The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-09-26 00:00:00

els planted on his grave
e is the Lake amid the hills,

.nd unseen, the while its ITN
(reams, that ample honours have,

,f the source know not the name

MR. BOYS' FINE ART DISTRIBUTION

(From the Tyne Mercury.)

Among the " signs of the times," one of the most pro-
minent is the rapidly increasing taste of the public for
works of art. The rage (it may truly he called such) for
illustration is in the ascendant. We have hooks display-
OF ing all that art can do in this way; wood-cut, engraving,
lithogrophy, 'ntinf.r

~nrorno-. lozraptiy, anc. ur prt, g,
vie with nne another to fascinate the eye. Then we have
illustrated periodicals of every form, degree of merit, and
price, from the Pictorial Times and the Illuminated Ma-
gazine to the penny publications teeming with wood-cuts
that inundate the newsman's counter weekly. Twenty
years ago, the single cut in the Mirror did for that peri-
odical what no literary talent alone would have done. It
made it command an extensive sale for a series of years,
till a new era commenced in the annals of art—an era
that we as philanthropists and social philosophers hail
most heartily. We allude to that epoch when art-unions
took their rise from the prolific brain of a few benefactors
of their kind. Nay, think not we speak unadvisedly;
they are benefactors of their kind who turn the current of
public taste into that channel which, in the words of the
ancient " emollit mores nec sinit esse feros," softens their
manners and implants the gentler virtues in their breast.
But to the purpose: art-unions have unquestionably done
immense good, by diffusing through all classes of the com-
munity a taste for the productions of the brush, the pen-
cil. and the graver, they have exercised the most health-
ful patronage on native talent; they have also had a moral
influence, that of opening a source of refined enjoyment
to many to whom the delights of art were formerly in-
accessible.

Now, what has been achieved by associ ►tion in the case
of art-unions, Mr. Boys (so favourably known to the
public as one of the most spirited publishers of high class
engravings) proposes to do singly. Nay more, he offers
the public superior advantages to any they receive from
the art-unions, whether British or foreign. He honestly
admits he is induced to do this in self-defence, and for le-
gitimate purposes of trade : but nevertheless the case is
such as he represents it. Each subscriber has the choice
of selection, for the full value of the sum subscribed, from
201 engravings, among which are the universally admired
" Bolton Abbey," "The Trial of the Earl of Strafford,"
"The Canterbury Pilgrims," and many other first rate
works. (" The Momentous Question," engraved by
Bellin, after a picture by Miss S. Setchell, by the bye, is
eminently beautiful.) Then after receiving a good quid
pro quo for his money in the shape of one or more splen-
did engravings, each subscriber of a guinea has one chance
out of every twenty of getting a prize varying from £5O
to £5OO in value. If this is not inducement to try one's
luck, we do not know what can be. The subscribers risk
nothing hut the mere fact of laying out well their guinea,
and they have one-twentieth chance of getting 50 or 500
times the value of their money, inclusively. We under-
stand Mr. Boys has met with such extensive public pa-
tronage, that the drawing of the prizes will take place
next month, (October). We wish him every possible
success in his public spirited enterprise, and we recommend
all our readers, whether rich or poor, to take a ticket in
this unique lottery, where there can be no loss and there
may be immense gain. We proposed glancing at the
merits of some of the principal works in the list of prizes
and engravings for selection by subscribers ; but as ample
and accurate details may be gleaned from Mr. Boys'
Prospectus, we beg leave to refer our readers to that
source for information.

DARING IMPIETY.—A female, calling herself Mrs

Marten, gave, what is called a lecture, on Tuesday even-
ing, in the Socialist's-hall, Manchester, on the inutility
of prayer; and on Thursday evening a second lecture, on
the unreasonableness of public worship !! ! There were
about one thousand persons present.
A HIGH AUTHORITY.—The authorship of the letters
in the Morning Chronicle, signed, " One who has whistled
at the Pough," has b,-en attributed to many persons. I
can state from personal knowledge, that the writer is

