The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-13 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL ROYAL I

The annual public delivery of p)
the pupils under tuition in the S,
Royal Institution, took place yesterday, in the presence of a
most -numerous and respectable auditory.
Shortly after twelve o'clock the Rev. Dr. Iliff, the head
master, and the other masters of the schools entered the
lecture room and took their seats. Accompanying them
were Sir John Sainsbury, the Rev. Dr. Tattershall, the Rev.
H. MlNeile, &c. &c. The following is a Programme of the
pieces recited, with the names of the young gentlemen by
whom they were spoken :-
1. HARRISON.. Evening..
2. PICTON The Memory of those who
die for their Country.. Thucydides.
3. WATSON.. 1
4. SNOWBALL Lear and Cato on the
Punishment of the
Conspit ators
5. Doaso .. The Passions as exempli-
fied in Music.
6. LTC lITFOOT.. The Sacrifice of Iphigenia."Eschy/us.
7. BANNER.
The Quarrel of Brutus
8. LOWRY .• • and Cassius..
D 9. FREME Orpheus and Eurydice.
10. DAVIES .. v irrygdiei.'s Virgil.
n

.1. GLADSTONE. The Death of Samson Milton.
.2. PICKERING . Athens in Ruins W. M. Pr•aed.

Where all is good it is difficult to select for praise, and on
that principle we should be very willing not to mention indi-
vidual names. Yet we find it impossible, without doing
violence to our candour, not to say that Mr. Picton, Mr.
Watson, Mr. Snowball, Mr. Lightfoot and Mr. Gladstone
came nearest to our ideas of correct declamation and pleasing
attitude. It must not, however, be supposed that Mr.
Harrison, Mr. Banner, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Frenie, Mr. Davies,
and Mr. Pickering failed to impress the auditory with a high
opinion of their talents and acquirements. On the contrary
all were loudly applaudcd,—which is no slight praise when
it is considered that such an auditory as they appeared be-
fore were well able to discriminate.

Sir JOHN SALUSBURY, one of tha vice-presidents of the
institution, said that in the iabsence of the President, the
Rev. Dr. Mir had requested him to read the following re.
port
On the corresponding occasion, in December last, it was
intimated that it did not seem either desirable or necessary
.that a report should be read annually on this day.
The reasons assigned for such an opinion were, that the
annual general meeting of the proprietors seemed the proper
time to submit official statements to the committee and pro-
prietors, and that all communications were better reserved
for the parents and friends of the pupils ; while, at the same
time, it was notiocd, that the sole object of this day's meet •
ing is what is specified in the invitation to those who honour
us with their attendance, namely :—the speeches and delivery
,of prizes, respecting which, we would again observe, that
what stands and comes last in time, ranks first in importance,
namely—the delivery of the prizes ; and that whatever
apology may be required for the speeches, may be simply
contained in the declaration, namely, that they are merely
intended as a temporary occupation, in order that the deli-
very of prizes May not be a mere matter of a few minutes'
form, and perhaps unattended, except by parties interested
in the successful candidates. Such being the object of this
day's meeting, Dr. hill would certainly have requested the
committee to have dispensed with any report on this occa-
sion, had it not been from peculiar circumstances, which
made him desirous to avail himself of this opportunity, both
as regards particular individuals, and as it concerns the
general interests of the school.
It is known to all who are acquainted with the school that
it will no longer enjoy the advantages of the co-operation of
two gentlemen to whom it is essentially indebted.
First, of Mr. Strange; who came as co-adjutor six years
ago with Dr. BHT, and under whose care has constantly been
placed the care of the largest class in the school, ranking
next to those under the immediate care of the head-master,
and who also on some subjects has had the care of the head-
classes. And secondly, of Mr. Rig.g ; who was the first to
join the establishment when the system was proposed of
making the mathematical studies rank equal in importance
with the classical ; who has had the sole superintendence of
the mathematical department ; and who, having witnessed
its commencement, may now be said to just have staid long
enough to see it arrive at what was declared to be its object,
namely, that the studies of classics and mathematics not only
should be combined, but that those who rank highest in the
one, should attain to the corresponding degree of proficiency
required in the others.
No master would allow an opportunity like the present to
pass by without his grateful acknowledgement of his sense
of the value of their services, without being glad that he
can express officially, through the representative of the insti-
tution, the feelings which he is sure they also entertain.
In observing next how far the general interests of the
school are concerned, on this part of the subject D.-. Hifi
can fortunately speak with less hesitation than he otherwise
would have felt. Not only the increased number of the pu-
pils, which is now higher than it ever bas been since the
establishment of the school, but, he is proud to say, the ge-
neral desirc of improvement evinced among them, decided
him a long time since to increase the number of the masters.
Accordingly, after Christmas, in addition to two assistant
classical and two assistant mathematical masters, there will
be at least one added, all graduates of either Oxford or
Cambridge, and all in constant co-operation during the
whole of the school hours. He will therefore lose two, but
will supply their place by three. He will lose two, who have
enabled him to execute the scheme of combining the studies
of the school, under the many varieties of their attainments,
in the two essential branches of their studies ; but he will
have three to follow up that scheme, now that it has become
a part of the system. And he need not add, that no efforts
will be spared by him to procure efficient aid; that he has
long been in correspondence, and is about to take personal
steps to ensure that which is • essential to the well-doing of
every school, namely, able and zealous co-operation. - •
The objects contemplated by the assistance of an addi-
tional master, it is not necessary here to explain, especially
as it has been signified to the parents of the pupils by letter,
and may be ascertained by any who are desirous to know it.
But Dr. Iliff will only add in his own name and that of his
remaining and valued coadjutors, that amply will they be
satisfied if they can maintain in the school a continuance of
that zeal for improvement, of that propriety of conduct, and
above all that cheerful readiness to coufoem with rules and to
do what is required, even where the utility and necessity of
what is demanded is not entirely apparent, but in the confi-
dence that the chief Object contemplated is to make the de-
mands of the master, and the interest 'of the pupil, in strict
unison, one with the other.

