Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-15 00:00:00

THE FINE ARTS IN LIVERPOOL.

We are indebted to the Liverpool Journal for a quota-
tion from the Atheneum, a London weekly periodical
which professes to deal expressly with "literature, science,
and the fine arts." This extract has a reference to •the
controversy respecting the award of the prize by the
Liverpool Academy, in Post-office-place, and manifests
such an titter ignorance of what has been done and is
dieing in this remote village," that we might have been
residing in Greenland or Kamschatka ; and if the amount
of knowledge on other subjects on which it treats be no
greater than on this, we shall have a doubt thrown on
every thing we ever read in or see quoted from this weekly
periodical. In the extract referred to, which, by the bye,
was partially given in the Albion of Monday last, but with
a qualifying remark that the statements were erroneous,
we are told that the Liverpool Academy
" For some years past have gone over strongly to the
pre-Raphaelite heresy in art—crowning year after Sear the
works of pre-Raphaelite painters—and buying year after
year pre-Raphaelite pictures. The fact has been patent—
the reason unknown. But the consequence has been that
artists of the natural school have refused to send their
ve crks for exhibition in Liverpool, and that cmsevently
the Liverpool public has been denied the great advantage
of inspecting the bast works of our best painters. The
annual exhibition has dwindled into a fiftieth-rate
cnllection. Of course such a predilection in any public
body is absurd. A private purchaser may hay the
pictures that please him best—he may prefer Greuze
to Guido, or Rubens to Raphael; but such a man has
no light to dictate taste to his fellow-citizens. Com-
plaints have often reached us from artists in London on
thii subject; but while Liverpool acquiesced in the deci-
sions of its Academy, we treated it as we might have
done a cuss of individual hallucination—a thing to be
regretted as detrimental to the best interests of art
and the good name of the town, but not as a sin
calling for our rebuke. So long as Liverpool was quiet,
we thought the artists had no more right of com-
plaint than they would have had against any purchaser
of .areeea Vv ea aerie or buy their works.
Bit the case alters the moment public opinion pro-
r-runces against the narrow views and sectarian imagina-
tion of their Academy. At last public indignation has
broken out. The purchase of one of bin. Millais's in-
ferior works, for a very large sum, on behalf of the town,
has disquieted the Liverpool connoisseurs, and some of
the members of the Academy have had the courage to
separate their own responsibilities from those of their
fellows. The Academy, of course, pretends to feel offended
at the free criticism of the public. But the public stands
here in the right —on their own right—both as to the
general principle and the particular purchase. A country
gallery might very reasonably possess itself of a single
specimen of pre-Raphaelite art—for, however false and
sectarian may be the practice of that school of art as a
whole, it has seen useful as a protest, and some of its dis-
ciples are men of great ability and thorough conviction.
But a country gallery composed wholly or chiefly of such
works would be neither arousing nor instructive. Those
who pronounce egeinst making Liverpool a refuge for the
pre-Raphaelite sectaries are so clearly right in their pre-
mises, that we cannot imagine the public that would allow
them to be over-ruled by a section of the Liverpool
Academy."

It is difficult to conceive that so much ignorance of what
is going
.on in Liverpool cou'd exist in London. Sad
less, that such an erroneous s'atement of facts could have
been republished, without comment, in Liverpool. It is
scarcely necessary to say that the Academy have never
bought any pictures;—that Mr. Millais's picture of " the
Blind Girl" was bought by Mr. Miller for his own collec-
tion, and that the award of the prize is not by a section of
the Academy, but by a majority of votes ; and that
Mr. Eleedmai23 expulsion was on account of his
charge against the majority of " sycophancy" to the
" connoisseur" who had purchased the picture. The
public have taken no notice beyond a little private
criticism, or the bad taste displayed in the selection. The
connoisseurs have not been disquieted, and we may
say, that there is scarcely a word of truth in the
ankle, except the statements that the Liverpool Academy
had exhibited strong pre-Raphaelite predilections.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

QUEEN'S HALL-BOSCO.

Boscoe opened at the Queen's Hall last night, to one of
the most crowded and brilliant—and, we they add, one of
the most delighted audiences—we have ever seen in that
hall. This, so far as these points are concerned, speak
quite enough, and we might almost stop here without
saying another word. From the remembrance of the
performance of the Signor, when he paid us a visit, some
eighteen months ago, many went last night, no doubt,
under the impression of enjoying the same, or a similar
treat. Those who went with that notion or feeling were
agreeably disappointed, for this reason—the Signor did
not give us one of his former beautiful tricks or
delusions, but an entirely new and brilliant series
of the most golden deceits ever offered to an admiring
ience, The word "deceit" is not of our coining
—we copy it from the Signor, who tells us the truth,
when he tells u=, "I come to deceive you by slight-of-
hand, so be not deceived on that point." He keeps his
word, and yet every one feels delighted at the capital deceit
practised before his eyes. So soon after the Wizard of the
North, and a few other stars, less brilliant only to that genius,
having departed from amongst us, we hardly imagined that
another constellation would be able to afford any light to
our hemisphere. We were agreeably disappointed. The
Signor brought us a new world, and the rapture with
which he was received and greeted all through the perform_
ance, proved the fact. Had we time and space to enter
into details on the performance, we could say a great deal
bat it may be remarked, that for classic beauty of sleight-
of-hand, quickness in the most difficult parts, and grace-
ful conclusions, Bosco is unrivalled, and probably will
ever remain the emperor of all legerdemain men. Every
thing went off last night with eclat, and his own perform-
ance on the large and brilliant-toned accordian, inde•
pendent of the fine brass band and the pianoforte, was
worth the entrance fee. We shall, in the course of the
week, refer more in detail to his attractive performance,

