The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

PREPERMEN TS AND APPOINTMENTS,

.A.N
Rev. H. Bellairs, M.A., Rector of Bedworth, Warwickshire,
to an Honorary Canonry in Worcester Cathedral.
Rev. H. B. Bullocke, M.A., to the Vicarage of Mullyon,
Cornwall.
Rev. F. W. Collison, 8.D., to the Rectory of Marwood,
Devon.
Rev. H. J. Davis, Vicar of Gonwil Gaio and Llansawel, to
the office of Surrogate.
Rev. T. E. Espin, M.A.,. Fellow and Tutor of Lincoln Col-
lege, Oxford, to be Professor of Pastoral Theology at Queen's
College, Birmingham.
Rev. H. Evans, jun., 8.A., to the Rectory of Eriswell, near
Mildenhall, Suffolk.
Rev. H. H. Higgins, of Liverpool, to be Chaplain of the
Rainbill Lunatic Asylum, Lancashire.
Rev. F. Hocken, M.A., to the Rectories of Phillack and
Gwi thian, Cornwall.
Rev. D. Parry, M.A., to the Incumbency of Nerquis, Flint-
shire.
Rev. C. P.. Rowlatt, M.A., to the Vicarage of West Thur.
rock, Romford, Essex.
Rev. T. Smith, 8.A., to the Incumbency of Ossington, near
Newark.
Rev. J. Sowter, 8.A., to be Chaplain of the new Essex Lu-
natic Asylum, Brentwood.
Rev. G. Stevenson, M.A., to the Incumbency of All Saints,
Newmarket.
Rev. E.Thring, M.A.. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge,
to be Head Master of Uppingham Grammar School.
Rev. J. S. Utterton, M.A., Rector of Calbourne, Isle of
Wight, to the Vicarage of Farnham.
Rev. F. Wheler, M.A., Perpetual Curate of St. Chad's,
Lichfield, to the Vicarage of Dunchurch, near Rugby.
BURNLEY CHURCH.—The works necessary to the resto-
ration of Burnley Church are proceeding rapidly, although
it is not expected that the restoration will be completed
before next Midsummer.

AUGMENTATION OF POOR LIVINGS.—The Rev. Leveson
Vernon Harcourt, son of the late Archbishop of York, is,
as Chancellor of the Cathedral of York, patron of certain
benefices in the neighbourhood, and appropriator of the
tithes in each parish. As the opportunity of doing so has
presented itself by the falling in of leases, Mr. Harcourt
has availed himself of the powers of 1 and 2 William IV.,
&c., and augmented the benefices as follows :—Laughton,
former value £l9O, increased to £310; Thorpe Salvin,
formerly £7O, now £355 ; Wales, formerly £B2, now £211;
Letwell, formerly £145, now £265 ; Woodsets, a new
church, endowed by Mr. Harcourt with £lOO per annum.

BAxaoa CA.THiDRA.L.—The North Wales Chronicle,
remarking on the necessity of extended accommodation
for the English and Welsh congregations at Bangor Ca-
thedral, states that " for several Sundays past every pew
and bench were crowded, and many were compelled to
return to their homes, to exercise in private that religious
observance which they were unable to attain in public.
The labour and zeal of our several clergy have most suc-
cessfully awakened a corresponding sympathy on the part
of the inhabitants, and in. a far greater ratio than might
be attributed to the increase of population. These are,
indeed, signs of the times which indicate the advancement
of intelligence, and the advantages which accrue from its
proper religious culture. The example set by our vene-
rable prelate cannot fail to operate beneficially on all within
the range of his benign influence. His lordship, notwith-
standing his advanced age, continues to take an active
part in the services of the cathedral, and preaches twice
every Sunday when in residence."

ECCLESIASTICAL CONFERENCE AT BERLIN.—A kind of
Ecclesiastical Conference, or Church Union Meeting, is to
be held from the 20th to the 23d of this month at Berlin.
The object of the meeting, which is of a purely voluntary
character, and at which both clergy and lay members of
the so-called " Evangelic" Church usually attend, is to
concert measures for raising up a spirit of practical piety
and counteracting the infidelity and latitudinarianism so
long prevalent in Germany, more particularly in Prussia..
The origin of these meetings dates from the troublous
times of 1848, when the Kirchen Bund, or Church Union,
was first founded. It has since held its yearly conference
at Wittenberg, in 1849 ; at Stuttgard, in 1850; at Elber-
feld, in 1851; and at Bremen, in 1852. The meeting this
year in the capital of Prussia gains an additional interest
from the recent encroachment of the Romish Church in
Germany and the consequent struggle between the govern-
ments of Prussia, Wurtemberg, Nassau, Baden, and Hesse,
and the prelates of the diocese of the Upper Rhine.

CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL PRACTICE IN ENGLAND.
—The census of 1861 showed 21,435 persons practising one
or more departmenta of medicine without qualification.
The youth and sex of some of, the practitioners were also
remarkable. In Birmingham there was one " herbalist "
under 20 years of age, two " keepers of lunatic asylums"
under 20, fourteen female leech,bleeders, and one female
physician ; one female " dentist "in Taunton ; a phy-
sician " in Norwich under 20 ; two " medicine vendors!! in
the Tower Hamlets under go ; one "midwife " in Preston,
under 20; one " physician" in Canterbury -under 20 ;`two
physicians "
in Bristol under 20; a female " chemist
and druggist "Sn Colchester under 20 one " physician "
in Darlington under 20; and one feit;ak ".surgeon " Stt
Cornwall under 20,

EXHIBITION OF THE LIVERPOOL
ACADEMY.

THE annual opening of a local academy of art cannot

fail to be an event of more than mere passing interest in
any community pretending to intellectual culture; and
we accordingly look with much satisfaction at the interest
evinced by the intelligent classes of Liverpool in the open-
ing of the twenty-ninth annual exhibition of the works
of art under the auspices of the Academy. That exhibi-
tion was opened to the public yesterday, the private view
having taken place on Saturday. On both days, we are
glad to learn, the attendance of visitors was large.
The numbers who on Saturday visited the galleries were
more numerous than on any previous occasion, and in-
cluded, besides a large number of ladies and gentlemen
belonging to Liverpool, a very considerable accession of
visitors from Manchester, Preston, and other towns and
places in the neighbourhood, and, as was to have been ex-
pected, all manifested a lively interest in the collection,
and most of them expressed sentiments of approbation as
to the exertions of the committee in making the requisite
arrangements, and of congratulation as to their success
in securing the display of so interesting a collection of

pictares.
Considering the reputed taste, the intelligence, and the

wealth of Liverpool, it would probably be saying more
than strict justice could approve of, were we to aver that
the exhibition is in all respects what might have been an-
ticipated or wished, either in respect to the character of
the works shown, or as regards the accommodation for
their advantageous display, or for the comfort and
convenience of visitors. As to the last named ground
of complaint, if any such exist, the public have the
matter pretty much in their own, hands, for by afford-
ing countenance and pecuniary aid to the academy,
that body will experience little difficulty in procuring
the most ample and suitable accommodation which even
the most fastidious could desire. To improve the
character of the works exhibited is an achievement
probably less within the reach of public aid ; yet by no
means absolutely beyond the operation of their influence ;
but to effeet this most desirable object, the public and the
academy must co-operate in a liberal and enlightened
spirit. Preconceived theories of artistic excellence, and
slavish imitations of particular schools must not be per-
mitted to overrule the dictates of sober reason. To secure
true excellence in art, nature must be appealed to as the
guiding star of the artist's course, and a truly great
artist can no more be created by even the most devoted
study of pictures, than a great poet or philosopher could be
reared up by the most painstaking familiarity with books
alone. Severe self-culture in the various walks of litera-
ture and science, and a continual looking up to nature in
an humble yet intelligent spirit, must form the ground-
work of an artist's -efforts, who aims at anything beyond
the evanescent fame of mere coterie commendation.
Familiarity with the noble works of those great masters
whose excellences form an exhaustless subject of admira-
tion, and a never-failing theme of commendation and
delight, will, no doubt, do much to increase his resources
as an originator of really estimable works ; for it is cor-
rectly said by Sir JOSHUA. REYNOLDS, (we quote from
memory,) " He will ever be found most original, who is
most familiar with the ideas of others." " But," says the
same master, with equal truth, " to follow in the path of
a great man, it is not necessary that he occupy his foot-
prints or step into his worn-out slippers." Mere imitation
is the bane and destruction of true greatness in any walk
of science or of art. In carrying into practice the artist's
efforts to attain excellence, public countenance is indis-
pensable, as approbation and reward are " the breath
of life" to an artist, without which he must inevit-
ably languish and die ; and, on the public, therefore,
in a great degree, depends the course an artist has to
steer. Relying upon this truth, we know it is but too
much the fashion to lay blame upon public patronage,
when the error has in reality rested with the cultivators of
art. The effect of public encouragement upon art, and
the products of artistic culture, must of necessity act and
react on each other. If the public confer the reward, the
artist, in a great degree, sets the current on which favour
is wafted to his door. Art, in this country, is acknow-
ledgedly of recent origin, and it is no disparagement to
the general intellect to avow that intimacy with artistic
excellence is by no means universally diffused. Still we
are not to infer from that, that the public is either illiberal
or unjust in its treatment of artists. Capricious and fickle
it may be in its tastes, as those generally are who have
no fixed principles to guide them in their judgment ; but,
with all its waywardness, the .liberal hafid,'the generous
impulse, is not absent. Let artists be true to themselves,
and loyal to the legitimate object of their allegiance, and
they need not fear the absence of public sympathy
.and
support. Let them remember that it was not following
the conventionalities of a particular school which induced
BIIONAROTTI to compass the wonders of his " Last
Judgment." It was not conforming to principles evolved
in the labours of a particular master, which enabled
DE Visci to conceive and delineate the sublime and mys-
terious beauties of " The Last Supper." Nor was it fol-
lowing the dicta of CIMABUE which urged upon RAPHAEL
the design and execution of the " Transfiguration." No !
Each and all of these great works may have been in some
degree beholden to the maxims and rules of preceding
professors or schools of art ; but they owe their value and
their greatness to the independent workings of intellect in
their respective authors. We have been led into a some-
what lengthened digression on this subject, because, from
what we can learn, there appears to be an under current
of popular feeling in favour of what cannot be look&
as other than a tramelled and factit

