The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-10 00:00:00

cost of g
I undertat

" The cost certainly is an important consideration; but
cost is comparative, and I cannot think the Town Council
would hesitate for a moment to make the South Portico as
perfect as possible, because by so doing the cost of the whole
building might be increased from two hundred thousand

0 0
to two hundred and two thousand pounds.
" I am unable to discuss the alleged peculiarities in the
Temple of Jupiter Tonans at Rome, or in the Proplea at
Athens ; but I am familiar with most of the modern instan-
ces to which Mr. Cockerell refers as authorities for what has
been done at St. George's Hall, and I shall have no difficulty
in showing you that the examples cited, afford no warrant
for the defects on which we have animadverted.
"To begin with the Lyceum in this Town, a slight in-
spection will show you that the cases are altogether
dissimilar. The columns of the Lyceum are placed on a
substantial basement wall, or on pedestals, resting on the
solid ground. There is no incongruity here—no appearance
of the columns resting on the slope of the steps, or half on
the steps and half of as is the case at St. George's Hall ;
and, it would be quite hypercritical, under the "circumstances
of position and immediate contiguity to the foot walk, to
object to the convenience of steps between the pedestals of

the columns.
" Mr. Cockerell refers also to the Lyceum at Manchester,
as to which, I apprehend there must be some . mistake, as
there is no public building of that name in Manchester.
Two of the principal modern edifices in that city, are, the
Town Hall and the Royal Institution ; and in both these,
the columns are correctly placed on the level floor of the

portico.
" Mr. Cockerell refers to the portico of the India House
in London, which actually abuts on the foot-walk of the
street ; but, even here, the architect has taken care that
the pedestals of his columns should stand square on the
solid earth, and thus they afford no authority for the defect
complained of in St. George's Hall

"Mr. Cockerell also mentions the general post-office in
St. Martins le Grand ; if that building is meant by the
term " New Post-office," of which, however, I feel some
doubt, as this example affords no precedent for the anom-
alies of our South portico, but just the contrary. Critically
viewed, there is a slight error in the position of the steps,
which should have projected some twelve inches further on
the adjoining font-wall:, that the upper line of the stylobate
might have quite cleared the massive pedestals.
The defect is small, for substantially the large columns
rest on the level floor of the portico, which is the desideratum
in our own case.
" Lastly Mr. Cockerell refers you to St. Paul's Cathedral,
and, certainly, if anything in the general features and cha-
racter of that magnificent temple could be quoted as authority
for questionable peculiarities of structure elsewhere, any
architect might be excused for supporting his views by such
a precedent.
"Let us see what are the facts of the case. It is quite
true in the porticos of the north and south doorways into
the Cathedral, the columns rest on the slope of the steps,
but I should not have expected any professional man to
have referred to that circumstance, except in the way of
warning, so strikingly unfortunate is the effect. But these
two side porches are very unimportant appendages, and may
well be overlooked in our admiration of the vast and noble
structure.
" But if Mr. Cockerell thought proper to call atten-
tion to St. Paul's Cathedral, as an example to be copied,
why did he not refer to the great western portico, fronting
Ludgate Hill, a most elaborate work, in the design of which
Sir Christopher Wren appears to have drawn so largely on
the resources of his genius and skill. There you will find
no incisions into the floor of the portico, destroying the
upper line of the stylobate—no duplicate steps, of different
sizes, in harsh contiguity with each other. No placing of
magnificent columns on the slope of the steps, or half on
and half of the floor of the portico, but, on the contrary,
all is according to architectural propriety, correct and grand,
the steps divided horizontally by a middle terrace, giving
breadth and repose ; and the great column resting on the
level floor of the portico. Such is the approach to
the western facade of St. Paul's Cathedral, and
such, precisely, is the arrangement which I am
endeavouring to induce the Council to adopt in regard
to the south Portico of St. George's Hall; the feasi-
bility of which, if it be at all doubted, I am ready to prove
by a model, " when the Council shall be pleased to sanction
the step." Of course, in the altered arrangement, we should
cause to disappear the duplicate steps, and the great chasm
in the outer wall of the podium, in St. John's Lane. Be-
fote concluding, I may be allowed to remark that having
considered, seriatim, the various modern examples to which
Mr. Cockrell appeals in justification, professionally of the
course which he has taken, and having, I think, proved that
the result of a fair and critical examination of each and all
of the modern instances on which he has relied, instead of
being favourable to his views, is just the contrary. It is
not very uncharitable to suppose that the classical examples
of the Temple of Jupiter Tonans, the Basilica at Pom-
peia, and the rest of them, if duly analysed, and the condi-
tions and circumstances examined, would do him as little
service as the modern instances we have just noticed, in
which case the argument Precedent and Authority, slender
and inconclusive though they be, would fall to the ground.
"I have inc lionout tv h.,
" Faithfully and respectfully yours,
" HENRY Boma.

