The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-23 00:00:00

THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of this Society took place on
Tuesday last. in the lecture-room of the Royal Institu-
tion, John Grantham, Esq., the president, in the chair.
The attendance was respectable, but, owing perhaps to the
festivities of the season not having yet passed away, and
the number of places of public amusement and resort now
open—not very numerous.
The CHAIRMAN, after apologizing for the somewhat
late opening of the proceedings, owing to the committee
having been engaged in the passing of the annual accounts,
introduced John Rosson, Esq., who would read a paper

ON ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE, PARTICULARLY
'WITH REFERENCE TO LIVERPOOL.
Mr. RossoN said that in collecting his scattered
thoughts on Ecclesiastical Architecture, he found he had
cut out for himself three times more work than he at
first contemplated. He found that in order to make his
observations intelligible, it would be necessary in the first
place to refer cursorily to 'the rise and gradual formation
of the most extraordinary body of men that ever existed
at any period of the civilised world, whether they contem-
plated their profound mechanical knowledge, their sublime
thoughts, their indefatigable industry, or• the transcendent
skill wherewith they constructed the various beautiful and
stupendous religious edifices in every part of Europe, dur-
ing the period that intervened between the llth arid the
16th centuries. He referred to the celebrated " Order
of Free and Accepted Masons,"—a body of men, when it
flourished, embracing, in its membership, some of the
most illustrious sovereigns, pontiffs, emperors, kings,
bishops, learned ecclesiastics, learned laymen, and inge-
nious ai Lists of every class, whose works were still the
theme of universal and increasing admiration. It had
often excited the wonder of the learned that so little was
known of their history ; so little known, even by the most
eminent modern architects of the secrets of their mode of
construction ; so little that even Sir Christopher Wren
was said to have applied to the Principal of the University
of Cambridge to be allowed, at his own expense, to take
down a portion of the groined ceiling of King's College
Chapel, with a view to ascertain the secret of its construc-
tion—a request which was, he (the speaker) thought, pru-
dently refused, on the ground that, from his comparative
unacquaintance with that peculiar style, he might be un-
able to restore it, and by removing even a portion of the
weighty pendulous ornaments of the ceiling, disturb and
endanger the whole fabric. But when we came to a nearer
view of the constitution of this extraordinary body, we
should cease to wonder at the historical mystery and ob-
scurity that hung over it. That body monopolised all the
learning, science, and skill that existed when it flourished ;
and it naturally reserved to itself all the influence, wealth,
and importance derivable from its superior knowledge. The
great mechanic or manufacturer communicates not gratui-
tously the secrets of his trade, but sells the knowledge which
he has guarded by patent; and the Free Masons did no more
when they engaged to initiate their disciples in the divine
art of architecture : they required them, by solemn cove-
' nant, " his master's secrets to keep—wrong of his master
not to do, or cause to be done by others,"—thevery words
(borrowed from them) used in a common indenture of the
present day. But how happened it that edifices erected
at the same period, in the most distant countries, and in
such a barbarous age had so striking and general a simi-
larity? Ecclesiastics of the highest rank and talent be-
longed to the order. The monasteries where they dwelt
were during periods of war and rapine the only secure
retreats of peace and the chief asylums of letters. The
members of those learned bodies devoted all their
leisure time—after more serious duties—to the cul-
tivation of painting, sculpture, enameling on glass,
engraving, portrait painting and architecture. The il-
lustrious William of Wykharri began his glo-
rious and munificent career as clerk of the works for
the erection of Windsor Castle. Priors, abbots, and
bishops often furnished designs of intended erections ;
their papers descended from generation to generation :
their successors, again, improved upon what they had re-
ceived : colleges and monasteries of the same order,
established in various parts of Europe, communicated
with each other, and exchanged copies of their plans and
working designs. The body was further increased by the
aggregation to it of many learned and distinguished Greek
architects, who fled to Italy and joined it after the fall of
Constantinople before the arms of Turkey. The transfer,
too, of the seat of Empire from Rome to Milan, Ravenna,
and Pavia, forming new kingdoms. The Chinese claimed,
with much show of truth, the invention of printing, and
of bilis of exchange and paper money. Astonishing pro-
gress was made in less than 200 years by the rude Lom-
bards, who not only distinguished themselves in art, *t
in legislature and finance. It was they—merchants and
bankers—who introduced the system of bills of exchange,
first established banks and insurance companies, invented
book-keeping by double entry, framed commercial and
maritime codes, and suggested tF2e schemes to raise public
loans. In process of time the Italian corporations of
builders were obliged to look for employment beyond
their native land. They spread over the whole face of
Christendom, forming lodges and filiations. At a later
period, natives of France, Germany, Belgium, and Eng-
land were admitted into these bodies. Germany distin-
guished herself more than any other country in the point-
ed or ecclesiastical style. How, it might be asked, was
so little extant of the history of these marvellous men;
so few traces of these working drawings, the publicity of
which would have increased the glory of that body ? This
was to be accounted for by the fact that every member•
of it was bound by oath to secrecy ; that the ambition
of the order was collective not individual ; that every
freemason considered individual greatness consisted in the
observance of his secret. They communicated by secret
signs, and with symbols of superiority looked down upon
the comparatively ignorant multitude, deeming them ob-
jects of pity. The order was most useful in a semi bar.
barous age, in knitdng together the inhabitants of various
kingdoms in bonds of amity. Every mason was bound
to assist his brother in distress, of whatever nation, on
his making known his membership. This rule was still
observed by the modern freemasons, who retained this
charitable feeling, and observe the rule of the ancient in-
stitute.
The order at length became too powerful : it lost the
support of the sovereign princes who had long patronized
it, and excited the jealously of their people, who com-
plained of their monopoly without being able to find sub-
stitutes for their work. This treatment caused the body
to act upon the rule of their craft, and destroy all their
monuments and working drawings. This ea was not
only deeply to be deplored, but was the most blameable
part of their conduct. Had they, instead of thus acting,
held grand chapters of their institute in every part of Eu-
rope, with a view to found colleges for instruction in their
divine art, we should not have seen the miserable archi-
tecture which now offends the eye in many parts of mo-
dern Europe, and in England in particular. The disso-
lution of that body gave the first shock to art, and the
confiscations of church property consequent upon the
change of religion—by diverting the funds from the pa•
tronage of art in countries where that change was adopted
—consummated its destruction. It was true that as re-
garded our own country, that accomplished and unfortu-
nate monarch, the first Charles, by his patronage of fo-
reign artists, his great collection of pictures by the great-
est masters, and above all, by his patronage of the illus-
trious Inigo Jones, was making great progress in repair-
ing the devastations that-took place previously. His
labours were, however, soon destroyed by the con-
vulsion that overthrew the altar as well as the
throne ; a convulsion, the throes of which never ceased to
heave to the injury of the fine arts until the commence-
ment of the reign of George 111. The puritans who ob-
tained power during the civil war did as much injury to
our noble churches and cathedrals as the inconselists,
whose actions they imitated. Cromwell used the cathe-
drals as barracks for his soldiers; and these noble monu-
ments of our ancestors suffered more during his short
reign than at any period of the struggle that led to the
change of religion. In Scotland, from the sterner nature
of the new doctrines, it was still worse. The Scotch de
stroyed almost every vestige of art, and left it to their
poets to give us a notion of what our Caledonian sister
once possessed. Melrose (along with other ruins) re-
mained like a sheeted spectre,—the shadow of her former
self,—courting the eye of the poet, the painter, and the
antiquary, when the shades of evening envelope her, and
partly conceal her ghastly wounds.
" Whoever would see fair Melrose aright,
Must visit her by the pale moonlight."
Scotia, however•, bad awoke from her iron transe. The
" land of the mountain and the flood," so dear to the poet
—Scotia, " winning her eagle flight against the blaze of
every science, with an that never winks, and a
wing that never tires,"—Scotch could not long remain
alien to those arts that adorn and elevate a great people.
She could now boast of artists whose works were the ad-
miration of foreign nations ; and she was in the right path
towards the attainment of fame in the most difficult of all
arts, (being a combination of all others,) the divine art of
architecture.

