The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-02 00:00:00

NEW MUSIC.

La _Reine ; Wanda, Varsovienne ; L' Argentine;
Barcarolle de Oberon; Fantasia it Barbiere
di Siviglia ; Ondine, Bluette ; Ella, Redrie ;

Bolero. London : Cramer, Beale and Co.

The great popularity of the piano-forte, and the
extent to which it is practised as a never-failing
source of the most delightful entertainment, has
rendered necessary a class of music possessing not
only the charm of novelty, but superior in style,
and requiring a skill in execution beyond that of
mere songs and dances. This want has been ably
supplied in the series before us, which are by 31.
Rene Favarger, who has shown not only his com-
plete mastery over the instrument, but that true
musical genius without which no man can rank
high as a composer. He has here afforded ample
opportunity to the advanced student to exercise
her talent and display the fiill powers of the piano-
forte in richness of harmony which cannot fail to
secure for the composer a wide popularity. The
first we have named, which is a concert piece on
" Fanfare Royale," and " God Save the Queen," is
dedicated to T. Frederic Beale, Esq., and will no
doubt become a great favourite. The " Barcarolle"
is from Weber 's opera of Oberon, and is well
adapted for a concert ; while the " Bolero" will
delight every genuine lover of the piano-forte,
from its beautiful flow of melody and yet clearness
of expression.

THE LIVERPOOL EYE AND EAR
INFIRMARY.

THE RESIGNATION OF DR. R HIBBERT TAYLOR.

YESTERDAY, at the Clarendon-rooms, a special general
meeting was held of the governors and subscribers to the
above charity, for the purpose, as stated in.the advertise-
ment, of electing a duly qualified gentleman " to fill the
vacancyin the office of honorary surgeon, caused by the resig-
nation of Dr. Hibbert Taylor." The stand taken by theme-
dical gentlemen of the town in reference tothe circumstances
of Dr. Taylor's resignation, and the interest which the
case has so generally excited, imparted a certain importance
to the proceedings, and the meeting was numerously at-
tended. Amongst the gentlemen present we noticed Mr.
Harmood Banner, Mr. John Cropper, Capt. Greig, Mr. E.
Heath, Mr. Henry Crosfield, Mr. John Torr, Mr. Joseph
Hadwen, Mr. R. A. Macfie, and Messrs. Mawdesley, Hull,
Groves, Riley, Duncan, Grant, 81,c., (Ice. _ _ _

Mr. EDWARD HEATir was Called to the chair. He said
their placing him in that position was so exceedingly un-
expected, that he did not know a single qualification for it
which he possessed, except almost perfect ignorance of the
circumstances that had called them there could qualify
him. He must, therefore, call upon the parties who had
convened the meeting to tate the object for which it had
been convened.

Mr. Joan Cnorrnu asked if, before proceeding to any
public discussion and inquiry into a delicate matter affect-
ing both the institution and the character of a public pro-
fessional man in Liverpool, it was not possible to take a
middle course. Could anything be done to save the institu-
tion and the honour of the medical man ? They were all
anxious that that should be accomplished, without going
into a debate in which their feelings would be strongly
excited.

