The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-04-03 00:00:00

them all away

But there wer

:iich deservec

tion. Besides the- objects he had named, the society
would have a great effect in calling out the energies of
architects still further than they had been, and affording
greater facilities for students. They did not confine their

concluaeu ny congratulating tne company on the success
they had met with, and the number of talented gentlemen

Mr. REED, the secretary, made a few observations on
the progress of the society up to the present time. At
the formation of the society they had the late mayor for
their president, and they had also the assistance of several
other most influential gentlemen. At first their society
numbered only about twenty members, while now they
had 120, and they were continually receiving accessions.
(Applause.) Another important and gratifying feature
was that which few societies could boast, there was a
balance in hand of 14s. 4d. During the last session
a number of papers on various important subjects had
been read by Mr. F. Howard, Mr. A. Holme, Mr. Horn-
blower, Mr. Barber, Mr. Forrest, and Mr. Picton ; they
had also held several discussions, during which much im-

portant and interesting info;

ation was elicited

Concluded by e

re to co-operate in carry-

ing out the objects of the society

The company then retired to the refreshment-room,
where they partook of tea and coffee. Some time was
then spent in promenading the rooms and surveying the
various works of art, drawings, &c., which had been
brought together in order to afford interest to the visitors,
the band at the same time giving life and animation to
the scene by its effective performance of some of the most
popular music of the day.
Amongst the objects of interest were some very fine
designs of public and other buildings, churches, &c.,
already erected, or proposed, most of them the works of
our local architects.

The proceedings were after a while resumed, in order to
introduce the guest of the evening, Mr. Cockerell, and the
other gentlemen who were to address it.
The CHAIRMAN made some remarks on the rise and
progress of architecture, from the earliest period, and the
various changes it had undergone in the course of time.
In perusing the history of the world, he had discovered that
wherever civilization made progress, improvement in archi-
tecture followed. This remark would apply to Assyria, Egypt,
Greece, Italy, and the British Isles. Among the numerous
causes and circumstances which had contributed to produce
variety of character and form in architectural buildings, there
was one grand principle which had exerted a tenfold influence
—that principle was religion. Religion, whether true or
false—founded as it was in the belief that a great Spirit, or
Divine Being, did exist, who was entitled to the homage and
worship of mankind—had in every land directed the attention
of the public mind to the necessity of having suitable buildings
erected and set apart for the celebration of its rites. The
noblest conceptions of the architect sprung from the
study and contemplation of that great being ; and
consequently the most magnificent monuments of this
art, in every age and every land, have been the temples
dedicated to the service of religion. In Assyria, the rudely
constructed edifices of wood, which had characterised an early
and patriarchal state of society, gave way to structures of more
durable materials—improved in form and ornamented with
sculptures and other works of art. In Egypt, the achievements
of the architeet and the builder indicated a state of society still
rapidly advancing. Massive blocks of granite and porphory
were brought together in masonry, and made to produce the
effect of grandeur and magnificence. The architecture of
Greece exhibited still more marked improvement, and was
characterised by gracefulness of design, beautiful decora-
tion, sublime effect, and sculptural excellence. In the public
and sacred buildings of the Romans appeared superior indica-
tions of scientific principles : and the general effect was that
of pomp and greatness, reflecting the most prominent features
in the character of the people that were then lords of the world.
In the different styles of gothic architecture within the British
isles, may be traced inventive genius, intricate enrichment,
chaste execution, and picturesque effect. To these sacred edi-
fices belong the truest Impressions of sublime dignity without,
and religious solemnity within, that architecture has ever been
able to achieve. Britain may well be proud that these styles were
the result of native genius. They were not transferred from
other countries, but grew up within her own shores, in connex-
ion with her own church, and under the fostering patronage of
her own nobility and clergy. He (the Chairman) felt that he
had no reason to be ashamed of the post which he there had
the honour to fill. His office was that of the ministry ; but he
had found that in former times the highest dignitaries of the
Church did not think it derogatory to their sacred office to
cultivate the taste and study the principles of sacred architec-
ture. It was even enacted by the Saxon laws that bishops and
priests should add to their other studies that of mechanics, in
order to qualify them to be builders of churches and cathedrals.
In connexion with this noble art the clergy might still render
essential service to religion in this country. Was it not by his
taste for architecture, and his knowledge of its Principles. that
ooricies, tne Athenian, raised his own country to a degree or
architectural magnificence that has never been surpassed ?
Was it not by studiously cultivating the same art that the
polished Augustus laid the foundation of the subsequent splen-
dour of Rome ? And did not the bishops, dignitaries, and
clergy of the English church, devise, suggest, encourage, and
patronise, those stupendous and majestic structures in which
our forefathers delighted to worship their Creator and Re-
deemer, and which to this day remain as monuments of their
piety and zeal ? He felt sure that in exerting what influence he
possessed in furthering the objects of the Architectural Society
of Liverpool, he was only doing his duty to his church and his
country. But he would not detain them further with any
remarks of his own, as he was about to introduce to them a
gentleman who would do the subject greater justice—a gentle-
man who had risen to the highest eminence in his profession as
an architect, and to whom the Queen's gold medal had been
awarded by the London Institute. He then introduced to the
company Mr. Cockerell, Professor of Architecture in the Royal
Academy of London. _