(To be concluded next week.)

LOCAL NEWS.

The packet-ship Europe, Captain Furber, sailed for
New York on Tuesday last.

Mr. William Maury, deputed by the American Chamber
of Commerce at Liverpool to advocate a reduction in the
duty on tobacco, had an interview with Sir Robert Peel
on Wednesday.

A number of the Liverpool solicitors, who presented an
address to Mr. Charles Phillips recently, have since stated
that their object in doing so was to defend Mr. Phillips
from the attacks of some of the London newspapers, and
not with the slightest intention of casting any reflection
upon Mr. Commissioner Skirrow's judicial conduct.
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO A CLERGYMAN.—The con-
gregation of St. Mary's Church, Birkenhead, presented,
through the Rev. A. Knox, a handsome communion
cloth, &c., for the use of the church. Since then that
gentleman has been presented with a handsome silk gown
and cassock, the individual gift of the lady of J. S. Jack-
son, Esq., Hamilton-square.

CUSTOMS ORDERS.-By a Boards order, dated 16th
instant, all foreign fruits (whether plums or otherwise)
preserved in or with sugar, either in a dry or liquid state,
to be charged with the duty of 6d. per lb., as imposed by
the sth and 6th Vic. chap.4i—" on succades and confec-
tionary, including all fruits and vegetables preserved in
sugar."

NEW CHfom PEI A —The congregation 'who seceded some
time the Scotch c.iurch, Rodney-street, and
agor
who at present meet for divine worship in the lecture..
room at the Mechanics Institution, hare purchased land
in Myrtle-street, upon which to erect a new chapel. Ac-
cording to the plans for the laying out of the large piece
of inclosed ground to the south of Myrtle-street, a new
street will be formed leading through to Falkner-street,
and the new chapel will stand at the corner of that street.

1 The packet-ship Siddons, Captain Cobb, arrived at this
port, on Tuesday last, from New York, which city she
left on the 27th ult.
CRUELTY OF A CAPTAIN —Andrew Boyd, master of
the schooner Mary Jane, recently arrived at this port from
Venice, was summoned before Mr. Rushton, on Wednes-
day last, to answer a charge of cruelty and ill-usage, pre-
ferred against him by one of his apprentices, named Wm.
Reece. Mr. Grocott appeared for the complainant, and
Mr. Hetherington for the defendant. It appeared from
the evidence, which was corroborate:l by several of the
shin's company, and to a greattl extent even by the mate,
tt at, on New Year's Dayhavienocahptain alleged that the
:Complainant
mixed together, which he agtatvreiCutedeetno
on one occasion
that he tthhreoseyonmapbloaui
et
aanntd;
stores were going too fast,
give
him
mim a dozen lashes, and
os
shoulder ; that he several timesnbilgehdt s;
anothert
knockeddozen;
iiittinnhi
ei
into
tontbt he
orderedheel
afterwardsofisntrgre i stripped pnot
cei
boat;
odet
mb;
mateutpht
burnt
teth
hd,
he
i
beevcearniiieieshtueap
struck him with hand-cuffs on the temopsl.eseptltlwlloe
applyaa. to, his
kburnt
head
nwsi,triui c Itiiiernk
a t thath ehh eaa broked stick
faded p
t
that when he asked for something to -
shoulder he again strnck him ;
with a fid • that he struck him on the heg
di fi;e dt
h'•
him sometime in irons in the hold : on another occasion
threw a carving-knife at him with such violence thatoi7
stuck into a locker door ; that he on another occasion took
lamd broomsticke d wi
hlead
(produced)untilhe
him by the ears, and beat his head against the cabin door
until the panel was split—and (said one of the witnesses)
that on the voyage home he flogged him daily, the rope
never being out of his (defendant's) hand. On the other
side it was stated by two witnesses that the lad was stupid,
provoking, neglectful, dirty and lying, and that he was not
severely hurt by the correction he had received. It ap-
peared, moreover, that the captain was of an irritable
temper; and another of his apprentices appeared in
court with a black eye which he had got from his blows.
Mr. Rushton strongly reprobated the conduct of the cap.*
tain ; said a good deal of the stuptdity of the boy might.
have arisen from his being so often beaten, and that such
treatment of boys or men tended to excite a revengeful
spirit, in place of insuring obedience and subordination.
Two points in his conduct in particular showed him to be
of a very rash and ungovernable temper—his throwing a
knife violently at the lad, and his replying to his request
for something to apply to his arm by again assaulting him.
He then required the defendant to pay the highest fine the
court could impcse—namely, £5, or be imprisoned for
two months.