A GENTLEMAN asked if the committee, then, would
allow Dr. Taylor to withdraw his resignation?
Mr. HULL, solicitor, said that his sentiments entirely
accorded with those of Mr. Cropper, but he was there to
contend that legally there was no vacancy.
The CHAIRMAN said the treasurer and honorary secre-
tary, who had called the meeting, were both present, and
if they recommended that the meeting should be post-
poned, there was no doubt that those present would act
on their recommendation.
Mr. CROPPER said, if it would be possible to find three
good men who would investigate the matter, not preju-
diced in any way, instead of having it exposed in the
newspapers, the whole object sought might be achieved.
After a short pause,
Mr. HARMOOD BANNER said nobody seemed to take
notice of the application of his friend Mr. Cropper, or the
sort of protest entered into by Mr. Hull as to there being
no vacancy. Now, he thought the proposition of Mr.
Cropper was exceedingly reasonable, and it would have
been delightful to have at once acceded to it ; but there
seemed to him to be this one insuperable objection. Mr.
Cropper had given as a sensible and friendly reason that
it would avoid publicity, but publicity had already been
given to it. A self-appointed judicature, consisting of
the medical officers of the infirmary, had taken upon
themselves not only an inquiry into the conduct
of a professional gentleman, to put that professional man
right with his colleagues in this town; but they had
really taken upon themselves to try the committee of
another institution with which they had nothing to do,
and to which, he believed, not one of them were sub-
scribers. Now they had had a public meeting, and they
had just forwarded such a report, and supported it by
such arguments, that the committee of the Eye and Ear
Infirmary felt compelled to come before the public to
answer the statements. In the Albion of that day there
was a whole column of observations, but he could only
say that the committee were quite prepared to answer all
the imputations made against them, and he was quite
sure, when that was done, that they should stand not
only fair in the minds of the subscribers of the institution
that they represented, but that their conduct would be
unanimously approved. They had only done their duty,
and the utmost delicacy of feeling, and forbearance also,
had been shown to Dr. Taylor himself. Now, the ques-
tion was, whether they should have to go into that or
not ; and that the chairman would have to decide. That
meeting was for the appointment of a surgeon, in consequence
of the resignation of Dr. Hibbert Taylor. He apprehended
that, if any one was prepared to recommend a substitute,
the meeting must go on ; if not, it was at an end ; but he
would say this, that, as there was so numerous a meeting
of subscribers, if it was desired to go into the question as
to Dr. Taylor, he, as a member of that committee, was
prepared to go into it. It did so happen that, though he
was not the president of the institution, his colleagues oc-
casionally complimented him by putting him into the
chair. He was in the chair when that unhappy matter
was brought up respecting Dr. Taylor, and he thought,
when there were so many excellent and benevolent sup-
porters of the institution present, that the minutes of the
committee should at all events be read. That he would
take the liberty of doing, and then it would be for the
chairman, consulting the wishes of the meeting, to deter-
mine whether they should go into the general subject or
not, and whether, the matter having been made of such
publicity by the medical gentlemen of Liverpool, the com-
mittee should not answer as publicly the statements that
had been made.

Mr. CROPPER said there was no question in the minds
of any one that he had heard speak of it, of the fairness of the
proceedings of the committee; and the reading of the
minutes would open the door which he wan ted for the
present to be kept closed. He was prepared even with a
seconder to his proposition; but had thrown out the sug-
gestion from a desire to prevent what he conceived might
be almost the ruin of the institution, and of a gentleman
whom none of them wished to injure. Now, could not
three men be found in Liverpool in whom the committee
would have perfect confidence ?
The CHAIRXAN said that Mr. Cropper's suggestion
proceeded from an excellent motive, in which he (the
chairman) sympathised. He was desirous that the whole
business of the day should be deferred and placed in the
hands of a small committee, who would make a full in-
quiry, and reportto a future meeting. If that met approval,
then the only way would be to withdraw the notice con-
vening the meeting.
Mr. Hum, thought it undesirable that it should be made
matter of public discussion ; and he was not aware that
there were any imputations resting upon the six gentle.
men who held the inquiry.
Mr. BANNER : Lots of them.
Mr. HULL then proceeded to contend that there was
legally no vacancy, inasmuch as the appointment of meth.
cal officers was made, not by the committee, but by the
general body of subscribers, and it waa the latter only 4 he

contended, that had; the power to accept a resignation.
He had been desired by Dr. Taylor to say that he did not
consider that he had resigned his situation. He (Mr. Hull)
thought the motion of Mr Cropper should be adopted, and
a tribunal appointed out of the subscribers in that room.
The advertisement convening the meeting was next read.
Mr. BANNER said that they were met now to elect a
successor to Dr. Taylor, and Mr. Hull properly disputed if
there were a vacancy at all. Now, he thought it was in-
cumbent on the committee to show that there was a
vacancy ; for the committee were censurable if they had
advertised for a successor to Dr. Taylor, when there was no
vacancy. He should then proceed to show whether there
was a vacancy or not.
Mr. CROPPER—That will open the question.
Mr. BANNER said it only would that far. -
Mr. HULL thought it very undesirable.
Mr. TORR, as a member of the committee, said that
both he and other members were opposed to the course
that things were likely to take. They did not pass any
censure upon the six gentlemen who had held the inquiry;
but upon the committee of the institution there were 22
names, and he believed, if the matter were put to the whole
committee, that there would be more supporters of Mr.
Taylor than against him. (Applause.) They had, how-
ever, no wish to raise a division amongst the friends of
the institution; but some of them would wish that the
case should be investigated by impartial persons. He
thought the suggestion of Mr. Cropper a good one, and
would add to it, that the opinion of some professional
gentlemen, in whom they had confidence, should be asked;
for it must, after all, be a professional question. Laymen
had thought it right that their opinion was sufficient to
dismiss Dr. Taylor ; but, after all, it appeared to him
(Mr. Torr) to be a medical question. Perhaps both
parties connected with the institution, medical and lay,
might have too much feeling in the matter.
Mr. CROPPER said he was placed in this difficulty, that
there was no appointment moved, else he should be able
to move an amendment.
Mr. L. R. BAILEY said that, if it went to an extreme,
he should move that Dr. Taylor be re-elected, and then
call for a further investigation.
Mr. TORE complained of the imputation cast by impli-
cation upon the six gentlemen who had sat on the inquiry
when he had asked for some " impartial" tribunal. Had
not Dr. Taylor admitted the kindness, courtesy, and
attention of the committee for the way in which they had
investigated the thing, and was he not called in to hear
the evidence ?
Mr. Hum, called to order.
Mr. BANNER must beg the privilege of being heard.
Mr. Taylor himself knew that there was on the committee