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOOL, Monday Evening.
We had a very dull Cotton Market to-day, and
prices were not maintained. Indeed they may be
quoted at a decline of Id. per lb. on Friday. The
The sales were only 2,500 bales.
The Liverpool Share Market has been steady to-
day, without much businese, but the speculators
for a rise show their confidence by paying very
high " contangos" to the end of the month. The
following were the day's transactions. Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire 651 ; Blackburn, ;
Caledonian 39, 391 ; Eastern Counties 11 3-16 ;
East Lancashire 881 e ; Great Western 50, 511;
Lancashire and Yorkshire 911 ; London and North
Western, 941. 94 941; Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire 36, 361, 361, 361, 361, 361, 361, 361,
36c, 361 ; Midland 854; North Eastern 231, 23ic ;
Yorkshire Capital Stock 401; Leeds Capital Stock
25 ; Dovers 19 5-16, 19Z, 19 9 16, 191, 191 c ;
Grand Trunk of Canada, 9 5-16; Geeat Luxem-
bourg, 01. The following were the closing
prices : -Blackburn, 91, 91 ; Chester and Birken-
head, 651, 651 ; Caledonian, 39, 391; Chester
and Holyhead, 16, 161; Eastern Counties, 111, 111 ;
East Lancashire, 88*, 89; Do. 9/. Shares, Id, par;
Great Northern, 231, 24 ; Do., A., 9a, .91; Great
Western, 501, 51 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire
Stock, 911, 92 ; Do. 9/. shares, par 1p ; Liverpool,
Crosby, and Southport, 171, 18 ; London and
North Western Stock, 942, 95; Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 361, 361; Midland
Stock, 861, 861; North British, 12, 121; North
Staffordshire, 41, 41 d; North Eastern-Berwick,
231, 231 ; York and North Midland, 401,
401 ; Leeds Capital Stock, 251, 251 ; South
Eastern, 19 7-16, 19 9-16 ; Dutch Rhenish, 58, 51d ;
Great Western of Canada, 181 181 ; Do. new
shares, 21;21 d ; Great Luxembourg, 61, 61; Grand
Trunk of Canada, 9 5-16, 91. The following were
the continuations paid :---Caledonian, 3-16 ; Great
Western, 4 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire Stock, 1,
London and North Western Stock, 1146,
1,1, 9-16 ; iManchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire, 4s 6d, 4s 3d, 43 9d 1; Midland Stock, 9-16,
1, ; South Eastern, 3s, 2s 9d, 1,3 s, 2s 9d; Dutch
Rhenish, is ; Great Luxembourg, 8d ; Grand
Trunk of Canada, is 9d.
There is no abatement in the demand for Money
but the supply being equal to the demand, rates
of Discount remain unchanged.
The market for the Public Funds and Securities
opened with steadiness this morning, but after-
wards gave way owing to some speculative sales.
Prices closed at about 1 lower than those of
Saturday. Consols opened at 912 to 911 ex-div.
for the Bth January, and at two o'clock were quoted
at only 911 to 911 ; afterwards there was a slight
rally and the closing prices were 911 to 911. The
new Three-per-cents were also rather lower, and
Exchequer Bills closed at 3 dis. to par.
In the London Railway Share Market to-day
there was a fair business done, and prices were
well maintained. The following were the closing
quotation :-Caledonians, 78, 781; Eastern Coun-
ties, 111 e 111; East Lancashire, 88, 90 • Great
Northern, 93, 94; Do. A, 77, 79 ; Great Westerns,
501, 51; Great Western of Canada, 181, 181;
grand Trunk of Canada, 91, 91; Great Southern
and Western, 97, 99 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire,
911, 92 ; London and North Western, 94, 941;
London and South Western, 88, 881; Leeds Nor-
thern, 501, 511; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
colnshire, 361, 361; Midland Stock, 80, 861;
North British, 471, 481; South Eastern a©d
Dover, 04 641; York, Newcastle, and Berwick,
92*, 93* ; York and North Midlat“., 81, 82
After official hours the following were the nomin a
prices :-Caledonians, 781, 79; Dutch Rhenish,
641, 041 ; Eastern Counties, 111, 111; East Lanca-
shire, 88, 90 ; Great Northern, 931, 94 ; ditto A,
78, 79 ; Great Western, 501; Lancashire and
Yorkshire. 921; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
colnshire, 361, 37 ; Midland Stock, 86,8, 861 ; North
British, 48, 49; York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 93,
94 ; York and North Midland, 811, 821.
The directors of the Provincial Bank of Ireland
announce a half-yearly dividend at the rate of 4
per cent., and also a second bonus for the present
year of 1(. 103, per 1001. share, and 12s. per 101.
share.

