The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-24 00:00:00

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.

IT appears that we gave some of our townsmen credit for
a more accommodating spirit than they naturally possess
in this matter ; we do not regret, however, having erred on
the side of charity, though we are sorry to see the results
what they are. It will be borne in mind, that the bill which
the Town-council have already brought before parliament,
respecting a Library and Museum, provides for additional
members of committee acting jointly with the members of
council; thus conceding one of the long contested points.
It was also unanimously agreed by the council, at its last
meeting, that the donation of the collection of the Royal
Institution be received like any other donation ; but
before the subject dropped, it was farther agreed that
the Derby trustees be empowered to take charge of that
collection also, jointly with their own.
On Wednesday last, the new committee of the Royal
Institution met to reply formally to these proposals, or
rather to the latter of them, and three resolutions were
passed, on the motion of Theodore W. Rathbone, Esq.,
the late president. In the first, the committee decline
to allow their collection to be received in the same manner
as ordinary donations ; on the ground that it is already
securely protected by charter, and also in the doubt

whether either their proprietors or the legislature would
consent. In the second, they decline to allow their articles
to be handed over to the Derby trustees, without a distinct
recognition of themselves as part of those trustees ; and this
they think they are entitled to, f►om the value of their col-
lection, either actually, or by comparison with the Derby
Museum. The third isnot so much a resolution as an asser-
tion and argument. The comparativevalue and importance
of a public donation are dwelt upon, as compared with a
private one ; and the council are again reminded of how
much they have lost in the convenience of the Royal Insti-
tution buildings, while their present temporary apart-
ments are spoken of in anything but complimentary terms.
We never defended, for a moment, the resolution of the
Town-council, adopted in May last, which upset the
original arrangement, and the bill of last year. We were
as little able to excuse the resolutions of the sth of
December ; for it is undeniable that private pique had at
least as much to do with that decision as public principle.
But both parties having acted unwisely, in other words
after an offence and retaliation, the first opportunity
should have been taken by both parties to seek the golden
mean. We think that the Town-council have made suit-
able advances towards an adjustment of differences ; it is a
pity that they have not been met in a better spirit. We
admit, to its fullest extent, the dignity and importance of
those who preside over the destinies of the Royal Institu-
tion ; we agree with many of themselves, that it was an
evil day in which they tied up their own hands with a
royal charter ; but we beg of them to bear in mind that
there is a third consideration more important than either,
viz. public usefulness. The town can exist without their
collection ; and every year, yes every month, will make us
more independent of it ; but what, on the other hand,
will they do with it themselves ? They dare not propose
to transfer it to any other provincial town, as Manchester ;
nor would there be twenty members in either house of
parliament who would vote to give them such extensive
powers of sale. A bill to transfer it entire to the British
Museum , would, perhaps, pass after much opposition ; and
the proprietors would thus rob themselves and their fami-
lies, in order to give a slap in the face to the corporation
of their own town.

I,IIURCII OF ENGLAND INSTITUTION.—The lecture
before the members of this institution and public gene-
rally, on Monday evening next, will be on the subject of
the May nooth Endowment, a question very much agitated
at present. The Rev. F. Ould will show the inconsistency
of such endowment with the principles of our constitution,
while at the same time he will prove that endowment, in
the abstract, is a clear and incontrovertible position. Mr.
Ould is judicious in his choice of a subject, as it is one
in which the public are at present very much interested.
LECTURE BY FATHER GAVAZZI.—A lecture on the
" Holy Inquisition" was delivered yesterday morning, at
the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street, by Father Gavazzi,
the proceeds of which aro to be applied to the relief of the
sufferers by the destruction of the Amazon and by the
bursting of the reservoir at Holmfirth. The attendance,
we regret to say, was comparatively small, though we
understand that a considerable number of tickets had been
purchased, but the holders of which did not attend. The
Rev. R. P. Blakeney was in the chair, and introduced the
padre to the auditory in his friar's costume, as when ho
was seeking to incite the Italians to cast off the slavish
domination of the Pope over their minds and bodies. The
lecture was delivered energetically, and with that eloquent
flow of language for which Gavazzi is remarkable ; and
the translation was listened to with deep attention. The
lecturer took his departure by train an hour or two after
the close of the proceedings for Glasgow.
ANTI-GAROTTE BATON.—A baton, bearing the above
name, has been invented by Mr. Blisset, of this town,
and registered by him. With the prevalence of the " Ga-
rotte system," in Liverpool, of which so many instances
have occurred of late, this seems to be eminently worthy
of the attention of gentlemen residing on the outskirts of
the town. The instrument is a small staff of bard wood,
neatly turned, which may be readily used at any moment
as a bludgeon, and by taking off the top a glass globe is
disclosed, which, on being struck against any object,
throws up an instantaneous and brilliant light, of the
nature of a " blue light." which may be seen for five
miles round. This, if aimed at a person attacking the
holder, will, in a few seeonds, burn through his clothing,
and inflict intense agony by its intense heat. It must,
therefore, be almost superfluous to add that with a life-
preserver of this description a man need not fear an en-
counter with ono lalf-down ruffians armed in the orth-
nail way.