he case ; ye

gitimate art, we have deemed it rig;

subject as one of vital importance to its interests.

To return to the exhibition, however; we learn from
the catalogue, that there are 712 works of art contributed
by 333 artists, being an increase of 112 pictures over the
number exhibited last year. Of these there are a con-
siderable number from the pencils of artists who occupy
a prominent position in British art, including specimens
by the late J. M. W. TURNER, R.A. ; W. P. FRITH, R.A. ;
C. STANFIELD, R.A. ; J. P. KNIGHT, R.A. ; C. LANDSEER,
R.A. ; NOEL PATON, R.S.A. ; J. A. HOUSTON, R.S.A. ; J.
G. GILBERT, R.S.A. ; besides characteristic contributions
from the studios of our best resident artists, in nearly all
the walks of art, comprising landscapes, sea-views,
.por-
traits, conversation pieces, historical incidents, and
life. There is, likewise, a numerous display of miniatures
exhibiting various degrees of merit ; and a small collection
of sculpture. The latter is placed in such a situation as to
be seen to great and manifest disadvantage. From the
artists and the subjects we have enumerated, it is not
difficult to infer that, as a whole, the collection must be
one of ati interesting and highly gratifying kind ; and we
might well be content to conclude our preliminary notice at
this point, but reflection induces us to perceive that in even
the few general remarks which we are enabled to offer, we
ought to say a word in reference to the standing assumed by
our local celebrities, artistic and non-artistic. In the por-
trait department we recognize with pleasure twofemale por-
traits by Jon ROBERTSON, both of which are possessed of
high merit, and deservedly hold a distinguished place in
that walk of art. The portrait of Sir JOHN BENT, recently
Mayor of Liverpool, is a favourable specimen, by WEST-
COTT ; and SAMUEL HOLME, Esq., the present Mayor, is

also represent&

cl at full length, in a painting

ATTEIf,

who likewise presents a half-length portrait of T11031A6
BERRY HORSFALL, Esq., M.P. Among the numerous

pictures falling under the 'general denomination of conver-
sation pieces, " A Shebeen, at Donnybrook," from the
pencil of E. NrcoL, deserves prominent consideration; it is
instinct with life, and is so prodigally imbued with indivi-
duality of character and varied expression as to remind us
of WILKIE'S earlier productions. " Life among the
Gypsies at Seville," by J. Pamir, is also a meritorious
picture, containing bold drawing, rich colouring, and
copious grouping. Of TURNER, STA NFIELD, FRITH, N.
PATON, MARTIN, and others whose names have been long
and favourably known to the public, it is not necessary

here to spec
have ample

k, more especially as in after notices we sl
opportunities of referring to their pecu

styles and merits. Meanwhile we co:
commending the exhibition to the favo
of our readers, as one which will afford

hem muc

gratification, and which is well deserving of public en-
couragement and support.

THE

THEATRES
e

AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE the performances
during the past week have been chiefly confined to a re-
petition of those pieces in which the combined talents of
Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Buckstone form the chief at-
traction ; and among them " Mr. Buckstone's Ascent of
Mount Parnassus" has continued to prove a leading
feature. The houses have' generally been well filled, and
the histrionic acquirements of the two performers we have
named have met with their usual and deserved modicum
of applause and patronage. Besides the parts sustained
by Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Buckstone in the "Ascent
of Parnassus," they have likewise repeated their characters
in " The Serious Family," " Green Bushes," " The Mouse-
trap," and " The Flowers of the Forest." On Friday
evening the performances were for the benefit of ,Mrs.
Fitzwilliam, when an entirely new play, entitled "Ap-
pearances are Deceitful," from the pen of Mr. Palgrave
Simpson, was produced for the first time on any stage.
The comedy, as we are informed in the announcements,
has been written for the purpose of displaying the stage
capabilities of the two stars, who have for some time back
been shining with gratifying lustre in our theatrical sky.
The mode of its production was welcomed and applauded
by a numerous auditory, who, in a style of enthusiasm,
acknowledged their approbation of Mrs. Fitzwilliam's
varied skill and representative powers. The new comedy
was followed by " Parnassus," the stock piece of the sea-
son, which was, as usual, received with loud demonstra-
tions of delight.