INTENDED SALE OF CORPORATION LAND ON THE
MARGIN OF WALLASEY POOL.—On Thursday last,
pursuant to advertisement, the land belonging to the Cor-
poration of Liverpool, remaining unsold, situated on the
south and partly on the north side of Wallasey Pool, was
put for competition, on leases for 75 years, subject to cer-
tain conditions, at the George Hotel. The attendance
was numerous, the room being filled with gentlemen—
many of them capitalists or agents for them. Amongst
those present were Messrs. W. Jackson, John Laird,
Harold Littledale, Jos. Booker W. Laird, Ripley, T. A.
Dale, Raynes, Wainwright, J. 'H. Greene, Joseph Pim,
Cole, D.',Neilson, Laycock, Lowndes, N. Cearns, &c. &c.
On the part of the Corporation, Mr. Franklin, their sur-
veyor, and the Town-clerk, were in attendance. The former
produced a plan of the land and pool, with the several
lots distinguished by different colours, and an intended
sea wall below high water mark also lined out upon it.
These were fifteen in number, chiefly situated on the
south side of the Pool, and in order that our readers may
be informed as to their magnitude, we give the extent of
each ;

Lot 1..
2 17,320
• 11'170 •
▪ 11,170
• 11,475
• 11,700
▪ 53,929
• 44,777
54,301
62,740
160,040
94,641
19,258
13,611
17,805

, ;
7.

„ 10
„ 11
„ 12
„ 13
„ 14 • •
„ 15......

T0ta1.... 601,267
—Mr. Samuel Winstanley read the conditions of sale,
amongst which were—that the sales should he for a term
of 75 years ; that not less than an advance of 6d. per
yard should be received : that the purchaser should pay
down 10 per centum as deposit, and one moiety of the
whole that remained in January, 1849, and the other
moiety in January 1854, with interest from the day of
sale at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum : that a pur-
chaser might pay the whole down at once ; that he might
take possession on paying the ten per cent., and giving
sureties ; that he must be at the expense of such portion
of a sufficient sea wall according to the plan as would
bound the property on the Pool side ; that be must e)!
permanent buildings and improvements within two years,
one-third of which to be accomplishedin two years, pent' a sum equal to one-eighth of the purchase money in
one-
third in three years, and one-third in four years ; that he
should not make any waste on the estate; that within
three months he should execute a deed of covenants, the
expense of which should be divided between him and the
corporation, &c. It was added by the auctioneer that
this was not a selling, but a letting by auction, and there-
fore there would be no auction duty ; and in reply to a
question Mr. Franklin said there would be no ground-
rent.—Mr. Jackson inquired whether the construction of
a dock or docks would be considered as waste, as there
was no mention of docks in the conditions ? It was most
important that this should be known, for he had purchased
land in the vicinity from the corporation, with liberty to
make docks ; whilst Mr. Potter, Mr. Golburn, and others,
who had afterwards purchased lots, were refused that pri-
vilege.—Mr. Franklin said, that his own opinion of the
intentions of the vendors was that a dock or docks would
not be considered as waste, but as improvement by the
corporation ; but he could not give a positive reply to the
question.—Mr. Lowndes said, that the difficulty was that
in breaking the ground for a dock, the operation might
be considered as waste.—Mr. Jackson said, be would not
be satisfied to bid, unless a definite clause were introduced
on the subject. He himself had privileges which no other
purchaser had. He had covenanted for docks, and al-
though it would be against his individual interests as re-
garded his land that others should be permitted to coin-
' pete, he still thought that if all purchasers had the same
liberty it would be the better for the public good.—Mr.
Franklin was here requested to go to the Town-hall to as-
certain the real state of the corporation mind on the sub-
ject, and left the room.—Mr. Jackson inquired how the
lots were to be put up ?—Mr. Winstanley said, that after
the biddings, he should open the sealed notes containing
the reserved bid, for each lot, of the corporation, and he
would sell at the reserved bid.—After some further con-
versation, the Town-clerk made his appearance in the
room.—Mr. Lowndes inquired of him whether there was
any objection on the part of the corporation to substitute
the terms of Mr. Jackson's lease for his land, in which
the party was not prohibited from building docks, for
those now proposed ? In the former there was no restric-
tion as to docks. They were now referred to Mr. Gol-
burne's lease as a model, which permitted and required
the erection of buildings, but not of docks.—The Town-
clerk replied that he had no hesitation in stating that he
had no authority whatever to proceed except on the terms
of Mr. Golburne's lease. If gentlemen bought, they must
do so on the conditions of sale that had been read ; and if
they afterwards wished to do what was not therein con-
tained and implied, they must negotiate with the Finance
Committee on the subject.--Mr. Jackson jocularly re-
marked that public bodies had " no soul ;" they were not
tangihle,for they could not blame any member of them indi-
vidually.—The Town-Clerk said, that if ever a public body
acted fairly and honourably in their proceedings, that merit
was assuredly exemplified in the Corporation of Liverpool.
—Mr. Lowndes remarked, that the appeal made to the
Town-Clerk was a dernier resort, and of no avail, inas-
much as he was merely a servant of the Corporation.-
11r. Jackson said that they were called upon, as they now
stood, " to buy a pig in a poke," and inquired whether
they could see Mr. Golburne's lease.—This was produced,
and Mr. Lowndes read extracts from it, from which he
deduced the conclusion that, though there was no restric-
tion as to pulling down premises and rebuilding or im-
proving them, the excavating for docks would, he thought,
be contemplated as waste, and might be restrained by an
order in Chancery.—The Town-Clerk said that they were
invited to purchase the use, not the abuse, of the land,
and repeated that they must go to the Finance Commit-
tee. The excavations must remain.—Mr. Jackson said,
if he understood the matter aright, they could not even
make a brick upon the land, if it were not left on the pre-
mises. They were called upon first to buy the land, and
afterwards to buy the privileges that would make it valu-
able' so that there would be two sales in place of one.
(A laugh.)—The auctioneer then proceeded. The first
lot, comprising 21,330 square yards, on the south side,
was put up at 55., and there being no higher bidding, it
was withdrawn. The reserve bid was opened by Mr.
Winstanley, who announced that it was 21s. Lot 2 was
also withdrawn, Gs. being bid and the reserve being the
same. Lot 3 was put up at 14s. and rose to 16s. ; the
reserved bid was also 215., as was that of 4, also with-
drawn. Lot 5 was started at 155., but also withdrawn
on the same reserve. For lot 6 (11,700 yards) 10s. was
offered by Mr. Jackson, and it rose to Ils. ; the reserve
was the same. For lot 7 (53,929 yards, south side the
pool) Mr. Jackson offered 3s. 6d. a yard; the reserve
was declared to be 255., which excited a good deal of
laughter. The reserves on lots 8,9, and 10 were then
opened to save time, and were each 15s. ; no bidding.
For lot 11 (160,040 yards) Mr. Jackson bid 3s. per yard,
but withdrew his bid ; and the reserve was stated to be Cs.
The remaining lots were then withdrawn, and the pro-
ceedings closed by the Town-Clerk expressing a hope
that he- would see Mr. Jackson first Mayor of the Corpo-
ration of Birkenhead. (Laughter.)
her extraordinary
MISS CHRISTIANA WELLER'S.CONCERT.—This con-
cert, given on 'Wednesday evening last, at the Royal
performer, all the high
Assembly Rooms, more than realised, to those who lied
heardannottichipeafot-rioens
genius and attainments bad given rise. The room was
rtt
ec pfaalm fame
of.
crowded to excess by.a highly respectable audience, so
that many gentlemen,, in the exercise_ of a becoming gal-
lantry, had to relinquish their seats near the platform in
behalf of the bevies of beauties who graced the assemblage;
and not a few were contented, captivated as they were by
to wt}hdechp
the " concord of eweet sounds,' to stand in the recess
behind, or resort to the gallery. The demand for tickets,
indeed, had been more than commensurate with the
accommodation, and the, issue was consequently sus-
pended ; but ar9 happy to announce, that, in order
that all may be gratified, a second soiree musicale is ap-
pointed for Thursday next. 'We feel it difficuit, if not
impossible, to do aderrat.,
justice to the fair artiste, and
the scarcely less astonishing feats on the piano-forte of
her very young sister, within the limits to which we are
circumscribed. The opening duet (from Pacsiello)," Oh,

