The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-28 00:00:00

?EXHIBITION OF PICTURES AT
WESTMINSTER HALL.
Government is at lergth eliciting the artistic genius
which has hitherto remained comparatively dormant
among our fellow-countrymen. The screens in West-
minster Hall sufficiently testify that the munificence of
the Legislature has not been misdirected. Only one
question forces itself upon us as still problematical, after
a prolonged inspecaon of the paintings—What will the
State do with the intellect it has thus summoned into
development? Will it, like the fabricator of Franken-
stein, abandon the spirit it haambition of thats evoked at the verspiry
it mo-
ment when the powe is
attested? We cannot think that this generous movement
will be productive of such miseries as a conclusion like
that would necessitate. There is a glorious but mournful
warning on the wall—No. 15—one of the latest, and
certainly one of the best of poor Haydon's—" The
Banishment of Aristides, illustrative of the Injustice
of Democracy!" With that visible manifestation of the
woes incident to the atelier before us, we cannot dream
that the Government will encourage merely to forsake.
From the multiplicity of the productions suspended in
Westminster Hall, one hundred and twenty distinct paint-
ings. it would be impossible to give an accurate analysis
of tee merits of the collection from the recollection of a
single inspection, and within the compass of a
single notice. The remembrance of a first visit to
an exhibition so novel and so copious in pro-
mise as the present, is necessarily one of the most
embarrassed and confused that can be conceived. Sup-
posing due attention is paid to each individual composi-
tion, the recollection of the whole would necessarily be a
combination of excellencies and blemishes, of incidents
and emotions, of hues and distances, and groupings and
passions. Bearing this in mind, we principally confined
our attention to those pictorial creations the predominant
talent of which has been in a very signal manner pro-
claimed by the combined judgments of the Marquis of
Lansdowne, of Sir Robert Peel, of Samuel Rogers, of
Richard Westmacott, of Richard Cook, and of William
Etty. Looking then to these directly, we were irresist
ibly reminded of the proverbial impossibility of making
any selection of this character in such a manner as to sa-
tisfy any single individual,with the exception, of course, of
the successful competitors and their particular friends.
Taste is so variable in its nature, so diverse in its mani-
festation, and so impossible to reduce within arbitrary
rules, that its definition has baffled even the astuteness
of Alison. It has even pronounced its own fickleness
by merging into the adage, chacun a son Out—that
adage, moreover, showing in a remarkable manner that
each man has son gout—his particular taste. Art, how-
ever, is anything but simply a thing appreciable by what
is commonly called taste. Taste cannot make an exe-
crable picture a masterpiece, nor distort a masterpiece
into a monstrosity. The genius of art appeals irresis-
tibly to persons of all imaginable tastes (so-called),
though it appeals to them undoubtedly through an ex
traordinary number of different channels. Still wherever
the genius of art is imprinted upon the canvass, there,
be certain, is attracted the admiration of those who are
competent to appreciate the productions of that art; and
precisely from such a consideration are we prepared to
express our supreme astonishment at the classification
of the nine pictures to which prizes have been awarded.
We are amazed at the particular classification, and we
are satisfied the public will be amazed likewise. Fore-
most among the " Premiums of Five Hundred Pounds"
is No. 17, " Burial of Harold at Waltham Abbey," by
F.R. Pickersgill. Supposing the visitor were taken blind-
fold from the entrance-gate of the hall, and relieved from
the bandage opposite this Prize A, No. 1, we do not
hesitate to say, that his surprise would be that the pic-
ture by Mr. Pickersgill is considered by the Fine Arts
Committee as the best painting in the exhibition—nay,
we do not hesitate to say that his predominant sentiment
would be a sentiment of disappointment. For
a moment we do not deny that the " Burial
of Harold" is clever—comsummately clever—but
we do assuredly protest that in our estimation it is very
far indeed from being the masterpiece in the exhibition.
The grouping is anything but graceful, presenting as it
does the curve of so many buttocks around the corpse of
the slain monarch; and, saving the sombre green of the
female dress and the glittering mail of the soldier, the colour
is feeble. Immeasurably beyond this in point of subject
in point of inspiration, and in point of drawing, is the
painting by G. F. Watts, No. 28, " Alfred inciting the
Saxons to prevent the landing of the Danes, by en-
countering them at sea." The vestures of the great king,
as he steps upon the plank of the galley, seem to be
caught up in the storm of heroism, and the Saxons
respond toithe trumpet tones of his voice by their daring
visages and the appropriate energy of their movements.
The conception is grand and truly historical, but the
colouring is miserably deficient. No. 31, " The Battle of
Meanee," by Edward Armitage, is a spirited battle
scene, suggested by the school of Horace Vernet,
but for anything in the shape of poetry, of ingenuity, of
truthfulness to nature, or of power in the portraiture of
passion, it is a blank. Very different is the 11th pic-
ture as marked in the catalogue, " Edward"
Generosity to the People of Calais during the
Siege of 1346," by Paul Falconer Poole. The
incident chosen by the artist is one of the noblest in the
history of our common country. Edward 111. and the
Black Prince are represented in the centre of the pic-
ture distributing alms to the poorer inhabi-
tants of Calais who have been thrust out of the city
gates, to the number of seventeen hundred, by Jean
de Vienne, the Governor. The composition of the
entire picture is masterly, and domestic passion shines
out "conspicuously in the different groups. The
whole is conceived in the loftiest style of art,
and the combination of colour is marvellously beautiful.
J. Noel Paton has a dainty and imaginative picture
(No. 24), " The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania:'
it is swarming with invention, both bewitching and
fantastic. Another noble limning is that of " Wisdom"
(No. 95.) by James Eckford Lauder. Several of the
unrewarded paintings struck us as‘evidencing superior
ability.