Messrs. Baring, Brothers, and Co. transmitted
to the Stock Exchange a translation of a law which
has just received the definitive sanction of the
General Assembly of Buenos Ayres. The terms
asked by the bondholders are now conceded. The
agent of the firm in Buenos Ayres writes that " the
government were about to remit 10,1711. 17s. 6d.
for account of the dividends"
The suspension is announced of Messrs. Tooth
and Co., of Mincing-lane, London, with moderate
liabilities. The connections of the firm in Australia
are said to be wealthy.
Messrs. H. and M. Toldorph and Co:, merchants,
of Seething-lane, London, have also stopped. The
amount involved is believed to be small.
Advices from Marseilles mention the failure of
two more houses, Greeks, one being that of Mr.
Constantine Belli, with considerable liabilities.
A meeting of the creditors of Messrs Hore,
Buxton, and .of London, was held at the offices,
Gresham House, to receive a statement of their
affairs. The chair was taken by Mr. W. B. Hawkins,
a partner of the Ebbw Vale Company. Mr. Cole-
man, the accountant, presented the balance-sheet,
and the result of his statement was that the liabi-
lities would ultimately amount to 257,0001., and the
assets to 110,500/. In the discussion which ensued,
a hope was held out by Mr. Coleman that if the
estate were wound up under inspection a dividend
of 3s. 3d. in the pound might be realised by about
February, and that promissory notes wculd then
be given for the remaining dividend, with the
assistance of the connections of the firm. A
resolution in favour of liquidating the estate under
inspectors was ultimately agreed to, and the follow-
ing gentlemen were appointed inspectors, viz., Mr.
Oswald Smith (of Smith, Payne, and Co.), Mr.
Stuart Hodgson (Finlay, Hodgson, and Co.), and
Mr. W. Hawkins, the chairman.
This afternoon, a meeting of the Land Enclosure
Company was held at the London Tavern, Thomas
Moxon, Esq., in the chair, for the purpose of
authorising a modification of the statutes of the
company. The Secretary (Mr. George Fassol)
having read the advertisement convening the
meeting, resolutions embodying the scheme
submitted to the shareholders at the meeting held
on the 6th ult., were unanimously carried, and a
vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
proceedings. _

- The usual half-yearly meeting of the Bank of
Australasia was held to-day. The report includes
the following statement :
The directors have to express their satisfaction with
the continued prosperity of the bank. A careful review
of the advances, enables them to state that they are of a
safe character, and represent sound commercial transac-
tions; an opinion which is confirmed by the reports of
their officers. The bills under discount were met with
great regularity, affording evidence of the stability of
credit, and no bad debts of any importance had occurred
during the half year. At the same time, the directors
must remind the proprietors, that the fluctuations in trade
to which the Australian markets are peculiarly liable, and
the high price of bullion, rendering exchange operations
of little profit, considerably augmented the difficulties of
banking. The general progress and increasing prosperity
of the Australian colonies, are subjects for sincere
corgratulation. The production of gold had in-
creased. Fresh discoveries had been made, and
the newly found gold field at Mount Arrat, in the
Colony of Victoria, bids fair to rival, in the permanency
and richness of its yield, the old diggings at Balla-
rat. The directors have pleasure in expressing their
unabated confidence in the judgment and ability of the
superintendent, Mr. Falconer, and the assistant-superin-
tendent, Mr. McArthur, and their approbation of the
general good conduct of the other officers on the colonial
establishment. The directors are enabled to intimate their
intention to continue the present rate of dividend and
bonus of 20 per cent. per annum, at April next, payable as
usual, free of income tax.
The report was unanimously adopted, and the
meeting separated.
The advices received by the Niagara are, on the
whole, as satisfactory as could be expected, The
rates of foreign exchange were much more firm, and
at New York, although the Banks had slightly
contracted their loans, capital was for the moment
abundant. The City Banks showed an increase in
specie of upwarde of 1,300,000 dole. from the week

quite strongi
previous. The Cotton Market was w, to
and middling uplands were 86I"DN at
Sengthero
11fc., but they were scarce. no - the
markets were comparatively firm. Inre;',"
Breadstuffa there had been some fluctuation, P, the
closing rather lower than at the departure ').1;i0e0
Ariel. The Provision trade was dull, and P. sift
had a downward tendency. Freights were ul•
and lower.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

By British and Irish 3fagnetio Telegraph.

LONDON AND EASTERN BANIalsiG

COMPANY.

•
EDINBURGH, MoSPAIr...,
John Edward Stephens was not fortheo
this morning. The Sheriff has granted a watt;
for his apprehension. It is ramourei that be'"
for London on Sunday night.