The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-08 00:00:00

CHARGES AGAINST THE REV. R. S. BARTON,
RECTOR OF HEYSHAM.

On Tuesday, the 29th ult., the investigation into the
charges against the Rev. R. S. Barton, of profane and lewd
conversation, intemperance, and intoxication, was resumed
at the Royal Oak Inn, Market-place, Lancaster. Mr.
Knowlys and Mr. Buck attended in support of the complain-
ant; Mr. Brandt and Mr. Shuttleworth for Mr. Barton.
Mr. MACKRETH, the first commissioner, said they had
not yet decided the point as to the date of the commencement
of this suit or proceeding. The commissioners would receive
the evidence which had been tendered the day before, but
they would not at present, give any opinion whether it would
be considered admissible or not, when they came to make up
their report.
Mr. BUCK said, that as the commissioners proposed to
receive the evidence conditionally only, he would close the
case now, on the part of the complainant.
. .

Mr. BR.ANDT then addressed the commissioners on the
part of Mr. Barton, in a long and ingenious speech. He
contended that Mr. Knowlys, in bringing these charges had
put himself i❑ a false position. He felt, from the nature of
the evidence itself, that it was not of that character which he
should have expected a member of the church, who was
anxious for the well being of the church, to have brought
forward. He expected the case would have been established
by evidence very different from that which had been adduced.
What sort of an inquiry were they embarked into ? Not any
allegation of specific facts upon particular days, of which no-
tice had been given, but a general inquiry into that portion of
Mr. Barton's life which was limited by the act of parliament
to two years. That enquiry was to be conducted as the pro-
secutor might think fit, and to be supported by such evidence
as he could adduce ; and he should have thought that no
friend of the church would have launched such a case as this
unless upon testimony of the most satisfactory and unobjec-
tionable character. From first to last, the evidence was
most unsatisfactory, both from the character of the witnesses
and the nature of the facts they deposed to : and in bringing
them forward, Mr. Kuowlys had not exercised a sound dis-
cretion. The learned gentleman then said he should produce
testimony which would totally contradict the case for the
complainant.
Forty-one witnesses were then called, some of whom
deposed to facts, but most of them to character. It is, of
course, quite impossible to give even an outline of their
evidence.

The commissioners then called Anthony Hewetson, a
sawyer, who deposed, that one evening during the time of
the strike of the sawyers in Lancaster, he saw Mr. Barton
coming out of the late Mr. Hargreaves' house, at Spring-
field, in a state of intoxication.
Mr. BRA.NDT replied upon this evidencc„.
On Thursday morning Mr. KNowLys proceeded to reply
upon the case for Mr. Barton. He said, the situation in
which he stood was one by no means pleasant to his feelings,
and he should not have undertaken it, had the act of parlia-
ment provided any officer for that purpose. The inquiry
was doubly painful to him, inasmuch as it related to the con-
duct of the rector of his own parish, but standing in the si-
tuation he did, having heard scandalous and evil reports
respecting Mr. Barton, he felt it was his duty to give him an
opportunity of vindicating his character before the world.
Mr. Brandt observed that this was an important case,
and he (Mr. Knowlys) confessed it was so ; it was certainly
important to the rector, but at the same time it was equally
important to his parishioners that the character of their spi-
ritual instructor should be set right before them. Mr.
Knowlys then proceeded to point out a variety of contradic-
tions and improbabilities in the evidence produced by Mr.
Brandt. In conclusion he offered, in order to show that Ile
had no feeling of animosity against Mr. Barton, to be bound
by the operation of the sixth clause of the act, (church disci-
pline act,) provided Mr. Barton would be likewise bound by
it. 'Whatever might be the result, whether the commission-
ers reported that there was a prima facie case or otherwise,
he begged to assure them he should be perfectly satisfied with
their decision.
The Commissioners then adjourned till six o'clock, for the
purpose of agreeing upon their report.
At six o'clock the court again assembled, when Mr. MACK-
RETH read the following :—" The time has now arrived when
the Commissioners in this case have to declare their opinion;
and it now becomes my duty, as one of those commissioners,
to declare openly add publicly, in the terms of the act of par-
liament, the opinion they have formed upon the evidence ad-
duced before them, which is that there is not sufficient prima
facie ground for instituting further proceedings."
The court then dissolved. The decision was received with
some marks of applause by a group of Mr. Barton's friends,
who had assembled to hear it.