Alexander Somerville, the soldier who was flogged about
eleven years ago, and elevated to the dignity of a martyr
by the Weekly Dispatch. He is in the employment of the
Anti-Corn-law League. (London Correspondent of the
Oxtord Herald) For daring assertion " One who has
whistled at the Plough" stands unequalled ; and his au-
thority for facts is often the dernier ressort of the League
scribes !
HOP INTELLIGENCE.—CANTERBURY.—HOD-picking
is very general in this part, but the crop falls short in
quantity, though the quality mostly is good. In conse-
quence, however, of the great deterioration that is appar-
ent by delay , the planters have consideraby increased the
number of pickers, and most of them will be finished this
week. The duty, at the highest, is laid at £145,000
though some persons will not back it at that sum. MAID-
STONE.—The hop-picking has now commenced nearly
everywhere. The planters also complain everywhere of
their coming down very short of expectation, more par-
ticularly where they have been blighted ; there they
come nearly half short of what they where estimated at.
There is no doubt the duty is estimated much too high—
Kentish Observer.

CUSTOMS ORDERS.—By a Board's Minute on the Sth
instant, Workington, in the port of Whitehaven, has
been approved for the bonding of all foreign goods. By a
Board's Minute of the Bth instant, work boxes, tables,
&c., of lacquered ware, and fitted up with other materials,
in future to be charged the duty of 13 per cent. only, un-
less the fittings or materials belonging thereto (not being
japanned or lacquered ware) should exceed the value of
the orticle as a work box, worktable, &c., without such
fittings or materials, in which case the duty of 20 per cent.
ad valorem, to be charged upon the whole, as goods ma-
nufactured and not otherwise rated. By a Board's Minute
of the 13th instant, officers are directed not to act nnnn
n„, rte• eue wnpulria ot goods, duty free, as
stores, until the usual bond shall have been first given.
MURDER OF A HUSBAND BY HIS WIFE.—On Mon-
day, the 18th instant, the neighbourhood of Dilton's
Marsh, Westbury, Wilts, was the scene of much excite-
ment, occasioned by a report that Robert Cuzner, a
weaver, who resided there, had been killed by his wife.
On the evening abovementioned a dispute had arisen
between them, and he was shut out of the house by his
wife. He afterwards pressed in, and on his entering, the
door was closed. Soon after the neighbours heard a
noise, as if they were struggling and pushing each other
about their room. The wife admits that she pushed him
down, though she declares she had no intention of taking
away his life. After a patient investigation, the magis-
trates came to the decision of committing the wife to the
New Prison, Devizes, to take her trial at the next assizes
for manslaughter. It is remarkable that Edward Cuzner,
brother of the deceased, died about two hours after the
above unfortunate occurrence, his death having, it is
believed, been accelerated by excitement, arising from
the intelligence having been suddenly communicated to
him.

ATTENDANCE OF THE LANCASHIRE MEMBERS OF
THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN THE SESSION OF 1843.
The total number of divisions, in the House of Commons
during the session of 1843, was 220, in which there voted
—l, Joseph Brotherton, Salford, 191 ; 2, Dr. Bowring,
Bolton, 153; 3, Lord Stanley, North Lancashire, 129;
4, William Sharman Crawford, Rochdale, 120; 5, Thomas
Greene, Lancaster, 102; 6, Charles Hindley, Ashton, 92 ;
7, Sir Howard Douglas, Liverpool, 88 ; 8, John Wilson
Patten, North Lancashire, 82; 9, J. Ireland Blackburne,
Warrington, 75 ; 10, Viscount Sandon, Liverpool, 69 ;
11, John Fielden, Oldham, 61 ; 12, John Hornby, Black-
burn, 61 ; 13, Peter Greenall, Wigan, 60; 14, Sir Thomas
Milner Gibson, Manchester, 56; 15, Sir George Strick-
land, Preston, 53; 16, Hon. Richard Bootle Wilbraham,
South Lancashire, 50; 17, Edward Cardwell, Clitheroe,
47 ; 18, William Fielden, Blackburn, 47 ; 19, Peter
Ainsworth, Bolton. 34 ; 20, General Johnson, Oldham,
32 ; 21, George Marton, Lancaster, 31 ; 22, Mark Phil-
lips, Manchester, 29 ; 23, Sir Peter Hesketh Fleetwood,
Preston, I 9 ; 24, Richard Walker, Bury, 16 ; 25, Lord
Francis Egerton, South Lancashire, 9 ; 26, Charles
Standish, Wigan, 9.
BIRMINGHAM MUSIC MEETING.—The performances
on Wednesday morning was very thinly attended, the
ball being not above half filled. The principal feature
was Crotch's Palestine. The second part of the perform-
ance consisted of a miscellaneous selection. The most
remarkable feature was a solo on the organ, performed by
Dr. Wesley, who played for nearly half an hour, exhibit-
ing great imagination, and a thorough command of all the
resources of harmony. He concluded with one of the
great pedal figures of Sebastian Bach, in which he brought
into action all the powers of the gigantic instrument, to
the astonishment and delight of the audience,who greeted
him with several rounds of applause. Attwood's Corona-
tion Anthem, composed for the coronation of William
IV., one of the noblest productions of the English eccle-
siastical school, was performed with the utmost grandeur
of effect. On Wednesday evening selections from the
English version of Bellini's opera of Norma drew a bril-
liant assembly to the theatre. Every part of the house
was crowded from the floor to the ceiling. The receipts
of the evening amounted to upwards of £3,100. Miss
Clara Novello enacted her favourite character, Norma ;
Miss Rainforth, Adalgisa ; Mr. Manvers, Pollio ; and
Mr. Giubilei, Oroveso. On Thursday morning the
Messiah was performed, and, as is usually the case, to an
immense audience, for every vacant nook of the orchestra
was filled with parties of ladies and gentlemen, paying a
guinea each for admission. The number present must
have been about three thousand.