Prizes were next delivered by Sir John Salusbury—for
classical composition, to Mr. Lightfoot and Mr: Snowball;
for mathematics, to Mr. Davies and Mr. Lightfoot ; and in
Mr. Palmer's class, to Mr. T. Banner, Mr. G. Banner, Mr.
Freme, and Mr. Ebden. Sir John Salusbury, in delivering
these prizes, and also Dr. Iliff, in introducing them, briefly
addressed the young gentlemen, expressing a hope that they
would persevere in their studies.
The prizes having been delivered, Dr. lerF? said, the next
business was one not usually connected with the business of
the day, but he was sure it would afford the audience much
pleasure.
Mr. O'Sohhtvis, one of the pupils of the Ist class, then
stepped forward and said he had been desired by his fellow-
pupils to present to Mr. Strange, a testimonial of their
gratitude to him for his kindness, and for the attention which
during many years he bad uniformly paid to the interests of
the school, and of the sincere regret they felt at his departure.
(Great applause.)
Mr. LIGHTFOOT next rose and spoke as follows:—Mr.
President,—We rise as students of the schools, composed of
the Ist and 2nd classes, to ask permission to intrude u; on the
meeting, for a very short time, and when we state that it is
in consequence of the retirement of Mr. Strange and Mr.
Rigg, we hope the occasion will justify our presumption. \%e
beg to inform you that it was the desire of thOse students,
who fell more immediately under the care of these two gen-
tlemen, to present to each of them some parting token of re-
spect, and by this arrangement it became one pleasing duty
to have to offer ours to Mr. Rigg, while it fell to the lot of
the otherclasses to present theirs to Mr. Strange. Actuated
by some motives of modesty or delicacy, Mr. Rigg wishes to
retire without any public testimonial. We particularly wish,
therefore, sir, to be allowed publicly to say, that our feelings
towards Mr. Strange were, and are, equally strong with the
most zealous of the contributors to hat well-merited emblem
of good-will and esteem now before you ; and we regret that
the arrangements•for the presentation to Mr. Strange were
so far made, before Mr. Rigg's decision was known, as to
preclude our acting in concert with them. This, and this
alone, prevented our most cordial co-operation with our fel-
low-students. It only remains for us, in conclusion, to ex-
press to the two gentlemen our earnest wishes for their health,
happiness, and prosperity, and to bid them farewell:
The testimonial to Mr. Strange was a very elegant silver
salver, with an appropriate Latin inscription.
Mr. STRANGE, on rising to return thanks, was evidently
much affected. He said he accepted, with sincere thanks,
this generous token of the kindness of his pupils. He
should ever preserve it as a memorial of the connection
which had subsisted between them—not from its intrinsic
value, but as deriving its chief value from the cireum,tance
of its being an earnest of their good feelings towards himself.
(Applause.) He should always regard it as a most (.:elightful.
memento of his connection with the Liverpool Royal Institu-
tion Schools. He dared not trust his feelings more than to
reassure his pupils of his heartfelt thanks for their kindness.
and of his most earnest wishes for their future happinessoind
prosperity in life. With this prayer he wished them a most
affectionate farewell. (Applause.)
Sir JOHN SALUSIICRY said, that after the very interesting
proceedings they had witnessed, and the great satisfaction
they must all have derived from the delivery of the speeches
—which he doubted not had been as gratifying to their pa-
rents as to the young gentlemen themselves, it became his
pleasing duty, in the name of the institution and in the name
of tl:e auditory, to return thanks to Dr. I and to his able
coadjutors for the very efficient mannsr in which they had
conducted the various departments of the school. Upon this
point, perhaps, no one could be better qualified to speak
than himself, having had four boys in the institution at the
same time, three of whom were still deriving the advantages
of that tuition, which, he was very happy in having this op-
portunity of publicly stating, had ever given him the highest
possible pleasure. (Applause.) Before he sat . down he
might- be permitted to make one observation to the.pupils
generally, with regard to that part of the report which more
especially alluded to their excellent attainments—he felt con-
fident, that the Royal Institution Schools could not fail ris-
ing in the estimation of the public, so long as they manifested
that regularity of conduct, and persevered in that gentle-
manly deportment which he trusted ever would be, as it now
was, one of the principal characteristics of the institution.
(Cheers.)
Dr. ImFr then thanked the auditory for their attendasee,
and these pleasing proceedings terminated.