HONESTY REWARDED.—On Monday evening, a lat
in the employ of Messrs. Maxwell and Son, law book-
sellers, Bell-yard, Fleet-street, was sent out on business
for his employers into the City. On passing the obelisk
at the end of Farringdon-street, he saw lying on the
ground, in the mud, a piece of paper folded as a letter;
on looking at it he found it to be an unsealed letter,
addressed to Mr. Asher, British Museum, containing
several bank-notes. The lad immediately returned to
his employers' house of business, and handed the letter
and notes to the head clerk in the counting-house, stating
to him when and where he had found them. The clerk,
on examining the contents, found enclosed two 401. and
five 101. Bank of England notes, amounting in the
whole
to 1301. He then directed the lad to go imme-
diately to the Museum, and make • uiries for and
athsceerretahine
fiefueMdr.mAnshAersheerouhldadhlletefts:ene
andn.
On
no
would going
t
that Mr.
return Asher thilthreeeneeivxetd
morning.
eninngoies appearse
Bankl in the
course of the afternoon, and for safety had placed d theme
in an old envelope directed to him, and I:h
them in the breast pocket of his coat, and did nO3tadiesd
dis-
cover his loss till going to rest at one o'clock in the morn-
ing. He hastened early in the morning to the Bank, ar-
rived before the hour of business, took the only remedy in
his power to save, if possible, his property, ascertained
the numbers, and stopped the notes. Ho then went, in
a low, desponding mood, to the Museum, where the lad
was waiting for him. On Mr. Asher being pointed out
to the lad, he inquired if he had lost anything. Mr.
Asher answered, with great emotion, " Yes; have you
found anything?" To his great delight the lad an-
swered he had found some bank-notes. Mr. Asher ex-
claimed, with evident emotion, " Thank God.' The lad
directly gave
the notes to Mr. Asher on his describ-
ing to the honour of that gentleman, he
edmb g;ack a 101. note. The lad, with much acuteness,
"if he could make use of the note." Mr.
bin aquudt
ere d
Asher, recovering from his surprise, said, " No, you
cannot; but you shall go with me in a cab to the Bank
and obtain the change." 'they proceeded accordingly to
the Bank, and obtained the change. Mr. Asher handed
the ten sovereigns to the lad, and, on leaving, took down
his name and address in his pocket-b inook, and poohrmised
the lad to do everything that laid his power elp.
him; he would obtain for him a good situation, and pro-
be could, his future interest and wel-
mote, in every way
fare, for the truly, honest, upright, straightforward
manner in which he had acted in this transaction. It
may be added th it at the time Messrs. Maxwell's lad
found the money, another lad was with him, to whom
he afterwards gave four sovereigns, and placed the re-
mainder of the money in St. Clement's Savings'-bank.
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—The highly interest-
ing lectures of Dr. Bachheffner, on the application of
electricity to telegraphic purposcs, so recently given in
the above establishment, have led to t iction of
a series of workinc, models of Cook and Wheatstone's
electric telegraph, and the electro-magnetic clocks of Mr.
Bains, the property of the Electric Telegraph Company,
and as these models are used and exhibited by two as-
sistants of the company, who attend daily for that pur-
pose, the working of this extraordinary and valuable
application is thus practically laid before the public,
more particularly the simple yet lucid illustrations of
Dr. Bacbhoffner, on this subject, must be fully in the re-
collection of the numerous visitors to this institution.
We trust that the Learned Professor may be induced to
resume this highly interesting subject at no very distant
period.
The gem eagraver to this establishment, Mr.
Gifford, has engraved on carnelian an admirable portrait
of the elephant, that died on the 11th of this month; ex-
hibiting in the gallery of the Royal Academy.
P fE
benefitU IC
ofH tShPi IsT AeLx.
excellent
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ROYAL ORTHO-
PAEDIC
Majestynve es is
ei ns gt
haaten NdiV)
tpi lklrioisn' scaenßdAo
Dol mbueser,ht:
snadnoedfr
of
ftelmo
btpatronageeriird ge
.
Alentgirnasntdi
tuftuiolindrweisisii:hbealigivfoenr
thisthe
Royal her
johufli
lien,
with h's band, will be there, and there cannot be a
doubt but that this will be one of the most fashionable
reunions of the season.