maiden fair," was well sung by Miss Whitnall and Mr.
Ryalls. The ballad, " Low waved the summer woods."
&c. was chastely and beautifully enacted, more particu-
larly the finale or closing passage, by the latter, who was
in excellent voice, and has but to throw off an apparent
diffidence of his own powers to take a high place in his
drofession. The " scene," " Bright visions of the past,
all fled," from a MS. drama, the words and music by
Miss C. Weiler herself, has much dramatic merit, and
was sung with great pathos by Miss Whitnall. We have
elsewhere given the verses. The same lady sang, with
equal feeling and effect, the ballad of "The old year and
the new," by Knight, and was deservedly encored. The
words beginning " Why chime the bells so merrily ?" are
full of tender sentiment, and the song is, we hear, a great
favourite in America. Mrs. Chatfield, from London,
sang in several solos, duets, and trios, and though, we
regretted to learn, a good deal indisposed, with the beauty
and accuracy that distingaish her as a vocalist, though in
some passages she could not, from the cause stated,i dis-
play her full energy and powers of execution. She s truly
a beautiful and refined singer. The grand attraction of
the evening, however, was the piano-forte playing of Miss
C. Weller and her sister. The first piece by the former
was the grand fantasia by Thalberg—subject, the Preg-
hiera in Rossini's Mose in Egitto—into which the cele-
brated composer has infused all the peculiarities, the
boldness, vigour, variety, majesty, and, we may add,
wonders and difficulties of his distinctive style. Miss C.
Weller accomplished her task, without the book, with
that gracefulness and ease which a modest confidence in
her own powers could alone supply. She arrested the
almost breathless attention of her audience, who half sup-
neverpress
close,ehq,
en
atheir
ml
aod,yt
rpossessed
np emotions,stuser untilsosuesd
ao pf
pt
such
they e
.phollwruseter burster
eoxi forth,ereaup
execution
n at
nh ofde
the most complicated chromatic and other varied and con-
a
trasted passages excited at once wonder and delight. We
ei
nn
t.
a alle was m sbie
faultless execution—such " mastery" over the piano
etasateffuulll
b
such strength of fingering with either hand, and particu-
larly,
and
,nratthhe than the
bass.
basasn a singlee i. S maden st r u it,m indeed. resemble
and brilliant. Her notes in alto were so beautifully soft
and clear, that the wonder was how she produced them
in such extraordinary and delightful combinations. In
he playing, mind is the source of every note, not mecha-
nical reading of certain marks. She imparts to every
bar the meaning she conceives the author to convey.
This constitutes the difference between genius and mere
brilliancy of education. Both classes of players must
acquire the latter, but it is but " sounding brass and a
tinkling cymbal" if it stop there. The first in every class
of great musicians play without book, as, for instance,
Paganini, Thalberg, Lizt, and others ; and this is not
mere memory, but a natural instinct or knowledge of what
must follow, and which cannot be explained. Miss
Weller never uses a book to play from before an audience,
but can continue for a week to recite the works of the
masters. Reading them over a few times, with her mind
bent upon the subject, suffices to enable her to compre-
hend entirely, and to retain, the most elaborate produc-
tions, which are a sealed book both in execution and com-
prehension to the great majority of performers. Another
treat of the evening was a grand duet on two piano-fortes
(from Norma), performed by Miss C. Weller and her
juvenile sister, the latter also possessing wonderful vigour
of touch and rapidity of fingering. She played in perfect
concert, and introduced a variety of extraordinary and
beautiful combinations, running from one end of the in-
strument to the other with the rapidity of lightning.
Miss A. Delancy's playing is of the same character as
that of her gifted and accomplished sister, having been
both taught by the same party (their mqther); they play
a duet in its greatest perfection; for it is, asit were, one
mind possessing four hands. Hence the advantage en-
semble over two players, of different styles, however great
each may be. individually. The fantasia national, com-
posed, and, at the close, performed by Miss C. Weller,
and introducing an English, a Scotch, a Welsh, and an
Irish air, was at once grand and beautiful. The beautiful
turn given to " St. Patrick's day" quite electrified the
audience. From the great difficulty of the piece, it has
not been committed ao paper, yet is indelibly impressed on
the memory of the fair composer. The beauty and merit
consist in linking together four airs entirely different in
character, so as to make the transition almost imper-
ceptible. A scientific ear could have selected glimpses of
the Scottish air even wnen " Rule Britannia" predomi-
nated, and this could cnly be accomplished by a young
lady throuch genius. Miss C. 'Weller is, we are informed,
as accomplished in drawing and other branches cf polite
education ; and, as the fine arts are related to each other,
it is not improbable but that her knowledge and taste for
painting give a greater richness and colouring to her
musical performances. The programme for the next
, concert is entirely different from that of last week.
ROBBERY OF FIVE BALES OF COTTON.-011 Saturday
last John Crossley. a cotton-waste dealer, of Oldham, and
a young man named Frank Trainer, apparently a labourer,
were brought before Mr. Rushton, the latter on a charge
of having stolen, and the former of having received,
knowing them to be stolen, five bales of cotton from
Messrs. Thomas Dover and Co.'s warehouse, in Parlia-
ment-street, (known as " Blake's"). Mr. Cobbett, soli-
citor, of Manchester, appeared for Crossly. It appeared
from the evidence, that 32 bales of New Orleans cotton
had been received into the lower room of the warehouse
on the 10th instant, after which the doors and windows
were fastened ; but on the following morning it was found
that one of the windows had been opened, and that five
of the bales were missing. It was shortly atter ascertained
that the bales had been sent on to Manchester, where a
mark of a C was put on them by order of the prisoner,