DEATH OF MR. USHER, THE CLOWN.—This well-
known performer closed his mortal career on Saturday
last, at his residence, Hercules-hall, Hercules-buildings,
after a potracted illness of some months. For the last
half-century no man has contributed more to the amuse-
ment of the public in all quarters of the kingdom than
Dinky Usher. Migratory from his cradle his name is
familiar as a household word from the Shetlands to Cape
Clear. Notwithstanding he has borne for many years the
appellation of " Old Dickey Usher," he has scarcely
reached the period allotted to humanity. Some say he
has died in his 58th year : his family state That he has not
reached that period. " Little Dickey" at a very early age
was a conspicuous person, and contributed by his activity
and shrewdness to the success of " the concern." A
spirit of adventure induced h!m to start on his own ac-
count, and in company with a friend he collected a " con-
siderable quantity of coppers" in the towns of Newcastle,
Manchester, Liverpool, &c. On one of these occasions
he was fortunate enough to attract the notice of Mr.
Banks, proprietor of the Liverpool Amphitheatre, who
immediately offered him an engagement, which Dicky
joyfully accepted, and made his first bow to a Liverpool au-
dience at the Christmas of 1807. His success here was pro-
digious—his readiness in the circle supplied a stock of
jokes for the universal public, and no contrivance, how-
ever extravagant, was considered impossible for his in-
vention. His fame quickly reached the ears of the ma-
nagers of Astley's, and in the year 1809 he appeared in
London under the management of Mr. Joha Ashley, in
conjunction with the celebrated Richer, the rope-dancer.
He forthwith became a first-rate favourite.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE

RAILWAY MANAGEMENT-EDINBURGH AND

GLASGOW RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE RAILWAY TIMES

Sir,—Each half year, as it passes away, makes it more
and more clear that the present system of railway manage-
ment will, in the end, leave the poor shareholders in most
Railway Companies (as is the case in Turnpike Trusts)
but a merely nominal interest. Less and less will the
dividends become, till at last railway officials will eat up
everything—become, in fact, the only parties beneficially
interested in the lines.

