The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-17 00:00:00

CONTEMPORARY PRESS.

THE GOVERNMENT.
(From the Statesman and Dublin Record.)
It is with feelings very different from those with
which we took up ur pen on our last day of publica-
tion that we sit down to write on the present occasion.
We then had -to announce the resignation of Lord
MelbOurne and his colleagues office,
in and our specu-
lations were turned to the benefits which the country
would be likely to derive from a government con-
structed on conservative principles. But now a sud-
den and unexpected cloud darkens our prospects, and
doubt and alarm assail us at every side.
We had every reason to rejoice in the contemplation
of -a government such as that likely to be constructed
by Sir R. Peel, however short it might prove in some
respects of our wishes. It could not, we thought, but
be a subject of congratulation and happiness when
contrasted with that of Lord Melbourne, and we en-
tertained no suspicion that the process of its formattn
would be suddenly arrested by an intrigue of the most
unlooked for and 'disgusting kind, and one which fills
us with alarm, as well on account of our young and
inexperienced Queen, personally, as for the throne on
which she sits, and the country over which she reigns.
But so it is. Her Majesty has evil advisers about her,
and now, and not till now, did we know with certainty
the frightful extent of their ascendancy over her.
The curse of Popery is yet upon the land. Yes, we
have been nationally guilty of paying homage and ado-
ration to that foul idolatry, and the chastening of Hea-
ven is justly laid upon us still ! We have no doubt
that the " base intrigue" is of Popish origin. The
agents of priests and Jesuits are about the palace, and
our youthful and beloved Queen is in their hands.
Alas, how earnestly should w e pray for her deliverance
from the snares in which they have taken her !
The melancholy tidings which we have now to an-
nounce are briefly these—namely, that Sir R. Peel has
been forced to resign the commission with which he
had been intrusted for forming a new ministry, and
that her Majesty is once more, or, we should. rather
say, is still, in the hands of evil, or, as we consider
them, the worst possible counsellors.
However, we are not cast down. The Lord's time
is the right time. The Satanic agency uf POPERY is
not yet disclosed to the full in all this dark business.
But wait a little—let us have patience—and we shall
yet see clearly and distinctly that accursed Popery has
everything to do with it. And then, when Sir. R. Peel
shall next be sent for, we shall have a No-Popery mi-
nistry in earnest. The time cannot be far off. It may
be nearer than many of us think.

_ NATIONAL EDUCATION.
(From the Scottish Guardian)
Among the various subjects which we fondly trust
will attract the special notice of the Assembly, the
scheme of education lately introduced in England will,
we hope, hold a prominent place. A scheme more in-
sidious or dangerous it is not easy to conceive. It puts
the sacred name of religion on its forehead, while) it
carries the essence of infidelity in its heart. It is to
set up in the schools of Great Britain a new religion,
what it calls " general religion"—that is, a religion
which, whatever it be, is not to be the religion of the
Gospel of Christ. And then, to make a still greater
mockery of religion, these schools are not to have one
Bible as the standard of truth; but the Roman Catho-
lic Bible is also to be read ; and upon the same ground,
and of necessity, the Socinian one too. Let it be re-
membered that these versions differ, not in small points,
but in whole chapters and books. And thus the rising
generation are to have it proclaimed, on national au-
thority, in their every-day schools, that it is a matter of
great doubt and uncertainty what is truth at all. As
for the pretended arrangements for teaching " special
religion" on some particular day of the week, it is im-
praeticable if it were right, and it is utterly unjustifia-
ble if it were practicable. That the nation should
sanction and pay a Socinian, a Papist, a Universalist,
or any other religious teacher of any form or shade of
heresy, for coming to instruct the children, and all
with the same readiness, and for the same reasons—
viz., that there are children whose parents profess these
religious tenets—is a principle so flagitious, that we
cannot doubt but it will call forth the indignation of
every Christian in Great Britain. And let it be borne in
, mind that there is nothing whatever, so far as we are
able to see, to hinder the board which is to direct this
monstrous system, from bringing Scotland as well as
England within the range of its operations. If the
Church be not blind to a most formidable evil, and ne-
glectful of a most sacred trust, she will lift up her
voice in next Assembly in the most decided terms of
reprobation against this insidious attempt to under-
mine the religious character of all public education.