a spirit of forbearance and friendship ; and there was not
a member of the committee who was not his counsel on the
occasion, as a merciful judge is to the criminal before him.
They did all they possibly could, not only to extenuate the
conduct of Dr. Taylor, but to acquit him of the charge
against him.
The CHAIRMAN called attention to the fact that there
was no motion before them. He was anxious they should
not there go into a question which all parties seemed
desirous to avoid.

Some irregular conversation followed, when Mr. TORE
explained that he did not use the word impartial with any
reference to the six members of the committee.

Mr. HENRY CROSPIELD said that he had been twenty
years connected with the institution, and he thought
there was nothing left to investigate. He admitted that
the questions of fact were admitted between Dr. Taylor
and themselves. It was a question in a nutshell that a
simple gentleman there could decide, as well as all the
doctors in the town ; it was the manner in which a
certain thing was done. The Eye and Ear Infirmary
was now placed to great disadvantage before the public,
in consequence of their kindness to Dr. Taylor. There
had been a meeting at the Medical Institution, at which
resolutions had been passed founded upon an ex parte
statement of the case ; while the committee had not made
out their case, oat of consideration for Dr. Taylor. The
committee had acted as Christian men, and the sub-
scribers should give them their support.
Mr. CROPPER, to make matters regular, would move
that the matter be referred for inquiry to three gentlemen,
with instructions to report to a future meeting, and
that the three be Mr. Heath, the Rev. Rictor Campbell,
and the Chairman of the Liverpool Infirmary, Mr. Ed-
ward Gibbon, jun.
Mr. TORE seconded the motion, suggesting as an ad-
dendum, that medical evidence be taken, and that the
meeting be adjourned till the report should be ready for
presentation.

Mr. BANNER apprehended that the matter was now
before the meeting and be must take the liberty, from
the course that things were taking, to go a little into it.
(Cries of " No, no.") Into what matter ? Every body
had been heard, and he thought it only due to the com-
mittee and themselves that he should. be able to state at
all events what they had done. The medical men of the
town had met. They had heard what Dr. Taylor said,
and had passed certain resolutions reflecting on the com-
mittee. But those present knew nothing of the actual
circumstances ; they were judging of them by the inflam-
matory speeches which had taken place, and had not heard
what their innocent, harmless committee had done.

Mr. HULL said there had been no charge against the
committee. He hoped he was not improperly interfering
with Mr. Banner.

Mr. BANNER : YOU are.

The CHAIRMAN said, if he intended to. speak to the re-
solution, he must be left to his own discretion and good
feeling.
Mr. BANNER continued : To know whether such a tri-
bunal as that proposed were necessary, it was surely need-
ful and necessary to know what the committee had already
done. (Cries of No, no.") He wanted to show that the
committee had Galled that meeting, because there was a
vacancy.
_ _