Trainer, who went with them on a float, and that, after
having remained four days in a warehouse there, they
were sent on to Oldham. There the prisoner, Crossley,
called at the house of a carrier, named Berry, to whom he
gave an order to receive the bales at the railway station,
and to whom he also handed a sovereign to pay the charges
on them, telling him, at the same time, that be had sold
them to Mr. William Webb, a cotton-spinner, in Oldham.
Berry accordingly p.aid the charges, 10s. Id., at the sta-
tion, and brought the hales on his cart to Oldham, where
they were afterwards traced, and taken possession of by
Police-officer lichee, of this town. Mr. Webb proved
that Crossley had sold him about 5,000 lbs. of cotton
about the middle of the week, at the rate of sd. per lb;
but he supposed that it must have been damaged cotton
for such a price, and not New Orleans, which, if similar
to what the five bales contained, would be worth sid.
Samuel Potter, book-keeper to Mr. Webb, corroborated
what that witness had stated as to the sale by Crossley,
and the arrival of the bales by railway; after which the
prisoners were remanded until one o'clock yesterday,
when they were again brought up, along with three
other prisoners, apprehended in the interim on sus-
picion of having been concerned in the robbery, and
whose names are John Campbell, James Leach, and
Miles Meadowcroft. A. great number of the witnesses
were examined, in order legally to substantiate the charge,
but an outline of the principal facts stated will suffice for
the general render. Further evidence was given of the
landing of the 32 bales from the Gossipum, their being
received and locked up in the warehouse, and the subse-
quent discovery that fire of them were missing : they
were all marked 111 in a row. and numbered. The
missing numbers were also made oat, with the exception
of the mark on which had been obliterated either by
mending or by wet. Horatio Avison, keeper of the
Fleece, in Oldhall-street, said Crossley had occasionally
visited his house during the last twelve months, and was
there last Friday but one, in company with Meadowcroft
and Campbell. lie spoke to the two latter, after having
frequently called at the house inquiring for a letter (ex-
pected from Crossley who had gone, and to Meadow-
croft's address,) and also inquiring, as it had not come for
Crossley himself, who had not returned. The letter at
length arrived, and was handed to them, upon which
Meadowcroft asked for pen, ink and paper, and wrote a
letter. Leach and Campbell called on a subsequent day,
and inquired for a letter they expected from Crossley, or
for himself. Next day all the three came on the same
errand. On the following day (Saturday) Meadowcroft
again came on the errand, and the other two stood in the
street. By this time Crossley was in custody. A youth
named Barrett, in the employ of Mr. Webb, of Oldham,
said he knew Trainer, who came to him (at Oldham) on
Friday last, and inquired where John Crossley lived.
Witness. who knew the fact, told him, be (Crossley) had
been apprehended that morning. John M`Gorrin, of the
Neptune vaults, Canning-place, said Crossley came to his
house from time to time ; that Meadowcroft was with him
there on Saturday night ; that he got change for Crossley
of a £lO note ; that the latter on leaving told him to tell
two men if they called to wait for his return; that he did
return, but went away as the men had not come. Two
identify
them afterwards came, but witness could not
them as any of the prisoners. Constable Rehoe gave
long evidence relative to his finding the cotton at the
Manchester railway station, seeing it carried away
by Berry. by an order from Crossley, and taken
to court or passage in Oldham where Crossley's ware-
house was. He apprehended Crossley, secured the cotton
in the Town-hall there, and afterwards brought it to Liv-
erpool' It appeared that after cautioning Crossley he
had questioned him at great length ; that he had found
upon him an invoice of the cotton as from James Evans,
and dated the 13th, and a letter relating to it, the last
without date or name of the town whence it came.
Crossley told him the carter had brought the wrong cot-
ton and not what he had purchased, which was damaged:
he also said he supposed the invoice was written by Mea-
doweroft and that when hes aw the letter without date,
&c., he supposed something was wrong. On e subsequent
day, owing to some information, witness returned to
Oldham, and saw Trainer coming from Mr. 'Webb's
warehouse : he denied knowing anything about the cotton,
but afterwards said that he was asked at Liverpool, on
Saturday wsek, to get a float, by Meadowsroft, and go
with it and get the five bales, and take them to the rail-
way; that he did so, but soon lost sight of the float; that
he afterwards met it in Crosbie-street with the bales on
it, and went with it to the railway goods station; that he
gave the clerk a forwarding note with them for Crossley,
and then went away, receiving from " John," ss. for has
trouble. He added that he had the remainder of 30s. to
receive. He gave his name to witness as John Sinclair.
On Saturday morning, when Crossley and Trainer were
handcuffed at the Manchester station (continued witness)
Crossley said Trainer was one of the men who sold him
the cotton, and that be had bought it as damaged cotton,
which had been long in the water. Turner denied this,
saying, that Crossley and the other men had as much to do
with it as he had. On searching Turner, witness found
on him a delivery for 10 bales of cotton, weight 38 cwt.,
dated 13th January. He apprehended Meadowcroft on
Sunday last, in Tithebarn-street: he denied that the letter
or invoice were in his handwriting, and said he had had
no cotton or other transactions whatever, with Crossley.
Witness brought several Recount books into court, found
at Crossley's place, but they contained no evidence of the
facts. The paper on wnich the invoice was written was
stated by Mr. Avison to be out of the same quire as that
given to Meadowcroft when he wrote the letter. Mr.
Rushton said the evidence of a carter was still wanting,
end remanded the prisoners till this day, intimating, how- ;
ever, that he had no alternative but to commit them all
for trial.

