The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-23 00:00:00

SALES OF WORKS OF ART BY MESSRS. WINSTANLEY'
—A collection of choice paintings, crayon sketches, &c•'
&c., was offered for public competition yesterday, at
Messrs. Winstanley's rooms. As most of the lots were
gems, rendered valuable either from the talent of the
artist, or the peculiar circumstances under which they
were produced, the prices which they brought were high.
A crayon of the Countess of Blessington reading in her
study, brought eighteen pounds; it was from the pencil
of Landseer, and was sketched on the occasion of a re-
union of sevens and artists, At the elegant mansion of
that accomplished lady. It is small, and from its hur-
ried style appears, at first sight, unfinished.
THE OPERATIVE PORTERS.—We are glad to state that
the question relating to these deserving men is finally
settled, in a manner that will place them in a new and
improved position ; and still more so to add that this has
been effected through the good-will of the sub-committee
of the dock trust, headed by Mr. Nicol, the chairman.
The porters asked for, and obtained, a conference with the
parliamentary sub-committee of the docks; and Mr. John
North, solicitor for the dock trustees has, in a published
letter, dated 11th instant, and addressed to Mr. Nicol,
explained the heads of the arrangement. The proposition
made and agreed to is of considerable length ; but the
following extract will convey its import :—" That the con-
signee of goods by any vessel paying the largest amount of
freight, shall be the master porter, if only licensed. If he
be not licensed, or if he decline to act, then the consignee
of goods paying the next largest amount of freight shall
be the master porter, if licensed. In either case, such
consignee shall give notice in writing to the consignee of
the ship, of his intention to act as master porter, before
twelve o'clock of the day next after the report of the ship
at the Custom-house. In default of such notice, or if
neither of such consignees of goods be a master porter, the
consignee of the ship shall be the master porter, if licensed
or shall appoint one," " provided always that the master
porter appointed to discharge a vessel shall in every case
(except when he is the consignee of the vessel,) be, him-
self, a consignee of goods by the vessel which he shall be
so appointed to discharge." Mr. North adds, " the por-
ters are content to be dependent on the merchants and
shipowners, for the just remuneration of their labour, but
not on parties whose interest they allege it to be, to make
a profit out of that labour, by employing unskilful and
unsuitable persons at low wages, to the detriment alike of
the merchant, and the dock-porter, properly so called."
He further states that " the parliamentary sub-committee
of the docks see no objection to that addition, and, on the
other hand would have much satisfaction in being the
medium of so relieving a large and meritorious class of
men." The dock committee have also succeeded in set-
tling equally to their own satisfaction the question which
had arisen between them and the dock trustees of Birken-
head, the latter body having abandoned, before the com-
mittee of the House of Commons, on Thursday last, the
clause in their bill partially affecting Liverpool dock rates,
which was opposed by the dock committee.

. .
THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD IN LIVERPOOL.—The
Synod commenced its services in this town on Tuesday
evening in Canning-street Church. The Rev. Mr. Welsh,
late moderator, preached the sermon ; the Rev. G. J.
Duncan, of North Shields, succeeds to this office. The
Synod having been constituted, two committees were
appointed to prepare petitions to parliament in opposition
to Mr. Stuart Wortley's marriage bill, and against Sun-
day !abour in the post-office. The session was resumed
on Wednesday. The want of missionaries in foreign
parts was alluded to, although the community possess
funds for this object. The public breakfast was held on
Thursday morning at the Concert-hall. About two
hundred persons were present. The Rev. G. J. Duncan,
the newly-appointed moderator, occupied the chair.
Information relative both to the home and foreign mis-
sions was given ; and in connexion with the latter,
the successful labours of Mr. Burns in China were
pointed out. The missions in the west of Ireland were
also alluded to. In the evening, the members of the
Synod dined at the Adelphi Hotel. The Synod again
resumed its sitting on Friday. The Presbytery of
Northumberland suggested some alteration in the mode
of managing the building fund ; that the system should
be general instead of local. The Rev. Mr. Henderson, of
Northumberland, supported this view. The report on
this ouestion was received, and ordered to be taken into
consideration. The report recommending the appoint-
ment of a general financial secretary to assist in
managing the general schemes of the Church, was, after
considerable discussion, left in the hands of the commit-
tees. On Friday evening the case in connexion with the
Birkenhead congregation came before the court.. This
case, interesting to many parties in this locality, arose in
consequence of an appeal of Mr. Forster, the clerk of the
Presbytery of Lancashire, against a decision of the Presby-
tery in a case relating to the congregation of Birkenhead.
The elders of that congregation likewise complained of the
same decision. These parties, along with representatives
of the Presbytery, appeared before the Synod. After much
deliberation, the various parties interested therein having
been heard at length, the Synod passed a judgment con-
demnatory to a certain extent of the course pursued by
the Lancashire presbytery, the members of which were
enjoined to pay greater attention to the routine of their
duties at the meetings, &c., held by that body. The next
annual Synod will be held in Birmingham.