" Liverpool Ist, Nov. 1853."
The Council then adjourned.

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

The Board of Trade Returns of Trade and Navigation were
issued in London yesterday afternoon. They are of the
most satisfactory character. In the nine months just con-
cluded, we have exported articles of British produce to the
value of 66,987,7291., being in round numbers over twelve
millions and a half in excess of the exportations of the cor-
responding period of last year, and about thirteen millions
and a half over those of 1851. This enormous increase,
spread over nine months, has been contributed to in more
than its fair proportion by the last month of the period—
that terminating on the 10th of October last, which shows
an increase of about a million and a half on the cor-
responding month of 1862, and of two millions and
a half over that of 1851. Contrasting the last month with
its predecessor of last year, a very remarkable increase
is shown in some of our staple articles of produce. Thus,
omitting the hundreds, beer and ale have risen from
£49,000 to £97,090 ; butter from £39,000 to £59,000 ;
herrings from £76,000 to £126,000 ; glass manufactures
from £39,000 to £68,002; haberdashery and millinery from
£205,000 to £521,000 ; hardwares and cutlery from
£303,000 to £392,000 ; wrought leather from £50,000 to
£129,000; machinery and millwork of all kinds from
£169,000 to £186,000; iron, bar, bolt, and rod, from
£336,000 to £533,000 ; wrought from £177,000 to
£317,000, and other descriptions in the same proportion ;
lead from £19,000 to £67,000 ; silk stuffs from £55,000 to
£100,000; and stationery from £46,000 to £72,000. Of
those branches of produce which may be described as
stationery, cotton manufactures, earthenware, linen manu-
factures, salt, and woollen manufactures, constitute the
principal items.
So much for the exports. As regards our imports, we may
roundly state that, of the principal articles of consumption,
animals for food, cocoa, coffee, spirits, sugar, tea, tobacco,
and wine will be found either of substantially the same pro-
portions or exhibiting a slight increase. As might be antici-
pated, however, it is under the head of corn that the great
increase on imports is found. The increase has taken place in
every description, excepting oats and Indian corn, which
have decreased. The importation of wheat has increased
from 315,000 to 468,000 quarters, and of flour 298,000 to
463,000 quarters. The returns relating to shipping also
appear to show a satisfactory state of activity in our com-
mercial affairs ; and the general prosperity indicated by the
returns will be received with all the more gratification from
the existence of 'circumstances, patent to all, which it was
anticipated would have given the first check to the course of
progressive prosperity with which for the last six years we
have been so happily blessed.

LIVERPOOL RAGES.-YESTERDAY

The attraction of the Steeple Chase, and the day being
being beautifully fine, there was a numerous attendance at
Aintree yesterday. The unusually crowded state of our
columns prevents our doing more than giving the result of

each race.
A SURREY HANDICAP of 3 sovs. each, with 40 sovs. added ;
for all ages ; half-a-mile--17 subs

Mr. Choyce;Vintei; s.Trs., Bst. 7 lb

Aspinall 1

Twelve others ran
THE OPTIONAL SELLING STAKES, of 5 sovs. each, with 30
sovs. added.

—won easy

J. Charlton 1

Mr. French's b f Coleraine

Six others ran. Won by a length.
THE LIVERPOOL AUTUMN HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE Of
100 sovs., added to a Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each. 30 subs.
Mr. Higginson nas b g Crabbs, aged, Bst 101 b Fowler 1
Mr. Balfe's br m Daphne, 6 vrs ost .. D. Mean), 2
Captain Pasco nas b m Royal Blue, ag, 9st 21b A. Clarke 3
The following also ran :—Ringleader, lOst ; Thirkleby,
lOst ; Sir Philip, 9st 101 b ; Now or Never, 9st 61b ; Dearest
Mae, 9st 51b ; Spring, 9st 51b ; Miss Purdon, 9st ; and The
Dwarf, Bst 101 b.
To the astonishment and annoyance of many who had
backed him heavily, Oscar was declared not to start about
half an hour before the commencement of the race.
Won easily by several lengths.
The AINTREE PLATE Handicap of 70 sovs., for all ages.
One mile.-49 subs.

_
Mr. Saxon's Calot, 7st 41b Clements 1
Fifteen others ran.—Won by a head.
A SELLING STAKE of 50 sous. each, with 30 soya. added.
T.Y.C. Eight subs.
Mr. French's b f Coleraine, 3 yrs, £3O, 7st 41b Charlton 1
Seven others ran. —Won by a length.

The Cabinet Council held on Tuesday lasted four hours.
All the ministers were present.
THE .REASON •WHY A CABMAN OBJECTS TO BEING
HIRED BY TlME.—Because "' Ti 4 distance lends enchantment
to the view ! "—Diogenes.

ratifying my criticisms by any alterations now to be I
I TURKEY AND RUSSIA.