The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

TEE ART TREASURES EXHIBITION.

The Manchester Town-council having, as already
reporte 1 in these columns, unanimously passed a
resolution of thanks to the executive committee of
the late Art Treasures Exhibition for their able and
arduous services in the management, the presen-
tation of this testimonial on behalf of the corpora-
tion took place yesterday afternoon in the Mayor's
Parlour at the Town-hall. A dejeuner was pro-
vided by the Mayor, Mr., Ivie Mackie, at
which were present eighty gentlemen, includ-
ing, besides the members of the Executive
Committee, Sir J. Potter, M. P., Mr. Ku-slimy,
M.P., Mr. J. Pender, Sir J. Watts, and the mem-
bers of the Town Council.

After the toastsof "The Queen," and the "Prince
Consort,"

The MAYOR rose, amid loud cheering, to propose
the " Health of the Art Treasures Exhibition Com-
mittee." He said this meeting was for the purpose
of paying a deserved compliment to gentlemen who
had been most ably and zealously concerned in a
work of great national importance. (Hear.) At a
meeting of the town-council held last Wednesday
a resolution was unanimously passed—proposed by
Mr. Rumney, and seconded by Mr. Rawson, in
speeches which did credit to themselves as well as
to those in whose honour they were intended—
(cheers)—which resolution he should read, as it
would explain better than anything he could say
the thoughts to which he was desirous to give ut-
terance. It was as follows :

" That this council is deeply impressed with the great
advantages conferred upon this city and tha community at
large by the recent Exhibition of Art Treasures of the
United Kingdom, an exhibition of works of art unrivalled
in magnitude and value, the examination and study of
which were eminently calcuated to improve the know-
ledge and elevate the taste of all visitors, and, by brining
together different classes not accustomed to associate, to
promote goodwill and kindly feeling among all sections of
the people. _ _ _

"`that gratefully acknowledging the munificent liberality,
with which the heavy expeeses to be incurred were origi-
nally guaranteed ; as also the noble manner in which the
applications made for the ban of works of art were re-
sponded to by the contributors, this council feels called
upon, as representing, and on behalf of, the citizens of
Manchester, in an especial manner to tender its most sin-
cere and cordial thanks to Thomas Fairbairn, Eaq„ the
chairman, Sir James Watts, and Thomas Ashton, William
Entwistle, Joseph Heron, Edmund Potter, and Sigismond
James Stern, Esqrs., the members of the executive com-
mittee, for their disinterested and ardtmas labours ; for the
untiring and unremitting attention which during so
lengthened a period they devoted to the undertaking ; for
the judgment and ability which characterised all theirpro-
ceedings and arrangements, and which so largely contri-
buted to render completely successful the most memorable
exhibitio❑ of modern times, conferring lasting fame and
honour upon the city in which it has been held."