NOTICE OF EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS

(CONTINUED.)

204. "Portrait of Mademoiselle Celeste." N. J. CROWLEY,
London.—A capital likeness, and this is the only merit in
the picture.
216. " Basket of Flowers." Miss HUNT, Liverpool.—The
flowers are well painted. The rake spoils the picture.
217. " Stacking Hay." W. F. WITHERINGTON, R.A„
London.—There is no poetry in a hay stack, and no painting
can make it picturesque. The figures are good, and the
expression and intention of each well worked up. This pic-
ture has much merit.
220. " The Rescue of Kenmont Willie." H. BERRAUD,
London.—A very good picture—the figures are admirably
drawn, and well painted. If this picture had been hung in
the place of 184, its merits would have been better appre-
ciated. _ _

228. " Scene near Calais." W. DIDD.—A good picture,
with much warmth in the colouring.

232. " The old Sailor steering the best course." JOHN
BISHOP, Liverpool.—A clever little picture. The moral
excellent. _ _ _

234. " Interior, with Portraits." G. LANCE, London.—
A family party making themselves comfortable ; interesting,
no doubt, to those whose portraits are pourtrayed, but by no
means so to the casual spectator.
235. " Snowden from Capel Curig." A. VICKERS.—One
of the best pictures this artist has in the exhibition.
237. " Gulnare." T. ELLERBY, London.—A picture of
some merit ; the fleshings good.
238. "It Figurista ltaliana." Madame SOYER, London.
—A very cleverly conceived, drawn, and painted picture.
The attitude of the lad very natural and easy.
241. " Powers Court Waterfall." D. WILLIAMSON, Li-
verpool.—Painted in this artists usual tea-board style.
242. " View. of the Porte 'Vecchia." F. 'JAMES, London.
—A clever picture; warmly coloured ; the lights well distri-
buted. _ _

244. "The Letter." C. MARTIN, London.—The young
lady with her hand upon her mouth, seems as if she had the
tooth-ache, or wished to smother her laughter.
246. " The Will of Mrs. Margaret Bertram." S. CLATER,
Chelsea.—A very capital picture, full of interest and variety.
The varied expressions of feeling on the countenances of the
groupe are well managed.
259. " Destruction of Chinese War Junks." E. DUNCAN,
London.—A. spirited picture, and curious in the subject as
well as interesting. John Chinaman seems to be in " a fix,"
if the painter has depicted truly.
In the room the following are also good pictures ;-37, 41,
49, 48, 58, 70, 73, 97, 105, 107, 119, 139, 140, and 179. Mr.
Van Hoist raising of Jairus Daughter, (131) we shall notice
presently.

SECOND ROOM

266. " A Study." J. MOTT, Liverpool.—A good picture,
with an evident display of talent and true artistic feeling.
This work, we accidently heard, is by a young artist. Looking
at the works by the rising painters of Liverpool, it is quite
evident that they are taking " the shine" out of the older
hands.
272. " Zingarella." J. INSKIPP.—A bold, spirited

painting.
275. " The Rising of the Pleiades." H. HOWARD, R.A
London.—A fanciful and graceful work.

290. a Caleb Balderstotie." W. J. BisnoP, Liverpool.—
Clever, well conceived, and excellently worked out.

