The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-10 00:00:00

extemporaneous versification

FINE ATITS.—We have much pleasure in calling our
readers' attention to a set of six cabinet pictures by our
talented townsman Mr. Richard Ansdell, who has shown
talent of a very high order in his treatment of the subjects
of these pictures, illustrating the chief kinds of shooting,
viz., "Duck," " Black game," "Grouse," " Rabbit,
" Partridge," and " Pheasant ;" a subject that has not
before been treated by any artist of note. Of the six, the
duck shooting is the most artistic in treatment, though
the Spanish pointer and Irish setter, in the black game
picture, are exquisitely painted ; and the finish of the

whole of the piciures is remarkable, as this artist's works
are generally rather deficient in that respect. We cannot
help calling attention to the skill displayed in the selec-
tion of the landscape portion of each picture, and the
attitudes of the sportsmen and dogs, which are evidently
careful studies from nature. There is also great breadth
and atmosphere in them, and in the rabbit shooting this
is particularly apparent. Those who take an interest in
such matters, and all who are attached to progress in this
peculiarly English school of art, should step into Mr.
Gregg's, 52, Bold-street, and judge for themselves,—we
having said enough of their merits to create a wish to
inspect theni personally. The engravings are in e very
forward state, and highly satisfactory.
LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.---The Council of
this Association held a meeting yesterday, the first time
since the annual general meeting, at which the following
officers were elected :—Hugh Hornby, Esq., president;
Francis Shand, Esq., vice-president ; Samuel Stitt, Esq.,
treasurer. The following committees werere- appointed :
Communication : Messrs. Aikin, Forwood, Holland,
Heath, Ryder, and Stitt. Postal: Messrs. Arnott,
Bushell, Crossfield, jun., K. Dowie, and Winch. Cus-
toms' Reform : Messrs. Aikin, Bushell, Bouch, Boult,
Casey, Forwood, Horsfall, and Lamport. Commercial
Tribunals: Messrs. Aikin, Arnott, Bright, Heath, Hol-
land, Lamport, Ryder, and Rankin. Dock Arrangements
and Export Trade: Messrs. Aikin, Boult, Forwood,
Holland, Lamport, and Malcomson. Sound Dues and
Russia Company: Messrs. Arnott, Boult, Dowie, and
Heath.—An interesting letter was read from Wm. Brown,
Esq., M.P., on the subject of decimal currency, showing
the facility with which the present currency of the king-
dom could be settled on this convenient principle, such
change requiring only the introductien of a single new
coin. The subject was referred to a special committee.—
A letter from J. P. Goodmanson was also read, on the
pilot service of this port, which was likewise referred to a
special committee.—Mr. Forwood gave notice, that at the
next meeting of the Council, he would bring under con-
sideration the present mode of collecting dock and town
dues at this port.—The meeting then broke up.
RACE OF SCREW-STEAMERS.—It will be remembered
that about a fortnight ago three screw-steamers--the
Orontes, the Frankfort, and the Arabian—sailed from this
port for the Mediterranean, the two former intending to
call at Gibraltar. From the great improvements which
have lately been introduced into screw-steamers, and the
fact that these vessels were fitted up with the best and
most advanced machinery, though in many respects of
different kinds, this was looked upon as a most important
test of the respective merits of the different vessels, and
their capabilities to accomplish the objects required in
their construction. All the ships sailed from the Mersey
on the morning of Tuesday, the 27th of January, and ad-
vices have been received by the Arno—another screw-
steamer, which arrived here yesterday in five days and
three quarters, having left Marseilles on the 30th of Jan.,
and Gibraltar on the 3d instant—that the Frankfort
reached Gibraltar on the 2d instant, at 9, a.m.,
and the
Orontes arrived at the same place on the same day, at 1.30
p.m., and both sailed on the same day to the eastward ;
thus, after allowing for stoppage of machinery, the Frank-
fort beat the Orontes by one hour and a-half only. From
the fact that the Arabian was spoken on the Ist inst.
about 130 miles from Gibraltar, and her position at that
time, it is believed that she also would have reached the
port mentioned early in the course of the 2nd. The
result of the trial thus made is looked forward to with
considerable interest, as it may exercise no inconsiderable
influence vpsiin the future prospects of steam navigation.