(Cheers.) Anything he could say would only tend
t weaken very much the force of these expressions.
He need not say that he concurred entirely with
every sentence of tuatresolution. Thegreat amount
of time which he was aware had been devoted to
the management of the Exhibition by thegeritlernen
who now sat on his right hand was not sufficiently
known to many members of the community. No
one could gainsay what a serious thing it was for
gentlemen c mcerned in the management of exten-
sive business to withdraw from it so large a portion
of time for a public undertaking. It had been said
that in Manchester people had no taste for anything
except for cotton and money, but this Art Treasures
Exhibition bad shown, at all events, that although
they had a great taste for money, and wire tole-
rably successful in the indulgence of that predilec-
tion—(hear, and laughter)—they did not regard
money as "the end of all things." (Hear, hear, and
cheers.) They had never been backward in the pro-
motion of great public benefits, and they had given
sufficient manifestation of their interest in the at-
tainment of commercial freedom and the insurance
of cheap bread to all classes of the community.
(Cheers.) It used to be said that in the town of Man-
chester there was a conspicuous want of architectu-
ral taste, but he was glad to say that in th • lost 15
or 20 years there had been a marked improvement
in this respect. He was only afraid they were over-
doing it, for the erections now springing up on all
sides we re really more like palaces than places of
business. (Cheers and 1 aughter.) He felt proud of
th town-:ouncil for their performance of this act of
justice to the members of the executive committee.
He begged to thank Mr. Fairbairn for the litany
acts of condescension and kindness for whit--h he was
indebted to that gentleman and the rest of the com-
mittee. The resolution was not yet engrossed on
vellum, as it shou'd have been in readiness for this
occasik n, Lut he was anxious that the formal presen-
tation '-f it should take place in the course of the
year 1851—(hear)—and the document itself should
be handed over to them as soon as it was prepared.
He was sure that this acknowledgment of their ser-
vices on behalf of the citizens of Manchester would
be highly valued and prized by them, and that it
would be no leas esteemed by those who would come
after them. (Cheers.]
The toast was drunk with three ti tnes three cheers.
Mr. T. FAIRBAIRN, the chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee, said—Mr. Mayor, and gentlemen
of the city council, the members of the executive
committee of the late Exhibition of Art Treasures of
the United Kingdom owe you their warmest thanks
and gratitude for the distinguished honour you
have paid to them by the unanimous adoption
at your last meeting, after most eloquent •
and elegant intreclaetions by, Mr. Runiuey
an 1 Mr. Raeson—(hear, hear)—of the resolutions
which have just been read and presented to us.
We recognise in this spontaneous expression of good
feeling and in the cordial approbation which you,
speaking for your constituents, assure us will long
be felt for the exhibition itself, and for the hum'. le
services we rendered in its management, the very
highest reward we could look for after our labours,
of the public acknowledgment of which we one and
all of us have just reason to feel proud. (Cheers.)
So mat ked a compliment and distinction must at
all times, and under• any circumstances, occasion
varied emotions of pleasure, gratitude and satisfac-
tion. (Hear.) But honours of this kind can only
he thoroughly prized, and can only exercise their
full and most beneficial influence in stimulating to
lueure exertio:e3, when they carry along with them
records of success, and when they are in truth in
the minds of their recipients the echo of self-ap-
proval. (Hear.) Now, gentlemen, the success of
the late exhibition was in every respect unequivo-
cal and decided. (Lou I cheers.) As the executive,
we have every reason to feel proud of the whole
history of th et undertaking. (Cheers.) We acknew-
ledge with yourselves, the characteristic public
spirreand lit eralityof the gentlemen who subscribed
to the guarantee fund—(cheers)—whese early and
cordial approval of the project, and whose munifi-
cent contributions in support of it, gave an autho-
rity to our proceedings without which our applica-
tions to the owners of works of art throughout the
kingdom would have failed to command attention.
We join moat heartily in your thanks to the gene-
rous contributors to the collection—the vast extent
and richness of whose poisea -lens have not mere
astonished the world than have their ready sacrifice
of personal enjoyment and convenience, and their
desire to assist in every way in their power the al-
van iment and imp rovemeutof theirfellow-country-
ee,eacited its warmest admiration. (Cheers) We
further acknowledge with peculiar pleasure the
by its visitor s, of all ranks and classes;
tsitieeaedxybaibni(tlieonxcellent support that was extended to
and fortunately, also, we can record with un-
feigned satisfaction and pride, the excellent con-
duct of the humbler classes, who on this occasion,
as on many previous ones, proved themselves most
jealous guardians of the kafety of property, and the
truest friendsof order. (Cheers.) For these various
manifestations of genuine consideration and kind-
mss towards their city and towards theinseaves, I
believe that the people of Manchester ere e a very
detp debt of gratitude, which they will long re-
member—a debt which iey can only repay by con-
tinuing to encourage all good and liberal workx,
and by the firm determination always to hold a for-
ward rank in every movement which claims to in-
crease the happiness, to protect tie honour, er to
consolidate the power of our country. (Cheers.)
Mr. Mayor, I will only add again the sincere ex-
presion of the thanks of the committee for this
awl soos tthgratifying
caiatitdiosnuorufputlueouuisdei
onrtinertcaonint:liednet,
a,
taionnd
hands of the council of this city. (Loud cheers.)
Sevc al other toasts were of erwards given end
responded to.

THE LAW OFFlCES.—Yesterday the law offices were
opened after the Christmas recess, in anticipation of the
ensuing Hilary Term, which commences on Jan 11,
THE WEAR COMMISSIONERS AND SUNDERLAND DOCK.
—Tae long pending dispute between the directore and
•hareholders of the Sunderland Dock aud the CAninie
cioners of the river Wear, with re.,;,ard to the latter body
charging the usual river dues upon vessels leaving the
•Joeljby the sea outlet, without any compensation to the
.lock proprietors, has been amicably settled by those
bodiee, The followiog terms, to be ratified by Parl;a-
ment, have been agreed to :—" So long as there shall
br net less than seven feet watt r at low water of ordi-
nary spring tides from the outer dock gates of the
southern outlet into the sea into deep water the conn-
mitsibiiers to pay the (lock oompany the annual sum of
2,C4)/., subject to the following graduated rise and fall :
If "ilnuenta of e )al in any year exceed 900,000 chal-
drone, al additional ld. per chaldron to be paid on I:uc,.,
xcess, but never to rise above the total saw of 3,000/
And in case shipments fall below 900,000 chahlrons,
per chaldron trJ be deduct d from the 2.0001. per ant um.
And if the shipments fall b(l.)w 600,000 chaldronl, then
all payments to cease. The dock company to allow ships
not loading or unloading in the dock to pass from the
river through the southern outlet on payment of the
same tolls as ships loading in the dock, not exceeding in
any case 4d. per re,.tisrered t.m, vessels passing inwards
with or without cargo, and afterwards returning through
the dock, being only charged once.