The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-16 00:00:00

A PREDICTION FALSIFIED.

The Herald of Saturday calls attention to an extraor-
dinary miscalculation of the " leading journal."
The predictions of the Times were these—we quote
from that journal of Feb. 6:—
" For some time past it has been observed that prices are
lower in England than in foreign ports, taking into account the
expenses of transit. This important fact has lately received
some remarkable illustrations. On Monday we announced
the failure of a large house in the corn trade, caused by con-
tinued losses froin recent importations. The loss was said to
fall on the Baltic shipping houses. Hence it appears that it
has not paid to import wheat from the Baltic at the prices of
the last three or four months • and as people become wiser by
experience, it is probable that a trade ascertained to be ruin-
ous will not be continued freely for the future. From America,
also, we learn that at present prices the importation of grain
must be a losing concern. Whatever temporary or exceptional
reasons there may be for continuing to import with the cer-
tainty of loss, the speculation is one that must infallibly soon
come to an end, from the failure of the resources on which it

is drawing."

Now, had there been any truth in these statements,
the two months which have since elapsed would have
brought matters into their just position. At that mo-
ment, as appeared in the Times of Feb. 5, the average
price for all England was 40s. Id. for wheat, and the Lon-
don average was 445. ld. These prices, argued the Times
of the next day, would effectually discourage importation,
and accordingly " the speculation (of importing corn) was
one that must infallibly soon come to an end." So wrote
the Times of Feb. 6. Such was the prediction.
Now for the fulfilment. In the Times of April 9, two
months after, we find that the average for all England
has fallen to 375. 9d., and the London average to 425. 10d.
But has importation ceased ?
What say the Standard and Globe of Friday night ?
Both give us this statement of the imports into London
during last week :---____ _ _

English
Foreign

Wheat. Barley. Oats.
3,370 qrs. 2,260 qrs. 2,750 qrs,
19,980 qrs. 12,660 qrs. 47,280 qrs.

So utterly refuted by the facts is the Times' prediction,
that the speculation of importing corn " must infallibly
soon come to an end."

All these fancies of a maintenance of the present system,
by the help of a rise of prices enabling the cultivators of
the soil to live and pay their rents, will gradually pass
away ; and we shall soon come to see that, if free trade is
to be carried out, every man will have to struggle with his
neighbour for the means of existence.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON CURRENCY,
FOR THE AGRICULTURAL, TRADING, AND
INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES TO PONDER UPON.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH. EVERTON.- COM-
PLETION OF A BEAUTIFUL STAINED-GLASS
WINDOW.

St. George's Church, in Everton,is well known to most
of our readers as one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical
structures about Liverpool, and as occupying the most
elevated site for many miles round the town. The inte-
rior presents a noble, elegant, and appropriate specimen
of Gothic architecture. The clustered pillars supporting
the galleries and the roof, as well as the supporting arch-
work, the groining, and the mullions of the windows, are
of cast iron, and have a beautifully light and rich appear-
ance. A bright volume of light is admitted by the nume-
rous windows, so much so, indeed, that, in clear weather,
it became apparent that a considerable " subduing" of
this would add to the solemnity and comfort of the
church. The windows were originally glazed with ordi-
nary glass, and the building was worthy of stained glass
throughout. The present respected incumbent, the Rev. W.
W. Ewbank, has all along encouraged this idea; and we
are glad to state that the congregation have, by liberal
subscription, completed the main or eastern window in
stained glass, in a style which reflects the greatest credit
upon the parties, more especially as they were prompted
to do so by their affectionate regard for the memory of
their late faithful vastor and friend, the Rev. R. P. Bud-
dicom. The work, though " memorial," or " obituary,"
is, nevertheless, cheerful and appropriate.
The glass was provided and fitted by " Wailes" of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an artist celebrated for producing
the article nearly approaching, or attaining, that in the
ancient churches—so much appreciated—and the know-
ledge of making which, (with all appliances of modern
science), we assuredly lost, and failed to re-discover, for
many centuries.