eurraturt.

CARDINAL DR RETZ,
THE COURTIER'S PLOT.

B PETER ~PJOY, Esq

,(For the live • .1 Standard.)

Ckitit Xi

will prove very interesting: a partial glimpse is caught of the
interior cf the Hotel Croissi. a strange affair in a dark cham-
ber is described, and the reader will at length find himself in
the very midst of the conspirators, besides other good com-
pany.
TOWARDS midnight of the same day that the circum-
stances detailed in our last chapter took place, several per-
sons enveloped in large mantles, which were contrived so
as to conceal the face as well as the figure, were seen to
glide mysteriously one after the other into the cloisters of
St. Ilonorci, which at that epoch were contiguous to the Pa-
lais- Hoyal. On that side there were no guards, and the
most profound silence reigned throughout the vast court
where the kitchens of the Palace were situated. The noc-
turnal visitors seem to he perfectly acquainted with all the
turnings and windings of these dark and deserted build-
ings. They directed their steps towards a low door hid
in an angle of the court, which they struck with a slight
tap : it was immediately opened.
A password being exchanged between the foremost figure
of the group and some unseen person within, the hand of
theleading figure was taken by a guide, who whisperingly
directed the rest of the party to follow close and without
noise. The little band were then led amidst the most in-
tense darkness up and down staircases, and along a
labyrinth of lobbies and corridors, until at length they
stopped in a doorway, through the chink of which a light
was scarcely visible. The door, after some premonitory
sign, was carefully opened, and an anti-room to some
larger apartment presented itself to view, wherein several
persons were already assembled. They were grouped round
the spacious fia e-place, and conversing in low voices. This
was the rendezvous of the conspirators engaged in the
Courtier's Plot.
In tl e m Fabien de Croissi, after quitting the
hostelrie of the " Three Pigeons," was conducted to the
handsome hotel which his brother inhabited; but every
precaution had been taken that he should not be seen. In the
costly apartment an elegant collation was set out imme-
diately after Fabien's arrival. The attendant, on claming
the chamber, locked the door, leaving Fabien in solitude.
He tried the door, but in vain. There was no other out-
let perceptible. The windows overlooked a court-yard,
where. from the measured tread heard below, young de
Croissi concluded a sentinel was placed. Escape was im-
possible ; he therefore resigned himself to his fate. Hour
after hour passed wearily away, till at length twilight dark-
ened the objects around, and night quickly shrouded all
things in gloom.
Some hours after daylight had departed, a slight noise
was heard without, the lock turned, the door opened, and
Albert de Croissi entered the apartment. Fabien was
about to remonstrate with his brother upon the treat-
ment he had received, when De Croissi abruptly inter-
rupted him, saying—
" Peace ! remember your promise."
He then desired him to change a part of his travelling
garments for a more costly suit, which an attendant who
waited withou' the door had brought.
Fabien silently obeyed. The next minute Albert led the
way to the portal, where a carrine being in waiting, they
entered it, and were quickly driven off.
" Whither do you lead me ?" asked Fabien, breaking
silence.
" Where you shall be satisfied—let that suffice."
"'Whither, brother ?"
" Peace : time will shew ?"
Not another word was spoken until the coach stopped
at the Cloister of Saint Honor 6. De Croissi led his bro-
ther by the same route as that taken by the other nobles,
and with similar precautions. The ante-chamber was now
empty. Bidding Fabien seat himself, the Baron passed
out by a large doorway at the furthest corner of the room,
to announce the arrival of his brother to his friends.
This antechamber was spacious, but so dimly lighted by
a single taper, that the eye in vain endeavoured to pene-
trate its remote recesses. Fabien had cast himself
thoughtfully upon a seat, when be thought he heard near
him a slight noise such as that made by the lifting of a sash-
window. He turned his head quickly to the point whence
he fancied the noise proceeded, but could perceive nothing
but the heavy drapery suspended from the wall, and upon
which the flickering light seemed to cast strange and fan-
tastic shadows. He thought he must have been deceived,
and relapsed into his former position, when the drapery
suddenly trembled, and a head, the features of which could
not be distinguished in the dimness of the room, presented
itself to view from the midst of the ample folds. The in-
truder examined Fabien for a moment, as if to be assured
that he was not mistaken, when in a low, butcheerful voice,
said—