LITERATURE.
THE PRACTICE of the COUNTY COURTS,
under tile 9 and 10 Victoria, chap. 95. Third Edition.
By John Jowl, Esq., Barrister-at-Law.
There is, perhaps, no subject on which sound and
accurate information is more urgently required by the
public, than that relating to the operation and mode
of working, of the new Act for the Recovery of Small
Debts throughout the kingdom. A most important
alteration has been effected in the law. New tribunals
have been constituted, to which questions respecting
almost every cause of action not exceeding 201. in
amount must be submitted. A new code has been
established, by which the great majority of the affairs
of daily life will be affected ; proceedings will, of
course, become more frequent in proportion to the fa-
cilities afforded. Legal practitioners cannot be con-
sulted without a heavy fee, for which, in many in-
stances, no allowance can be made. It, therefore,
becomes a matter of general importance, and of deep
interest, that some competent person should interpret
the new provisions of the law—should simplify and
free them from legal technicalities—and should present
them in such a shape that they may be intelligible to
the many, and enable even those most ignorant of
law to acquire a knowledge sufficient for their guid-
ance, to learn what is required of them, by what
means they can enforce payment of their just de-
mands, and how they may be enabled to resist un-
founded claims. Mr. Jagoe, who has already attained
a high character as a legal writer, has accomplished
this task; but he has done something more. He has
produced a work which will be equally acceptable to
the legal practitioner, and to the public in general;
to the professional, and to the unlearned reader,
while its great accuracy and perspicuity, its admirable
arrangement, and collection of cases on analogous
statutes, which may form precedents for, and guide
the decisions of, the new courts. Its copious index,
affording the greatest facilities for reference, will re-
commend it to the former ; its great simplicity and
clearness will make it most useful to the latter. The
appendix contains the Act itself, the rules of practice
for the courts, framed by the Lord Chief Baron and
his judicial brethren, and the several districts into
which the country has been divided, while the trea-
tise itself contains the law of contract, tort, and evi-
dence, as applicable to actions in those courts, em-
bracing all the subjects within their jurisdiction.
"Each chapter," as the author correctly states
in his preface, "is in itself a separate
treatise, giving the proceedings and proof for plain-
tiff and defendant, from the entry of the plaint to the
judgment." In selecting the cases cited, Mr. Jagoe
has not restricted himself to those reported in this
country ; he was aware that a code, in many respects
similar to that recently introduced, has existed in
Ireland for many years ; that the Civil Bill-law, as
it is termed, has been administered by men of standing
and ability ; and that the more important topics have
been dicided by the highest legal authorities
appeals, on certain conditions, existing in every case,
to the going judge of assize, by whom, if there is
any serious difficulty, it is reserved for the
consideration of his judicial brethren. Mr.
Jagoe appears to have studied those decisions with
assiduity and effect, and to have culled from amongst
them such as appeared to have reference to the ques-
tions likely to be mooted before the new tribunals.
The important and much disputed point of the
right of a creditor to bring several actions against
his debtor at the came time is discussed, and the
decision of the Bristol judge, Mr. A. Palmer, in that
respect, would appear to be justified upon the authori-
ties produced, whatever may have been the intention
of the Legislature in framing the law—whatever
may be the sound policy that should prevail—
the judges have only to interpret the law
as it exists on the face of the statute, and to bring to