The main portion of the window, (under the pointed
arch), is divided into six vertical compartments by the
mullions. in each of these are pictured in brilliant, but
not gaudy colours, as many sacred subjects :-1. The
Annunciation ; 2. The Shepherds at Bethlehem, at the
time the angels are appearing to them ; 3. Christ in the
manger ; 4. Presentation of Christ in the Temple ; 5. The
Flight into Egypt : 6. The baptism of Christ in the River
Jordan.

Above these are, enclosed in spaces of a foliated form,
the figures of four angels, each bearing a shield on the
breast, on which are representations of the passion and
suffering of the Saviour, namely, —The pillar (to which
he was bound); the scourges; the reed; the cross ; the
spear ; the sponge on the reed ; the hammer ; and the
pincers. _ _ _

The upper part of the window is most tastefully and
brilliantly filled in, in ornamental work of the finest
stained glass. Above (and below) the subjects noticed,
there are circular star figures, or medallions. At the top
of the arch there is a magnificent wheel of twelve radii,
or spokes. The circle, or peryphery, is black, (being the
iron work), and bordering it inwardly there is a beautiful
display of ruby-coloured glass, which by contrast with
the black portions, and the adjacent light-blue, green, &c.,
in various minuter compartments of the tracery, has a
pleasing and novel effect. The whole of the glass is well
protected outside by 'a net-work of copper. In the ar
rangement and completion of this window we believe the
present incumbent has devoted his most anxious and
unwearied attention.

A band, lettered in yellow on the glass, (in old English
character,) crosses the lower part of the window, yet is
so unobtrusive that, in appearance, at even a moderate
distance, it merely represents a decorative border or
ribbon. The good taste of the parties who dedicated the
window to the memory of their late pastor is here shown,
for his worth as a preacher was only equalled by his pains-
taking devotedness as a pastor, and his retiring modesty
as a man. The inscription, all in one line. is—
"ln memory of Robert Pedder Buddicom, M.A., late minis-
ter of this church. Lord give us grace to follow his good
example, that with him we may be partakers of Thy Heavenly
Kingdom."

We- learn that the general satisfaction given by this
beautiful window has already induced three respective
parties to announce their intention to fill with stained
glass the two smaller windows at the east end of the
galleries, and the steeple window at the west end, as
" obituary" tokens of respect to their dear departed
relatives. We hope from this to see the whole of the
lateral windows of the body of the church equally illu-
minated in succession ; in which case St. George's Church,
Everton, may be referred to with pride as one of the most
tasteful and beautiful edifices in this district.

PROGRESS OF THE

BIRKENHEAD DOCK

WORKS

The community on this side of the water are scarcely
aware of the rapidity with which the Birkenhead dock
works are approaching to a state which will render them
available for the shipping of the port. As we view them
from the river all seems unfinished and ruinous ; but pro-

ceed inland to the western end of the Egerton and Morpeth
Docks, and a scene of activity bursts upon the view, which
it is not easy to parallel. From this point a dam has been
carried across to the opposite side of the pool to pen up
the waters of the upper portion of the proposed great
float ; and here, under the spirited contractor, Mr.
M'Cormack, twelve hundred men are working night and
day, excavating the mud and earth to form a dock which,
as at present determired, will extend to the copper works
on the Seacombe side of the pool, and give a water area
of fifty acres. A further extension, however, is contem-
plated, which will carry the dock, or float, as far as
Poulton bridge ; and the contracts for this extension have
been advertised for.

The depth of this dock adjoining the quays will be eight
feet below the level of the old dock sill of Liverpool, or
six feet lower than the bed of any of the docks of our
port. The centre will not be excavated quite so deep. A
portion of the walling at the Victoria Wharf, which runs
at an angle from the dock warehouses, is already com-
pleted, and is of excellent and solid workmanship. Ano-
ther portion, fronting the warehouses, is rapidly advancing.
The excavations in the centre of the dock are progressing
at a speed which, considering the immense area over
which the labour employed is spread, is surprising.
Every appliance of mechanical skill, and of steam,
is, of course, provided by Mr. M'Cormack in aid of
the human labour employed. Two steam engines of
thirty horse power each lift the waggons of earth from
the bed of the dock to the place of deposit; and more are
being pi ovided as the works progress.
The entrance to the float from the Egerton Dock is
nearly completed, requiring now only to be smoothed to
fit the gates. Those for the inner end of the gut are to be
seen in the carpenters' shed adjoining the work, and are
of immense strength, and splendid workmanship. They
are, moreover, the largest in the world, being 70 feet
wide, and shew that the Birkenhead Dock Commissioners
have bad their eyes open to the fact that we may, in all
probability, have shortly to accommodate in the Mersey
vessels of much larger tonnage and breadth of beam than
heretofore. The gate next to the float is to be con-
structed as a caisson, to be moved altogether, and rest,
when open, in a recess made in the dock wall. The main
timbers for this work are also prepared, and are formed of
pieces of oak, dovetailed and morticed in, so as to in-
crease their strength, and at the same time prevent de-
flection.