THE :111 `ISTRY.
(From the Age.)
It is known that on Thursday afternoon Sir Robert
Peel had completed his arrangements, that Lord Lynd-
hurst was to be Chancellor ; Lord Stanley, Colonial
Secretary ; Sir James Graham, Home Secretary ! and
the Duke of Wellington, President of the Council ;
and that her Majesty had approved of them.
It is known also that her Majesty had consented to
Sir Robert Peel's re-construction of the Household ;
and that, up to •Thursday evening, or rather Friday
morning, the right hon. baronet was not aware that
any change had taken place in the royal mind.
It is known, that in the interim Lady Normanby,
prompted by her husband, contrived to pour the poi-
son of distrust into her Majesty's ear—that although
t te Melbourne ministry had resigned, and their resig-
nations had been accepted; a Whig Cabinet Council was
held on Thursday night at ten o'clock, and remained
sitting until two o'clock in the morning, unknown to
Sir Robert Peel—that the Gl6be and Courier announced
that her Majesty's determination had been warped be-
fore Sir Robert Peel knew it from her Majesty herself
—and that Sir Robert Peel consequently declined to be
a minister on conditions which left au influence in the
Palace hostile and superior to his own.
It is known that Sir Robert Peel did not insist upon
the removal of all the household, but only of those
whose immediate connection with the Melbourne ea-
biaet rendered it impossible, not to say dishonourable,
on their part, for them to remain.
It is known that Lord Melbourne is again, pro tem-
pore, in office, and his myrmidons are yelling out in
the streets, " Rescue your Queen from the insults of
the scoundrel Peel I"—which sufficiently proves the de-
speration and xeckless spite of his lordship's expiring
faction.
4t the monon,o,at which we write, nothing beyond

the facts we have above stated is known to the public.
The general impression, however, is, that the Queen
has placed herself in a position of great difficulty, by
attempting to make an unconstitutional stipulation with
Sir Robert Peel, which, notwithstanding the efforts of
the Normanby plotters, she will find it expedient to
withdraw. _ _ _

We can state that there is not the slightest hesitation
or feeling of annoyance on the part of our conserva-
tive leaders. For the, sake of royalty they may regret
the untoward interference of female meddlers in state
matters of most awful importance ; but for themselves
they know that the Sovereign cannot do without ap-
pealing to their loyalty to save her from "her friends,"
and they will not fail in their duty. In a few days Sir
Robert Peel's triumph will be complete !

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS.

REPORT &c.
(Concluded from our last number.)
To read a plan is admitted by the most practised to be the
result of great experience and knowledge. To pursue the
clue through the labyrinth of ichnography, and to follow out
arrangement and economy of space, and the combination of
convenience and beauty, require not only great intelligence
and discrimination, but a long course of analogous study.
Even the experienced professor must go through the whole
subject minutely. How often does any scruple or doubt of
their own competency embarrass a committee appointed to
judge of architectural designs ? Do they consider any fur-
ther qualification necessary, when they have assumed to
themselves the undefined and flattering attribute of taste ?
Again, it is well know to experienced architects, how diffi-
cult it is to form a correct judgment upon designs on different
scales and in different styles of drawing—and yet committees
do not hesitate to select a design, without suspecting in the
slightest degree, that they may have been captivated by the
meretricious allurements of the artist, and that they may
have admitted the accessories of pictorial representation to
have the weight of argument and reason, particularly when
coloured views and scenery, aided perhaps by false perspective,
or taken from impossible points of sight, are introduced to
the destruction of any common ground of comparison.
The delusion is only eventually detected when it is past
remedy.
Another evil, which the necessary ineXperience of com-
mittees as at present constituted, Lenders it
to meet, is, that a design may be selected for its decorative
character, which it afterwards proves inexpedient to carry
into effect, on account of the expense attending it. In this
case it frequently happens, that, in preference to encounter-
ing the inconveniences of retracing their proceedings, the
committee suffer the design to be stripped of every thing,
which originally recommended it to their notice ; thus dis-
appointing the expectations of the public, and inflicting a
flagrant injustice upon the other competitors.
It is no less in a moral than in a scientific view of the case
that this culpable negligence affects the question of compe-
tition. The motives, by which the inexperienced and con-
scientious professor is impelled to enter into competition, are
undoubtedly of a mixed character. The love of his art, the
pride of authorship, emulation, the hope of professional dis-
tinction, and the prospect of pecuniary advantage, all have
their share in inducing him to embark a certain venture of
his time, talents, and labour upon an uncertain chance of a
return.
_ _