their aid the lights which are afforded by the rteorded
opinions of eminent men, who have brought their
learning and experieklce to bear on a similar question.
" Splitting demands" was prohibited by the Irish
statutes in nearly the same language as in the present
Act ; and the decision of the Lord Chief Justice of
the Queen's Bench in that country (Bushe), was in
accordance with that of the English Chief Justice
(Lord Tenterden), who in the " King v. the Sheriff
of Hertfordshire," reported in 1 Barnewall and Adol-
phus, p. 672, decided " that the two items formed per-
fectly distinct debts, that when the defendant incurred
the debt stated in the first item the plaintiff might
have sued for it in the County Court, and his having
incurred another and distinct debt with the plaintiff
afterwards, should not have the effect of depriving
plaintiff of his remedy in the County Court for the
first debt, and if he might still have the remedy for
the first debt, he has it of course for the second also."
From the above and the other cases cited, Mr. Jagoe
comes to the following conclusion :
" The principle deducible from these cases is, when
the division is the result of mutual stipulation it is valid;
but if the division be ex parte and arbitrary, the plaintiff
shall not be permitted to split the demand to bring it
within the jurisdiction of the court. If the considera-
tion for the action be single and entire, it cannot be
divided ; but if separate and distinct, several actions are I
maintainable."
The chapter on arbitrations and the various forms in-
serted in reference to that mode of settling disputes will
be found most useful for those who are willing to
refer matters to the decisions of their neighbours and
friends. It contains, also, in addition to the forms
prepared by the Judges, no less than sixty new forms,
prepared with much care and accuracy for the use
of the officers and practitioners of the courts.
The general observations on the statute and prac-
tice of the court, at the end of the volume, refer
most ably to the policy of the law, and offer valuable
suggestions for its improvement. The recent case
of Thomas Kinnear, who was discharged from cus-
tody by the Court of Common Pleas, in the beginning
of the present month, on the ground that a debtor
should have notice before he was committed, is given
at length, and its applicability to the present Act is
argued by Mr. Jagoe. He says—
We shall consider how far the foregoing decision on
the repealed statute is applicable to this Act. Section
ninety-nine leaves the judge no discretion, and if it stood
alone he should either commit or discharge the defend-
ant ; but section 100 enacts, that the judge has power,
whether he shall have made an order for committal or
not, to rescind or alter any order previously made
(meaning the order of the court upon which the sum-
mons -issued), and to make any further or other order
for the, payment of the debt forthwith, or by instal-
ments, or in any other manner which he may think
reasonable and just ; but if an order was made for the
payment of a debt by instalments or otherwise, after an
order of commitment was made, the party could not be
committed without a new summons served on him, and
making the inquiries directed by section ninety-nine,
which is evidently what the Chief Justice of the Com-
mon Pleas meant by notice to the defendant ; there is
no power to make an order in the alternative, that if
the debt or instalments were not paid that the defendant
should be committed,' and no order can be made, altered,
or rescinded without sufficient notice to the defendant.
The decision in Kinning's case, and the able observa-
tions of the Chief Justice, apply with equal, if not
greater force, to this than to the former statute."
We are glad to find that the merits of Mr. Jagoe's
work are appreciated, as it has already attained a
third edition. We shall, however be surprised if it
does not run rapidly through many other editions,
and attain the extensive circulation and popularity
it so fully merits.