The gut leading to the tunnel, by which the outer en-
trance to the dock is to be scoured, is also completed,
with the exception of a little smoothing of the sill to en-
surethe fitting of the sluice gate. the tunnel is fifty feet
wide, and about thirty in height, and through it will
pass, when the sluice is opened, a large body of the water
in the upper float, which will be refilled to its proper level
by the drainage brought down from Bidston marshes.
When it is borne in mind that this is spread over the
large area of 50 acres, its effect, when compressed, and
flowing through an arch of only 50 feet in width, must be
to give a most tremendous scouring power.

The completed docks—the Egerton and Morpeth,
which will in future only have to serve as entrances to the
great inner float—are now full of shipping, and their
quays present a most lively scene, especially as contrasted
with their desolate appearance for some time after their
being first opened.

MR. BEARD'S FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
PHOTOGRAPHIC LIKENE

It is precisely twelve months ago since we first had to
direct the attention of our readers to the excellent speci-
mens of the photographic art, produced at the establish.
ment of Mr. Richard Beard, jun., at that time newly
opened. We thought then, in common with the entire
public, that the art had reached perfection, and that
nothing more was to be desired than such life-like and
beautifully-finished portraits as Mr. Beard was providing
for his friends. The cold tints which pervaded the early
specimens of colouring had been got rid of; a pure white
had been procured instead of the original blueish shade ;
and we had no longer to deplore, as drawbacks upon the
faithfulness of his portraits, the pained and occasionally
ghastly expression imparted to the features in those fur-
nished by others in the earlier stages of the art.
Photographic painting, however, has not stood still
amid the general progress of science, and we are reminded
that the summit of excellence or virtue is a height which
man ought never to flatter himself he has attained. The
intellectual mind is ever hearing
"A voice cry through the startlel air—` Excelsior P"

In the portraitures which we cherish of absent friends,
or beloved relatives, we long to see them "as they lived" ;
with all the warm expression or colouring of life about
them ; and if to this excellence can be added the further
illusion of seeing them where they lived,—in some favorite
scene, where we have listened to their voices, or sur-
rounded by some accustomed objects associated with their
memories—a great desideratum has been attained. All
these improvements have been effected in the portraits
which Mr. Beard is now producing, specimens of which
we had the pleasure of seeing at his establishment on Fri-
day last. Thecolouringnow produced by theincreased prac-
tice and skill, which the artistsengaged in this difficult and
hitherto unknown description of painting have attained, is
warm in tone and not exceeded in beauty and finish by
the finest specimens of enamel painting. Backgrounds are
thrown in with great effectiveness and taste : and give a
projection or substance as it were to the portrait itself,
and the objects and auxiliaries introduced into the fore-
ground. In short, in one of these beautiful productions
we have, instead of a mere delineation of features and
form, placed unintelligibly against a blank wall, or more
unintelligibly still against a mass of dark clouds, the same
features and form standing beside, and smiling upon us,
in the boudoir, the study, or in the heart of a lovely land-
scape—a miniature painting and a portrait in one.
e would strongly recommend our friends to inspect
for themselves these improvements, which we feel assured
will win for Mr. Beard a large amount of patronage, or
rather employment—the former word is not applicable
where an artist gives to every one visiting him what is really
double the worth of their money. We may remark, be-
fore concluding, that by Mr. Beard's' process, portraits
previously taken by him can be multiplied to any extent.
It has often been the subject of regret to the friends of the
absent or the departed, that but one memorial of their
form and features is left behind. This want can now be
remedied.