" Fear not, if you want assistance you can find it at
hand."

The head was quickly withdrawn, and a fresh noise
heard, which seemed like the closing of a panel. When
Fabien recovered from his surprise, he ran towards the
place whence the sound proceeded, and drew aside the
hangings, but saw nothing save the bare walls.
Nevertheless, he felt certain that there must be a secret
outlet, and that a friend was near him. But who was that
friend ? His thoughts at once turned upon the Countess !
But how could she know of his arrival and presence ? He
was lost in conjecture.
Scarcely had he recovered himself after this strange and
unaccountable proceeding, when the Baron reentered the
room. Albert took him somewhat kindly by the hand,
to lead him into the saloon adjoining. He whispered in
his brother's ear, as they paused at the porch for a mo-
ment—

" Fabien, the solemn moment is arrived. Think of my
words : no foolery—no nonsense ; a great fortune is yours,
or captivity while you have life! Now choose."
Fabien's only reply was, " Lead on."
They entered the chamber in silence. That instant the
eyes of all the conspirators were fixed upon the youth. The
examination did not last long, for experienced courtiers
can judge of a man at first sight. They nearly all expressed
their surprise in finding Fahien so different to what they
had pictured him in their imaginations.

Fabien's dress became him: It was composed of green
velvet, made after the fashion of the time, and set off his
fine figure admirably. His well-shaped head, good sta-
ture, and the collectedness as well as grace of his deport-
ment, were totally at variance with their anticipations.
There was an entire absence of all that rusticity which they
supposed he possessed. He held his hat, surmounted by
a plume of feathers, in his hand, and thus his long waving
hair, so much cherished by the youths of his time, was
seen to advantage. His manly and regular features, with-
out aught of coarseness, gave no idea of the rustic simpli-
city which the Baron had described to his fellow-conspira-
tors. A slight colour mounted to Fabien's face at the mo-
ment, on finding himself so marked an object of attention,
heightened perhaps on reflecting by what title he was re-
cognised on entering that apartment, and standing amongst
that assembly.
Fabien saluted the party with a dignified gesture, but
few of the conspirators returned it, perhaps from feeling
contempt for a man whom they believed was destined to
become an assassin. The Baron did not intend officially
to present his brother to his friends; he directed him to
a vacant seat, and immediately joined the courtiers, who
closed, where they stood, around him.
" Truly, De Croissi," said one, in a low tone of voice,
" you have selected a fine handsome fellow, and I fancy
the hero of many fights will have some little trouble to
upset him in a bodily combat."
" True, Monsieur de Servien," replied Albert, with
evident satisfaction, " and I can tell you the youth is
brave as handsome ; and I assure you that if we decide
upon matching him against the conqueror of many battles,
as you call our enemy, we"—
An exclamation from the Mar6chal D'Hocquincourt at-
tracted at this moment the attention of the party, and in-
terrupted the various conversations that were taking place.
The Marechal had cast at first a look of indifference upon
Fabien ; but at length, examining his features more
seriously, he exclaimed—

" I do—not deceive myself ! No! Is not this the gen-
tleman who yesterday rendered me, on Pont Neuf, so
great a service, in disengaging me from the hands of the
mob ? Speak, sir, was it not you that charged so admira-
bly, and with so much courage, into the very heart of the
people, although armed only with a whip, and mounted on
a sorry post horse? In vain have I sought for the hero
of that affray. Tell me quickly, I beg of you, if you are
not the man ?"
" I am, indeed, sir," replied Fabien, modestly ; " but
I was too greatly interested in one of those within that
coach to heed the howlings of the mob."
" I have then found you," said the Marechal, delight-
edly; " I am glad to see you. Give me your hand—l
swear"—
The Baron took the hand of the young cavalier, and
grasped it cordially but a sudden thought came across
his mind, which induced him to draw it back.
" It is a pity," said he, with an air of reflection. " that
a fine fellow such as you are should be engaged in a bad
action. Not but that the enterprise of which you have
been made acquainted is necessary for the safety of the
state, but I could wish that the villainous part of the bu-
siness was confided to some other than yourself."
" Mareehal!" murmured De Croissi in his ear, in a
tone of entreaty, " pray reflect upon what you are saying."
" Go to the devil," suddenly exclaimed the angry vete-
ran, " I am as much devoted to her Majesty the Regent
as any other of her subjects ; but to tell the bare fact, and
plain truth, I do not like to see this gallant and high-spi-
rited youth, who possesses all the requisites to make the
King a brave and faithful soldier, drawn into evil doings
by doubtless bad advice. This is one of your tricks, De
Croissi ; and it is a burning shame thus to serve a younger
brother as you are now doing with him."
De Croissi placed his hand angrily on his sword-hilt ;
but those present immediately interfered between the Ba-
ron and the Marechal, who in his generous indignation
forgot that he was one of the first to suggest the enterprise
which it was proposed to entrust to Fabien. The cour-
tiers endeavoured to calm the gallant Marechal ; but he
was one of those men whom in attempting to pacify was
only to make more angry.
" We shall find time to settle this matter, De Croissi,"
replied he, passionately ; " but if a deception has been
employed to entrap him to do any thing that is repugnant
to his inclinations, I will engage—l, D'Elocquincourt— to
stand by him and be his friend, even if the plot should fail
altogether. This I swear"—
At this moment the door of the saloon opened. and the
attendant without announced, in an under voice,
The Queen 1"
D'Hocquiucourt was silent in an instant, and those that
were seated rose.
Anne of A natria entered the room the next moment, at•
tended only by the Countess de ,',lontglat."
The Queen had but just left the state apartments, and
werestill tie rich robes in which she had presided over
the brilliant court circle.