Tl-:e new
erection of

narrative of the first journey of the kind, these two
volumes by Sir George Simpson command a very
onsiderable sbare of attention; nor are they, with the
exception of certain indications of monomania, in
regard to the Emperor Nicholas and Siberia, of a
character unworthy of a very general and distin-
guished approbation.

if, 2,000 years ago, the Romans thought it necessary to
have a direct line, when probably their passenger trains,
only carried a few recruits for the 20:h legion, and
goods trains were unknown, I knew enough of Man-
cheiter men to know that in the nineteenth century they
would not long cons( nt to be carried ten miles round,
even though they were thereby enabled to exchange com-
pliments with the men of Birmingham. I may now,
on the part of myself cal the great body of the landed
proprietors of this line, return thanks to the company
for the spirit, liberality, and justice, which has distin-
guished all their transaetims.—(Cheers.) I think, also,
that I am bound to return thanks to those who have had
the carrying out the works, for the manner in which
they have become the protectors of the property
through which they have gone, and for the ex-
amples of steadiness, industry, and obedience to
the laws which they have met, and which all similarly
engaged ought to imitate.—(Cheers.) Many gentlemen
present are probably struck with the contrast which this
ancient town presents to its former position—its origin
being lost in remote antiquity. Gentlemen, on the east
of our town stands a monument to Ethelfrida, the
daughter of Alfred the Great ; and on the west we hare
met to inaugurate a monument of the reign of Queen
Victoria.—(Cheers.) That mound was raised by Ethel-
frida for the purpose of protecting the town from the
incursions of Pagan barbarians, who were in the habit
of laying it waste, while this day we are met to cele-
brate the completion of a work which presents in itself
the triumph of science, of knowledge, of civilization.
The period that has passed between the time when
Ethelfrida flourished and the reign of Victoria is not less
than ten centuries.

but was rejected in the second reading by a majority o
154 to 94. In 1844 the company, which had been
virtually dissolved, was resuscitt d under the

title of ' The Trent Valley Railway Company.'
In the following sear the Bill was obtained,
the capital being 900,000/. The first sod was
turned by Sir Robert Peel in November, 1845, so that
the whose has been completed in less than twenty
months. The entire construction has cost 1,050,0001.,
being about 21,000/. per mile. By means of the Trent
Valley Railway the distance between Manchester and
Liverpool and the metropolis is shortened rather more
than one hour's travelling."

RACES TO COME.
The following is the list of fixtures already made for
he season of 1847:

JUNE.
Carlisle

Liverpool
Nottingham

Goodwood ............... 27
Leominster .•., ........ 25

,UST.
York
~ 18
*Egham
Derby 24
*Hereford

*Huntingdon . 26
*Canterbury .. 27
Stourbridge

22
22
22
. 23

=ER.
Bedford .
Walsall .
Richmond .
*Lincoln .
Newmarket, F. 0. 2B
Sandbach
OBE&.

I Newmarket, H. . 25