It may be said that the Directors of Railway Companies
have themselves a large stake in the conc,rns, and will
therefore do their best to prevent this. But surely though
this was once the case, it is not so now, most of them
having so extensively sold their shares that the good of
the several undertakings is quite a minor consideration,
when extensive patronage, and place for needy sons,
nephews, friends, and relatives, are in view. In proof of
this we see the Directors of the Edinburgh and Glasgow
line holding the very least possible interest in the concern
—scarcely, I believe, £15,000 worth of shares amongst
them, though the capital of the Company is £1,500,000 or
more ! And this very company the other day, at their
half-yearly meeting, were compelled to reduce their divi-
dend to 2k per cent. for the half year, owing to a consid-
erably-increased expenditure ; and this increase in despite
of an enormous fall in the .price of every kind of material
used on the line, and in supplying which this expenditure
arises—say in the price of coal, coke, iron-work, wood,
oil, tallow, grease, labourers' wages, horse work, &c. &c.
I will venture to assert that seeing the very great fall in
the price of the materials used in the needful repairs of
railway lines, as abovesaid, a well-organised Committee of
shareholders, sitting on the expenditure of this very
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, would at least save
half-yearly the sum of £5,000; not a little of which, in a
reduction of the salaries of the officials themselves, and
their underlings, especially as the necessaries, and even
luxuries, of life are now so much lower than they used to
be—whilst this saving of £5,000 half-yearly, or £lO,OOO
per annum, would add more than 1 per cent. to the divi-
dend, and of course cause the shares in this railway to rise
£2O each, if not more, above their present value.
You will remember that, owing to your own great la-
bours chiefly, railway shareholders did about a year ago
manage to get themselves into a passion, and were then
evidently bent on bringing about the needful economy in
railway management. Immense exertions were made on
all sides, and the Directors appeared as if about to have
the worst of it ; but unfortunately you yourself, apparently,
became alarmed at the fury of the storm you had raised
up and the direction it was taking, and in consequence
threw cold water on all further exertions, and so effectu-
ally lulled the storm that nothing was done afterwards
save some extensive savings in the expenditure of the
North Midland line.

Will you allow me to suggest that your utmost exertions
are again imperatively required, or the railway system
must go to nothing. The traffic cannot be pushed further;
nor will there ever be any effective economy, the only re-
source of the poor shareholder, until the Directors are
compelled to adopt it " ax FORCE OF ARMS."

•
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant.
A SHAREHOLDER SINCE 1833.

THE CORNISH RAILWAY.—The subscriptions towards
this all-important line of communication with every part
of Great Britain amount to £44,500, of which £24,150
has been entered on account of Falmouth.
In the Dublin and Kingston Railway, passengers are
carried in one of the trains at the rate of half a farthing
per mile. Before they reduced their fares, shares were at
18 per cent. discount : now they hear 7 per cent. premium,
and the passengers increased 400,000.
A new line is now in contemplation from the terminus
of the Taff Vale Railway to pass through Wales, cross
the Severn, and unite, on its extension to Worcester, with
the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. The estimated
cost is £l,soo,ooo.—Railway Times.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.—On Thursday week an inquest
was held at Sapperton, Gloucestershire, on the bodies of
George Freeman, aged 26, and Henry Stokes, aged 33,
who were killed the previous day, in the open cutting of
the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway, on
Frampton Common.

The Chester Courant says, i❑ reference to the contem-
plated Chester and Holyhead Railway, "There is now,we
believe, no doubt that this important undertaking will be
carried into effect. The necessary notices, preparatory
to the application for an act of parliament during the next
session, are in the course of delivery along the intended
line.

The Carlisle Patriot says, that renewed efforts are
about to be made to secure the formation of a line of rail-
road, between Lancaster and Glasgow, via' Carlisle. The
associated railway companies, who came forward with so
much liberality when the project was mooted last year,
are still prepared to promote the work by the liberal sub-
scription of half a million of money.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—We are pleased
to observe that the traffic on this line is increasing. In
the week ending the 10th instant, 20,311 persons were
carried, (being an increase of nearly 1000 on the preceding
week, which exceeded its predecessor by 1300,) and the
earnings, including the charges for goods, were £5,558
lls. 7d. ; being an increase of upwards of £4OO upon the
week ending the 3d instant, and an excess, as compared
with the corresponding week last year, of not less than
I,33o.—Brighton Guardian.

The Journal des Chemins defer says :—" An inventor
announces that he has found a composition which will
reduce to a mere trifle the price of rails for railroads.
He replaces the iron by a On mhinntinn of Kaolin play
(that used for making pottery and china) with a certain
metallic substance, which gives a body so hard as to wear
out iron, without being injured by it in turn. 100 kilo-
grammes of this substance, would cost less than 15 francs,
and would furnish 21 metres of rail. The Kaolin clay is
abundant in France, and the valley of the Somme con-
tains immense quantities of it."