After suggestions from various gentlemen,
Mr. BANNER begged to be allowed to take his own
course. He then took up the minute book, and, reading
occasionally, said the first meeting of the committee,
which this matter had been brought before, was on the
18th of March, 1854,—present, Mr. Banner, in the chair,
and Messrs. James Holme, Captain Greig, Henry Cros-
field, J. W. Cropper, and Joseph Hadwen—a special meet-
ing, called to take into consideration the allegation that Dr.
Taylor, one of the medical gentlemen of the institution, had
taken improper liberties with a young woman, named Anne
Gornell, who had applied for advice and relief in consequence
of deafness. The parties examined were Mrs. Tatlock,
Esther Hollins, the servant, Mr. Barrow, and Mr. Booth,
after which Anne Gornell was sent for and examined. It
was the opinion of the committee that Dr. Taylor should
be informed of the allegations against him, and have an
opportunity of answering and refuting them. Resolved,
therefore, " that the case be adjourned to the 20th inst.,
Dr. Taylor to attend, and Anne Gornell also." He trusted
the subscribers would see no partiality there, or want of
kindness to Dr. Taylor. At the adjourned meeting on
the 20th of March, precisely the same members of the
committee were present as before. " Dr. Taylor attended,
and stated to the committee in explanation of the allega-
tions made against him at the previous meeting, that
what had occurred had been done strictly as a medical
examination, and his only motive was to benefit Anne
Gornell. Dr. Taylor acknowledged that he had acted
indiscreetly, and: in the belief that the harmonious
working of the institution would be best promoted by
his retirement from office as honorary surgeon, he had
placed his resignation in the hands of the committee,
which was accordingly accepted." After that meeting
(Mr. Banner continued), Dr. Taylor retired to his home,
where, in the silence of his chamber, he had time to
reflect upon what he had done, and if he felt that he had;
taken a premature step, that was the time to recall it
but, instead of that, he had sent this letter :
" Percy-street, 20th March, 1854.
"Dear Sir,—l beg to resign the appointment of honorary
surgeon to the Eye and t. Infirmary. I need hardly
repeat how much I regret the circumstances which have
led to this alternative ; although, in justice to my own
feelings and those of the committee on the subject, and
the interests of a public institution, it is perhaps the best
course which can be adopted.
" Enclosed are two subscriptions, &c., &c.—l am, dear
Sir, very truly yours, " R. H. Taylor.
"Joseph Hadwen, Hon. Sec. to Eye and Ear Infirmary."
That was the resignation of Dr. Taylor. The committee,
of course, considered that there was a vacancy, and they
called that meeting to fill the office. However, the matter
did not stop there, as Dr. Taylor applied to his friends,
and thought that he had taken a premature step. At the
intercession of his personal friend, the Rev. Dr. Hume, the
committee consented to meet again on the subject, and
they were anxious that Dr. Taylor should have acquitted
himself. The meeting took place on the sth of April,
when the same gentlemen were present as before, with the
addition of Dr. Hume. The note of Dr. Taylor was read,
and also the following letter, dated the 30th of March, re-
questing permission to withdraw his resignation :—" Dear
Sir,—l beg, with the permission of the committee, to be
allowed to withdraw the resignation of my office as hon.
surgeon to the Eye and Ear Infirmary, tendered on the
20th instant, and that for the following reasons :—I was
hurried into the adoption of this course under the influence
of wounded and excited feelings ; and, on calmly reviewing
the whole of the circumstances of the case, I feel that
they neither required nor warranted me in taking such a
step. Further, I see that, in so doing, I have placed my-
self in a false position, and given an apparent sanction to
the truth of accusations which I utterly deny, and which I
am prepared to show arose from misapprehension of the
real character of the facts. On these grounds, I beg leave
to prefer the request above submitted.', At the end of
that meeting, at which the matter was again discussed
with every possible wish to reverse the former decision,
it was moved by Dr. Hume, seconded by Mr. James
Holme, and unanimously carried :—" That this meeting
having had Dr. Taylor's resignation voluntarily laid before
them, and having accepted it, refuse further to interfere."
Now, those were the facts of the case, and he must repeat
that, though it might be considered a professional matter,
yet the circumstances were such as should be investi-
gated by husbands, fathers, and brothers. It was a ques-
tion whether females should be treated indelicately or not,
and Dr. Taylor had himself confessed that he was indis-
creet. With regard to appointing an independent body
to hold a second inquiry, he considered it a reflection on
the committee who had managed the institution for years.
Mr. TORE complained that every member of the com-
mittee had not been summoned.

Mr. BANNER explained that all had been summoned
who had attended the meetings for the last two years.
He stated that he had no objection to the inquiry being
resumed by the whole committee, a special summons
being sent to each ; and they reporting to a general meet-
ing of the subscribers.
Mr. CROPPER agreed to alter his motion to that effect ;
and after considerable further debate,
Mr. MAcIvER, at great length, complained that Mr.
Banner had produced by his statements a bias in the
meeting against Dr. Taylor.
Capt. GREIG, as one of the six, intimated that he should
not sit on the second inquiry.
Mr. BANNER said that he would. He had acted, and
would still act, as would be seen, as Dr. Taylor's friend in
the matter, and if it were possible would exculpate him.
The CRAIRMAN thought it was an occasion for the
exercise of Christian charity and forbearance towards one
another ; and after some further conversation, Mr. Crop-
pees amended motion, which was worded as follows, was
caacTied unanimously :
That the proceedings of this meeting be adjourned to
receive a report from the committee of the institution,
who are requested to re-investigate the circumstances
attending the resignation by Dr. Taylor of the office of
honorary surgeon,"—Themeetilig then hroka up,