Perhaps it has never occurred to the proposers of a com-
petition to inquire how far it may be justifiable to play upon
these feelings, and to take advantage of the circumstances in
which the profession are placed by the necessity of ac-
quiescing in the principle of competition. They do not re-
flect that the architect accepts their invitation to compete
upon the faith of a mutual contract, which it is at least in-
cumbent upon them to maintain on their side, when the
architect has fulfilled his part by entrusting them with his
property, (for his design is his property, until he shall have
received an adequate consideration for it,) under circum-
stances in which the trust is so liable to the imputation of
abuse. But so little is this principle felt, that they deal
with the architect as a mere adventurer who has taken his
ticket in a lottery, and visit his design with their strictures
and criticisms unrestrained by any of those proprieties,
which are demanded of them as individuals, or by those
scruples, which should govern them as judges. It is seldom
that competitors are dismissed even with the decent cere-
mony of thanks for their unrequited exertions.
In detailing the evil* attendant upon competition, your
committee have confined themselves to such as arise imme-
diately from the present loose and irregular system ; which
they conceive to be such, as almost to preclude the possibi-
lity of justice, however well-inclined parties adjudicating
may be to exercise it with impartiality.
But a much more serious train of evils is entailed upon
the public and the profession by the facility with which the
system lends itself to collusion, many instances of which
have been amply proved to your committee, but to which
they think it inexpedient more fully to refer.

Your committee feel confident, that the introduction of a
better system by those who have the wish to do justice,
would be sufficient to crush the power of doing wrong, which
has too long been indulged with impunity.
In proceeding to consider what remedies may be suggested
for the evils here enumerated, they will be found to arise
naturally out of the statement itself.
It is not to be doubted that the proposers of competitions
may prescribe any terms they think fit. Whether, therefore,
they prefer laying down precise instructions on every point,
or leaving themselves a certain latitude in their decision, or
snaking it entirely open to competitors to offer any sugges-
tions that may occur to them, it rests entirely with the pro-
fessor to decide for himself, whether the conditions, and the
personal character of those who propose them, are satisfac-
tory.
But whatever the conditions may be, they ought to be
clear and explicit, that the competitor may know precisely
and unequivocally upon what he has to rely. Whenever it
may be expedient to lay down definite instructions, they ought
to be strictly adhered to, when judgment is to be founded
upon them, and every design rejected, which shall be found
not to conform to them.

In framing instructions care should be taken to distinguish
accurately between the objects to be attained, and the means
of attaining them. The former cannot be too accurately
ascertained, or too explicitly described ; but the latter should
be left as much as possible to the architect, for otherwise a
proper scope will not be afforded for the exercise of a variety
of suggestions, and one great end of competition will be
frustrated. If however there should be a decided bias in
favour of any particular style or mode of composition, it
ought to be ascertained and stated in the instructions.
As the formation of definite preliminary instructions, and
a decision strictly founded upon them requiie more experi-
ence •ind knowledge of architecture than miscellaneous com-
mittees may generally supposed to possess, it is suggested
that in all cases competent professional advisers should be
referred to upon these and other points connected with the
duties of the committee : but without taking the final deci-
sion out of the hand of the original parties to the competi-
tion, or relieving them from its responsibility.
Professional opinions are especially requisite in regard to
practical construction, also to minute arrangements, as of
light, ventilation, and warming, in reference for example to
prisons, hospitals, and places for public meetings.* The
maximum amount of the intended expenditure should be
given, and when a selection is made, proper means should be
employed to ascertain that the cost of executing the design
will not exceed the estimate.