THE GREAT RAILWAY STATION, MANCHESTER.—
This splendid and extraordinary work, which will unite
the Liverpool and Manchester and Manchester and Leeds
lines at limit's Bank, is progressing most satisfactorily;
the junction of the latter is fast approaching completion,
more than one half of the rails being already laid ; this
junction line is an inclined plane, along which the carria-
ges will be drawn by a double stationary engine of 240-
horse power, working an endless wire rope. The station,
including the sliding lines, turn-tables, arrival and depar-
ture platform, &c., will be the most extensive in the
kingdom, surpassing the justly celebrated one at Derby ;
it will include a space of 852 feet in length, by an average
breadth of 130 feet, having five main lines of rails ; 700
feet of this length will be covered with an iron roof in
three compartments, of 59 feet 6 inches, 28 feet, and
26 feet 3 inches span respectively, supported by elegant
iron columns. The station-house containing the waiting
and refreshment rooms, booking-offices, &c., all erected
in the most convenient and extensive manner, is a hand-
some building in the Roman Doric style, 266 feet long
and 36 wide, raised one story from the ground, and sur-
mounted by a parapet ; the refreshment saloon is lighted
by elegant circular headed windows with stone pilasters
and dressings, and surmounted by an elegant cornice, in
the centre of which is to be placed a handsome clock.
The entrance to the booking offices are under a covered
way supported by brackets, 9 feet 6 inches long, which,
though perhaps not equal in architectural beauty to pil-
lars surpass them in convenience, as it leaves a clear space
for vehicles and foot passengers, and will be unexampled
for general convenience.

MIDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY.—On Wednesday last
the special general meeting of the proprietors of this com-
pany, for the purpose of determining on the amalgama-
tion of the North Midland, the Midland Counties, and
Birmingham and Derby railway companies, being the con-
cluding meeting, was held at the railway station, Derby,
and was attended by nearly 200 persons.—Mr. T. E.
Dicey, the chairman of the board of directors, took the
chair at one o'clock, and laid before the meeting the plan
agreed to at the special general meetings of the North
Midland and Birmingham and Derby Railways, on Mon-
day and Wednesday last, contending that it would be in-
expedient to adopt the proposition, and that the contest
which had so long existed between the Birmingham and
Derby and Midland Counties companies ought to be
amicably settled before any such negotiations were enter-
tained.—Mr. John Ellis, a director, advocated the pro-
position for an amalgamation, and proposed a substantive
resolution to that effect, in which he was seconded and
supported by Mr. Lawrence Heyworth, of Liverpool,
Mr. Waddingham, Mr. Richardson, and other large pro-
prietors from the north.—Sir Robert Morley and Mr.
Alderman Hudson also urged on the proprietors the adop-
tion of the proposed agreement. The discussion was pro-
longed until past four o'clock, when a division took place,
and afterwards at the demand of the chairman, a scrutiny
was bad. In the first instance the proposition was adopted
by a majority of 115 to 11, and in the scrutiny, by a ma-
jority of 1,752 votes (including proxies) to 498. Mr.
Lawrence Hey worth protested strongly against the chair-
man's proceedings in demanding a poll, and declared his
conviction that it arJse from a factious opposition, and
that he had disgraced himself in the opinion of the meet-
ing. A motion requesting him to leave the chair was pro-
posed, and was productive of great noise and clamour.
The result of the scrutiny was formally declared to be
largely in favour of the proposed amalgamation, which it
was understood would be carried into effect without delay,
and that the three companies would be henceforth incor-
porated and known under the name of the "Great Mid-
land Railway."

THE INDIA MAIL.—A meeting of merchants and
others was held in London, on Tuesday, for the purpose
of taking into consideration the expediency of accelerating
the communication with India. Mr. J. A. Smith, the
chairman, explained to those present, that all that was ex-
pected was an expression in general terms in favour of
improved communication, without reference to any com-
pany whatever. Consistently with this view, the resolu-
tions which he read to the meeting were prepared so as to
show what the public desired, and to leave entirely to the
Government the manner and the means to be be adopted
in carrying their wishes out. They were to the effect that
the present arrangement was defective in two particulars,
as the mails from Bombay seldom reached England in
time for the merchants to answer their letters, and that a
similar inconvenience attended the arrival of the outward
mails at Calcutta ; that any plan that could be adopted to
remove these defects by accelerating the communication
between the two countries would be of the greatest nation..
al benefit ; that memorials on the subject should be ad-
dressed to the East India Company, and copies sent to
the Government ; and that to manage and watch over the
matter a committee should be appointed. The resolutions
were passed almost unanimously, and the committee was
named, with the understanding that it should calla public
meeting on the let of December.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.