Mr. COCKEREL', after some preliminary observations
spoke of his attachment to architecture, an art which, to
the best of his ability, he had endeavoured to forward ; in
doing so, his efforts had been acknowledged, but more
especially on that occasion had he received that signal
reward for which he felt obliged. He had always given
his support to new societies of that kind, for the advance-
ment of the noble art, and he felt interested and gratified
in observing so many respectable members of the profes-
sion, seeing and recognising in them as he did, the patrons
of those works he had seen and admired so much on his
visits to Liverpool. (Applause.) In Liverpool there was
a wide field of extraordinary interest for the exercise of
their art, and perhaps he might be excused, as a metropo-
litan, in saying that, for a commercial city, there was not
a parallel in any part of the world to the noble spirit
which had animated the leaders of that society in carrying
out those public as well as private works which he had
seen with so much pleasure. He did not think that in
Europe there was a building at all equal to St. George's
Hall, as regarded its structure, unity of design, and mag-
nificence of execution. (Applause.) It seemed to be, in
its erection, like the ruins of Palmyra, so glorious and
magnificent, and becoming a great city such as this.
Their other building, the Town-hall and Exchange, had
also, on all occasions, excited his admiration. Ile was
i
happy to say that, during the last year, an nstitution had
grown up which it had always appeared to him was re-
quired in Liverpool, where there was a certain grandeur
of mind, arising from the enterprise and commercial spirit

'ING A POLI
for assaultin

ICES.—James 14193 e
nt Cairns, at twelve c

.rmot yrs!
o'clock 0"

Saturday night, in Owens._
CONVICTION OF ONE OF THE SWELL MOB.—The other (OP
Bates, the detective officer, apprehended a man named Wil;
Cardwell at Manchester, for his participation in a robber,' ,
this town on the 39th of January. when an accomplice was aP,
nrehended and afterwards transported. The prosecutor,
homely plain-spoken man from Bury, recollected the mantb'y
in which he had been victimised on the occasion referred Woe
the prisoner mitt sits ALLVIIIINICe. It appearea one or
...tcred into conversation with him in an eat'
house, and soon after they were joined by the prisoner, WY
,3
acted on the stale trick of just having come in possession T,
large sum of money. Finally, they adjourned to a publ.l
house where the prosecutor was fleeced of -ell. Mr. P;irlcir,
son recognised the prisoner as an old offender. He was cool
matted for trial.

INQUEST AT FORMBY.—An inquest was held at o'lls
place, on Saturday last, on view of the body of John Bra,;
shaw, 19 years of age. He had been missing Sirt;
Tuesday. A post mortem examination was made I'4'
Mr. Sumner, surgeon, when the cause of death in
found to be apoplexy, produced by the excessive use (1)17
gin. It appeared that on the day he was missing a g3,,i
of timber took place on the beach, where the deceased
was plied with spirits until he became drunk. The qua'4%
e,
tity given him was more than a pint. A verdict ilea
cordance with the evidence was returned. It is to be babbe
that this will prove a warning to those who are in
habit of supplying spirits so freely at such sales as these',
SEVERE SQUALLS ON SUNDAY EVENING.—On 54,4
day evening we were visited with a succession of le::;1
sudden and severe squalls, preceded by several pealsbe
thunder, and accompanied with teeming showers frora t,4
southward. It was near high tiviitdr<when the first Ray
experienced ; and the scene upon our river, which
crowded at the time with inward bound ships, mail r.
them of large size, was of . a very exciting charalo
Fortunately, however, they had made all snug, and OA
casualties of any moment occurred. As the squall Woo
over, it was followed by one of the most vivid rainb°,o
we ever witnessed, the base of which, as seen from
Cheshire side, appearing behind the tall spars and
of a large North American vessel at anchor in the rkotto
presented the effect of a conflagration. It is a curio
coincidence that a terrific thunderstorm burst over
town on Sunday twelvemonths.

LIVERPOOL:
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1849.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED '4 6'
EVERY TUESDAY MORN.T 1
By JOSHUA FLETCHER LACE, of 53, Grove streets SS
LEONARD ADDISON, of 14, Great Orford-street,
At No. 4. ST. GEORGE'S CRESCENT, LIVERPOOL"
BIRKENHEAD ; TODHUNTER, Chester-street ; LA'sod
xRN EY, Argyle-street ; Os ao AKE, Cheater-street;
GRIFFITH, Hamilton-street.