The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-04-17 00:00:00

The first efforts made in photographic portraiture were
justly regarded as a great triumph achieved in the appli-
cation of physical science to the fine arts. By the process
as then known, a faithful outline, and generally a correct
representation of feature, were obtained ; and if only as a
means of procuring likenesses of beloved friends in emer-
gencies, when pressing calls were made upon us for their
absence, or, still more, when sickness had incapacitated
them from enduring the tedium of frequent sittings to an
artist, its acquisition was indeed a valuable one. The
portraits, however, at first obtained, were defective in
many points ; in the absence of colour for inscance, and
in a certain inequality of surface throughout. Those who
have only inspected these early efforts can form but little
idea of the perfection to which—mainly by the scientific
improvements effected by Mr. Beard, of London, the in-
ventor of the daguerrotype—the process has now attained.
The defects formerly complained of have been completely
removed. The natural light and shade is faithfully pre-
served ; the flesh is beautifully painted, at once warm atm
natural, and, what we regard as the greatest triumph, the
glossy tints of the hair, the dress, &c., are given with a
transparency which is perfectly beyond the skill even of
the most skilful miniature painter.
At the suggestion of numerous friends, and to afford to
the inhabitants of Liverpool access to the productions of
photographic art of the most perfect character, Mr. Beard,
jun., who has for some time superintended the original
London establishment, has taken and fitted up for the
purpose a suite of rooms at No. 34, Church-street, form-
ing the upper portion of Mr. Burland's gallery of art,
where the lovers of painting will do well to pay him a visit.
In the specimen room will be found a collection of most
beautiful portraits, amongst which are already several of
ladies and gentlemen well known in our town, and some
of the leading members of the nobility. We have had an

readers of its almost unerring success, and of the absence
of any fatigue or annoyance attending it. A few seconds
sitting only is required to produce the portrait, during
which period nothing is so desirable as that the sitter
should preserve an unconstrained expression of features,
and perfect stillness. There has, we believe, existed an
idea that the light, when thrown upon the face, is rather
overpowering, and requires an effort to enable the sitter
to overcome it, which has frequently produced an unpleas-
ing portrait. This is not the case to any extent under the
present process. The portraits can be taken of various
sizes ; and the smaller are admirably adapted for mount-
ing in brooches, lockets, &c.

A MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE
MRS. HENRICHSON AND HER TWO CHILDREN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

Snt,—l am not aware whether the subject of erecting a
monument to the memory of the late Mrs. Henrichson
and family has been canvassed by any other party ; and,
if not, it seems to me to be a very fit subject for the public
of Liverpool.to take up, with that warmth and earnestness
of purpose for which they have been so long noted.
Great sympathy was undoubtedly shewn by the inhabi-
tants of this town when the horrible affair was perpetrated;
but the poor unfortunate husband was not here to witness

it. He is now on a foreign voyage, and may be ab3ent
several weeks, and though the shock at the loss of his

wife and children will be great indeed, yet I cannot help
thinking that if he found their remains covered by a chaste
monument, raised, in his absence, at the expense of his
fellow-twnsmen, it would be a source of great consolation
to him.

The Cemetery, too, is so highly calculated for a thing
of the sort, with a suitable inscription, commemorative of

two hundred pounds would soon be collected, and the
gratifying task might be commenced at once.
AN INHABITANT.

Exchange, 16th April, 1849

LOCAL

LllNvs.

WOODCHURCII.—A parish meeting was held at Wood-
church, on the 9th instant, for the purpose of levying a

proposed, and carried by a s'iow of hands.
then demanded in favour of a halfpenny rate
tnn/r rillnnta lnat 'MuratTau when tha ritirnha

A poll w

,ersons, 160 votes, in favour of the
,ersons. 35 votes. for the Lid. rate.

2d. rate ; and. 35

rate, and
payment, not only foi

ality of t 1

pledging himself to
himself but

also on

that lld

e colleetei

the meeting on the
and hoped the same

)od feeling that had been displayec
,ould pervade all future meetings.

BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS. —On Friday last
eclat meeting of this body was held. Present : Rich
•yans,Esq., in the chair, and Messrs. J. Laird, B

tham, Hughes, Golborne, Ravenscroft, Watson, William-
son, and Appleton. The chairman explained the object of
the meeting to be.--" To confirm the proceedings of the