THEATUE-ROY At..—The public, of Liverpool showed, on
Monday night, their regard for histrionic talent by crowding
to the support of Mr. Stuart. The pieces selected were
" Henry the Fifth" and " Town and Country," the principal
characters of which he represented for the first time on our
boards. We have formally abandoned criticism for this sea-
son, otherwise we might be di: posed to carry our readers to
Mr. Stuart's living representation sktid make them observe
the nice distinctions in eharaeliktmdr iiraimsteuce which he
can so eminently shadow out. In short, we never saw this
gentleman, in the whole of the vast and 'diversified range of
dramatic characters which be represents, pourtray their va-
rious shades with greater fidelity than on Monday night.
He convinced us that names which comirlftd 'a Wider field
of attention have not in every instance so well deserved it. At
the close of the performances the audience called loudly for
Mr. Stuart, and on his appearance they greeted him with en-
thusiastic cheering. He acknowledged the compliment in
a brief but feeling address, observing that he had now
apppesled five times to the public, and that each ad-
ditional appeal had been more generously responded to
than its predecessor. We have now to mention the name
•of an amiable and lovely vocalist, in whose behalf no-
thing beyond her own merits need be pleaded,—Miss
Grant. She takes her benefit this evening, and the ad-
vertisement will shew that she has been regardless of her
own labour, provided that she can but succeed in gratifying
her patrons. In addition to being a very superior vocalist, Miss
Grant has talents of no common order in the other depart-
ments of her profession—and as her efforts will be most ably
supported, we trust she may have the pleasure of hearing the
plaudits of an overflowing house.
NEw PEERAGES, &c.—Lord Auckland is to be created
Earl of Auckland and Baron Eden.—Sir John Keane is to
be elevated to the peerage, by the title of Baron Keane of
Cappoquitu—Mr. M'Naughten is to be made a baronet ; and
Colonel Pottinger ie also to he made a baronet.—.Vnenhg
Chresidit.