THE ALBION AND LORD SANDON,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Dian have just had i to an
article in Monday's Albion, amongst what that paper terms
its leaders, but I designate as misleaders, attacking Lord
Sandon, and endeavouring to insinuate that a coolness exists
between him and Sir Robert Peel, arising from " the morti-
fication experienced by Lord Sandon at not being included
in Sir Robert Peel's arrangements ' • the well-informed
writer also affirming, as a fact, that " the baronet tendered
the Woods and Forests, and the lord demanded the Board
of Trade—not the Presidency, but the Vice" ; adding,
" WE "—mark the absolute WE--" can appreciate the cha-
grin with which our noble representative, after the use that
had been made of him, found that his claims were to be
postponed to those of Mr. William Ewart Gladstone, his
junior in years, his inferior in rank, and, until then, of less
note and station in the country and the house. We can feel,
too, for Liverpool : her representative is slighted, and New-
ark is preferred ; the interests of her commerce must be
held second and subservient to the favour of his grace who
does what he likes with his own."
Now what will your honest readers—the majority of the
constituency, as the last election has amply proved—think
of the above statement, when I inform you that not one syl-
lable of truth exists in the whole composition, but that it is
altogether malignant as absurd. I know that such a report
wrs made previous to Monday last, and forwarded to Lord
Sandon; and that his lordship immediately addressed a let-
ter (which I have myself seen) to an influential member of
his constituents, denying the whole matter, and stating that
he had never solicited or required any offer of office—that as
a minister he might have to support measures which would
seem to, or possibly might, militate against the interests of
this borough—and adding, to his infinite honour, that he
preferred solely to represent the interests of Liverpool, to
the acceptance of any office whatever. Now, sir, after this,
what becomes of the boasted veracity of the most learned
scribe of the Albion? I leave your readers to judge. So
much for the unblushing impudence of his interference on a
subject of which he knows and evidently understands nothing.
The pretended feeling of the Albion for Liverpool, in the
paragraph I have quoted, is mere insult. Liverpool can
protect its own dignity and commerce, independent of the
immense wealth and extraordinary talent of theA/bion news-

paper.
The sapient author goes on to say, that his lordship's irri-
tation has been softened by his nomination by the Speaker
as one of " the six chairmen of the Election Committees " ;
and again WE of the Albion insinuate,. that, in the office of a
judge on controverted elections, his. lordship will play the
partisan, " to gratify a party predilection, or indulge a mo-
mentary spleen " ; that he will " denounce by name consti-
tuencies and members as having been guilty of bribery"—
" prejudge questions which
.himself may be called upon to •
try"—" convict without evidence, and condemn unheard,
any one or all of the places which may yet appear at his bar.
If," adds Absolute Wisdom mean the Albion scribe),
" such an incident as this is
.to typify the legislation and the
judges of conservative creation, we pity unhappy suitors,
and would supplicate consideration for them."
What wretched, what disgusting twaddle ! Is the man
fou ? The well-known integrity and honour of Lord Sandon
is at once an answer to the miserable imputation upon his
lordship's high and distinguished character. Does the piti-
ful writer forget wilfully or ignorantly that Lord Sandon is
only one of six chairmen, and that the remainder of his col-
leagues are, I apprehend,
not entirely of his political princi-
ples ? Am I, therefore, to assume that all are corrupt ?
The argument of the " second Daniel " of the Albion is as
potent to prove this,
as his
is with
position against
his lordship. Thus it ever with the hopeless and disap-
pointed liberals—freedom on the tongue, but falsehood and
tyranny in their hearts and actions. 1 pity the unhappy
scribe. The conservative party can well afford to laugh at
the empty barkings of such
." a common cry of curs." I
recommend the Albion to beware suchidle and contemp-
tible party spleen : it will only excite the derision and scorn
of all honest men, of both parties. As Hajji Baba says, the
Albion will have " to eat its own dirt, spit on its own beard,
and defile the tomb of its fathers. Ever yours,
Liverpool, Oct. 6th, 1841. J. S. C.

THE ANTI-SOCIALIST GAZETTE AND CHRISTIAN AD-
VOCATE.—This is the title of a new monthly publication
which Mr. Brindley, the indefatigable and eloquent vindicator
of Christian truth, against the infidel and immoral principles
of socialism, commenced on the Ist instant. Proceeding
from his energetic mind, we anticipated in this journal the
same vigorous and resistless power which has distinguished
his personal opposition to what we may call " the foul fiend."
The socialists have not a man among them capable of con-
tending with Mr. Blindley, either with tongue or pen,—a
fact which has long been demonstrated. We therefore strongly
recommend this publication to our friends and the public.
It is very cheap, well got up, and we trust it will have a
large sale.