In order.to assist the judgment by establishing an uniform
comparison, the drawing presented for competition should
always be made on one scale ; and limited to one style of
finishing, as in Indian ink, with no colour, unless for such a
purpose as that of distinguishing different materials in sec-
tions. Perspective drawings, if correctly made, are certainly
desirable to show the proper effect of designs ; but they
should be restricted to specified points of view. Models
should be received with caution, as not being unexception-
able tests of the merits of a design.
With regard to the various modes which have been sug-
gested of adjudicating upon competitions in general, your
committee wish to touch but slightly upon them ; conceiving
it foreign to their present purpose to propound theories,
upon which opinions would inevitably differ, and which
would tend only to lead them astray from the point towards
which their present exertions are directed, viz. uniform prac-
tice in the conduct of competitions, as nearly as such an
object can be obtained, where every case brings its own
peculiar exigencies. They pass over therefore such propo-
sitions as, that artists alone should judge of works of art,
that the votes of the competitors themselves should be can-
vassed—and others of a like nature, though suggested from
quarters worthy of all respect. But they must advocate the
principle, that as much publicity as possible should be given
to the proceedings in all cases. For although the public at
large cannot be accepted as a' competent judge upon cases
requiring peculiar attention and information, yet the exhibi-
tion alone of the drawings, accompanied by the instructions
upon which they are founded, cannot fail to render those, to
whom judgment is confided, both diligent and scrupulous in
the discharge of their duty. To effect this object however,
experience has shown, that the expression of the public
opinion must precede, as well as follow, the decision of the
judges. The public exhibition of designs, previously to the
final decision upon them, might render it expedient to follow
generally the practice, now only partially adopted, of con-
cealing the names of competitors under a motto or cypher.
On any ground the practice is scarcely worthy of mention,
and is liable to the objection of being deceptive ; for your
committee have sufficient evidence to prove, that, though
apparently fair, it is absolutely futile in effect.
Your committee have now stated some of the evils to which
the present system of competition is liable, and have sug-
gested a few simple measures for their remedy. Upon these
measures they can scarcely suppose a difference of opinion
can arise. They have the greatest reason to believe, from the
information they have obtained, that, in a very great majority
of cases of competition, the committees or parties to whom
judgment is confined are quite ready to acknowledge them-
selves deficient in means of fulfilling their duty, when once
the nature of that duty is candidly and temperately explained
to them ; and that any suggestions, to the effect above stated,
will be favourably received, when offered in proper terms and
at a proper season. But to effect this object rests with the
profession at large, upon whom the committee would urge
in the most earnest manner the necessity of refusing to
enter into any competition, which does not offer a sufficient
guarantee that it will be conducted both with intelligence
and justice. To secure these desirable requisites m compe-
tition, let every architect, who is disposed to enter the field
and values his own station and character, examine minutely
the terms proposed—address in writing to the secretary, or
other authorised party, the most searching inquiries on every
doubtful or indistinct point,—and not rest satisfied with any
answer, which fails to place every thing necessary to be
known in the clearest point of view. Whenever instructions
have been drawn up hastily or inconsiderately, these very
queries will suggest to the authors of these instructions the
necessary emendations, and your committee cannot doubt that
they will be made, whenever justice is really intended. Those,
who invite competition, and those, who accept the invitation,
are equally interested in placing it on a definite footing, since
it is 'he uncertainty of its present condition, which opens the
door to impositions, of which there are but too many on both
sides ready to take advantage.
Although the inquiries, which may be addressed by pro-
fessional men to the institutors of competitions, must neces-
sarily be dictated by the peculiar circumstances of every
case, yet the following, although merely proposed as expla-
natory of the intentions of the committee, may be found
generally applicable.
By whom are the designs to be examined and selected?
Have any designs been laid before the parties previously to
the competition being proposed ?
Have the parties any architect, or person professing to be
an architect, in their employ?
Will any means be adopted to ascertain that the designs
can be executed for the sums estimated ?
Will the parties undertake to lay aside all designs, which
cannot be executed for the sum estimated?
Is it the intention of the parties at once to exclude from
the competition all designs not in strict conformity with their
instructions in every respect ?
Will the architect, whose design is selected, be employed
to execute the work, provided his character and standing in
the profession be such as to render him unexceptionable ?

* It is not here intended to restrict the word professiona
to architects, but to apply it to those members of all profes.
sions, whose advice may be made available in the arrange.
msnt of buildings of various classes.

Dr. Arnold, the head master of Rugby, has been preachin;
a series of sermons to his boys against the prevalent Oxfori
doctrines.