Fabien did not need the announcement of the usher to
be informed of the presence of the Queen• Regent, in the
imposirg person before him. In seeing her majestic and
stately figure, adorned with costly gems, amongst which
priceless diamonds shone conspicuously, and with all the
eciat of royal pomp, the poor youth was seized with a re-
spect that bordered upon terror, and he felt his courage
fail him to accomplish his secret intentions. He sought
with anxiety a look from Elizabeth, but he beheld no sign
of emotion upon the features of the maid of honour that
might kindle hope in his soul, or support him in his de-
termination. Elizabeth de Alontglat was pale as the
opening day; her countenance displayed a sad and deep
dejection ; her eyes met those of Fabien, but he read in
their tearful glances nothing but despair. It was not then
from her that help was to arrive. Who could be the mys-
terious friend who bad power to protect him even in the
revel palace?
The courtiers bowed respectfully before the Regent.
" God preserve you, gentlemen," said she, making a
graceful acknowledgement of their obeisance. " I beg
your pardon for being thus late, but the gamesters and tri-
flers in the grand gallery did not suspect,
I fancy, that the
most faithful of my adherents were elsewhere waiting for
me. Etiquette, you may readily believe, has been more
than commonly irksome to me throughout the whole of
this evening.
The Queen having thus spoken, seated herself in the
chair that had been reserved for her, and exchanged a few
words, in a suppressed tone of voice, with each of those
assembled. Baron de Croissi approached her the last,
but the Regent appeared to listen to him with a feeling of
disgust, and soon interrupted him, saying aloud—
" Well, well, Monsieur de Crcissi,
I leave to you all
that concerns the execution of this project. But where is
this handsome spark who has tendered us them
here to-
offer of his
assistance? I was told that I should meet hi

night."
" Permit me, madame, to present him to your notice,"
said Albert de Croissi," taking his brother's hand, to con-
duct him to the Regent.
Anne of Austria cast upon Fabien her eagle eye, and
seemed intent upon reading his inmost thoughts. The
Regent turned to the maid of honour, who stood with
drooping head, trembling with agitation behind her chair.
"Truly, you little rogue, ' she whispered, smilingly," you
possess good taste. I must admit that he is a handsome
fellow."

Turning to Fabien, she said, " Come hither, young sir,
am very glad to see so near at hand a gentlemen who,
they tell me, is so devoted to my cause."
The first impression upo❑ Fabien's mind having passed
away, it was now his task to surmount the difficulty and
danger that encompassed him. He advanced a few paces,
and respectfully dropped on one knee before the Queen.
Anne appeared to take no little gratification in noticing
the handsome and well-proportioned figure of the youth
at her feet.

" Rise, sir," she said at length ; " we have heard you
spoken of as a frank and gallant gentleman."
" And I can assure your majesty that those who have
said so have not deceived your grace in that respect," in-
terrupted D'Hocquincourt, withh is accust Aired bluntness.
" His conduct on Pont Neuf but yesterday would have
convinced anybody of the fact who doubted it."
" You cannot fail to be a good judge of courage, mar -
chall," said the Queen, with a gracious smile, and a win-
ning compliment; " so brave a soldier as yourself can
1 happily estimate the good qualities of another. This
Young cavalier ought to be proud of your good opinion.
But at this period we do not require resolution alone—that
mere vulgar courage that would prompt a man to dare dan-
ger in the face of a wretched and angry mob, or in the
greater peril of the battle-field. The safety of the state
requires something beside this, and it is that which we an-
ticipate will be shown by our young champion. I trust
that he will pot deceive us in our expectations."
Fabian had during these observations risen and remained
standing before Anne of Austria. The courtiers formed a
circle around him, while their glances now rested on the
Queen, and now on the young adventurer. With him em-
barrassment had ceased, and calmness succeeded.
" The duty of a subject, madame," said Fahien, re-
spectfully, but firmly, " is it not to obey in all things, that
his sovereign has a right to command him to do ?"
" Oh ! my subjects," said the Queen, bitterly, " know
right well how to dispense with this duty. Ask these gen-
tlemen, who know them well, what outrages and insults
they shower day by day on the mother of their Kiag. But,"
continued Anne, quickly, " let us come to the point. You
have desired, young sir, I understand, in consequence of
scruples that I cannot but admire, to hear the Regent of
France give you the order to deliver the state from its
most dangerous enemy. This command I now give you;
with this you ought to be satisfied. Swear, therefore, to
me to fulfil the objects of your mission even at the peril of
your life, and leave to us—but you, Baron de Croissi, will
state more exactly what you wish should be done."
_ .

1 All attention was now turned to Fabien, whose reply
was breathlessly awaited by all present; Elizabeth fixed
upon her lover a look of deep anxiety; while Albert de
Croissi, his face pale and replete with emotion, leant for-
ward to hear his brother's reply, on which so much de-
pended.
The group was a deeply interesting one.
Fabien fixed upon the Regent a look as keen as her own,
and thus addressed her—
[Enter PRINTER'S DEVlL—Please, sir, we have enough copy
for to day.
POPJOY—Oh I very well.
READER—Bother.]