
in the revenue premises attached to the Custom House
at that port, where it w.di originally proposed and in-
tended to be erected. A bronze statue of that eminent
gentleman having, however, been erected in its place at Mrs.
Huskisson's expense, the marble figure will be sent to Lon-
don for the purpose of being erected at Lloyd's in the Royal
Exchange; and Mr. Franklin, the surveyor to the corpora-
tion of Liverpool, has made application to the Lords of the
Treasury for permission to remove the statue to London, and
deliver it free of duty.
HEAD'S " SPANISIIAND FRENCH SCEIGOLS."—We

look upon this new book by Sir Edmund Heads' agreat im-
provement on his handbOok of the Flemish and Dutch
schools; there is more originality about it. The Spanish
school is as yet imperfectly understood in this country, and
no English writer has hitherto thought the French school
sufficiently important for a separate work. Sir Edmund is
well versed in his subjects, huread the best writers on art with
great attention, has m died on pictures with the eye of an
artist, and has seen the thief collections in Spain—a rare
advantage, which few Englishmen understanding art, Sir
David Wilkie and Mr. Ford excepted—have ever enjoyed.
Velasques and Murillo, the two great names in Spanish art
of European importance, can only be fully felt and
appreciated in their own country. It is true that
the recent addition of the " Boar-hunt" to our
Nationnl Gallery has given a taste of Velasques to
thousands to whom he war before unknown, and that " The
Water-bearer," by the same artist, in the collection of the
Duke of Wellington, Is a capital specimen of his earlier man-
ner ; but that Wilts and amateurs, and even dealers, in this
country, know next to nothing of his portraits, is curiously il-
lurratod by a recent circumstance related by Sir Edmund:—
" When General Meade'r pictures were exhibited at Chris-
tie's this year, there was among them a large three-quarter
length portrait of the Infante Margarita Mariana of Austria.
Before the sale, when the public were admitted to view the
pictures, this one was hung so high as to make it utterly im-
possible to be certain what it was. The dress, too, is gro-
tesque and unprepossessing. She is attired in court-
mourning--a large hooped petticoat, and a sort of
jacket of black, the latter of which is richly heed
with the gimp, and has cut sleeves, so as to
show the white satin dress underneath it. Her hair or wig
is frizz 41 in the extraordinary style of the day, in regular
rows of flaxen curls standing straight out on each side of her
Iwo, and at the top of her head a feather lies fiat. She hos
no jewels but pear.e, rind one or two diamonds. I was not
at the sale, but I pr, ume the picture was taken down before
it was actually brought to the hammer. Be this as it may,
some time after the sale a letter was received by a gentleman
in this country from the best judge of Spanish pictures in
Spain, in which the latter says he Imo'', the picture well
that it was one of those given by the late King Ferdinand
VII. to the canonCepero.t.of Seville, in cxchange for the two
large Zurbarans, that new hang in the gallery at Madrid.
When Cepero was in difficulties front his political opiniow4
it passed into the hands of Senor Roden's, and was sold
1 some years later by his widow to General Meade.
This Velasqui s, in the year 1841, in the height of
the season ex Christie's, with all the dealers of London in the
room, fetched thirteen guineas, I have since seen the pic-
ture close, and I have no doubt whatever of its genuineness.
It is slightly painted, without glazing or much finish; but
it is brilliant in touch, and thoroughly characteristic of the
master." Sir Edmund is of opinion that the so called
portrait of Veluquez of Charles I. is not the work of
Velasques at all. "In the first place," he says, "it is net
In the second, it is a Wild
in my opinion by Velaaques ;
picture, not a sketch, which was all that Velarques sonde;
and in the third, it represents Charles as older than twenty
years, which was his age when at Madrid." In his
account of the Spanish school, Sir Edmund has
drawn very largely and judiciously from the extremely
rue work by Pacheco, printed at Seville in 1649. Pa-
cameo, a painter himself, was the father-In-law of Velasques,
and is supposed to have been the mouth-piees of the Jesuits
In his observations on the manner la which sacred subjects
caught to be treated. It wolikl be Wilma to find in the

whole history of art a more interesting chapter than the
opening one In the book before us on the influence of re-
ligion on Spanish painting. The rules which restricted
artists to certain representations of saints and s used subjects
really. fettered art, and gave a peculiar character to
Spanish painting. Pacheco is very full on these matters,
and Sir Edmund has extracted all that is important in
his book. After Velasques and llnrillo—the great names
in Spanish art—are Morales, Zurbaran, and Ribero. The
school, therefore, is a very small ens. The French, how-
ever, is • smaller and less important school, with
no other names of eminexce belonging to it than Nicholas
Poulain, Le Brun, Watteau, and °retie*, sad we may per-
hers add David. " With regard to the French school," says
Sir Edmond, " I cannot say that I bear any extraordinary
love to its productions;'" nor do we : but we cannot join with
him in Lis low appreciation of Le Bruo. His best work, the
" Tent of Darius," is commended by Reynolds for its " very
admirable comptlition," and the portraits of " Jabach, the
banker's family,' are mentioned by the same great au-
thority " as equal to the best of Van Dyck."