The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-04-15 00:00:00

THE POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY,

The monthly meeting. of this society was held last
night, in the Hall of the Royal Institution; Mr. Pilcher
in the chair. The only paper read was one by Mr.
Rayner, (of the firm of Raynerancl Hutton, of this town,)
who exhibited and described a number of beautiful speci-
mens of patent enamelled slate, encaustic tiles, Cannabis
ornaments, &c. After a few introductory remarks, Mr.
Rayner proceeded as follows :
Slate has of late years become an article much more
sought after than formerly; immense quantities of it not
only being used for roofing purposes, but it has been found
to DOSSCSS so many intrinsicilly valuable qualities over
stone, granite, and even marble, that the demand for it
has increased to a very great extent. As a proof of its
strength as compared with
_stone, it. is a well known fact

. .
that an inch slab of slate is equal to York paving two or
three inches thick, granite three to four inches, and
marble even eight to ten inches,—therefore, where light-
ness and strength are required, slate stands pre-eminent.
Secondly—lt is an almost perfectly non-absorbent body,
for if an inch slab be immersed in water for three months,
it will be !ound, on merely scratching the outer surface,
to be perfectly dry underneath. Thirdly—Proving its
appl cability for out-door work over stone, inasmuch as it
is not liable like stone to be injured by frost, which
freezing the water the stone has absorbed, cracks it,
rendering it useless and dama?ing *he work. Its non-
absorbent nature renders it also available for many other
purposes, inasmuch as even assafeetida may be spread
on a slab and left for hours, when after washing it, it will
be found as sweet and free from- odour as the day it
left the quarry, thereby making it extremely useful for
chemical purposes, mangers. &c. ; but in this age of com-
petition it has been made to undergo a process called en-
amelling, which so totally changes its appearance and
value that its most ?ntimate friends would never recognise
the beriteiful manufacture of the patentee, Mr. Magnus.
in the once plain and homely slate. During the process of
enamelling it goes through five distinct operations; first,
there is the ground coating, which is burnt into the slate,
and afterwards rubbed down to a file surface to prepare it
for the pencil of the artist, who gives it either
the appearance of the richest Sienna, Brocatella,
Granite, Porphry, and even inlaid work, some spe-
cimens of which are now before you ; after which it
receives the first coating of enamel, again subjected to
the heat of the furnace, and again rubbed down; it
receives in all three coats of enamel over the paint-
ing,
all of which having been thoroutTbly burnt into
the slate, at a heat ranging from 351 to 6t) degrees, not
only protects the work. hut secures for it a surface which
will carry a higher polish than any other article of a like
nature; and, what is of much greater importance, this
polish will last for years. neither the action of the atmos-
phere, nor even oils or acids having the least effect on it.
It ha.► now been tested for several years, and found to
answer the expectations formed of it, being now very
generaly used for out-door work. such as tombstones, mo-
numents, vases. &c., and after 5. 6. and in some instances,
8 and 9 years' wear, the polish has been found as good as
the day it left the works. Mr. J. then drew the attention
of the me bers to the specimen before them, especially to
' the one of Florentine Mosaic, which though many object
to the variety of colours, as not suitable for general use;
yet, as a work of art, and as regards the general faithful-
ness of the imitation, has been very greatly admired. It
is a style which is quite new here ; for in the real Floren-
tine Mosaic such a piece would be so valuable as to pre-
clude the possibility of its being• brought into general
use, but since the introduction of this style by Mr.
Magnus. in enamelled slate, he has had a very great de-
mand for them in London ;. indeed it was for this especial
branch of his manufacture that he obtained the gold
medal of the Society of Arts. He has had the honour of
making a table in this style for Prince Albert, which is
favoured with a place in the drawing-room at Osborne
House. The Duke of Wellington has also a beautiful
billiard table, in use, at Strathfieldsaye House, and most
of the nobility and gentry have patronised it more or less;
it is used by all the most eminent architects, in club-
houses, in the superior government offices, and at the
principal railway stations.
Mr. Rayner then brought forward specimens of the
patent metallic lava, one of the numerous improvements
over the old asphalte pavement, which have been lately
brought forward. This substance has been used for four
years in Basinghall-street, London,
.on a common and
much frequented cart road, and vet not the least trace of
damage can be seen. Mr. Rayner next described the
cann •big or hempen composition-, which can be manufac-
tured into mouldings, scrolls, wreaths, figures, &c.
Alluding to the enamelled slate, Mr. Horner rose and
expatiated on the beauty attained by the process illus-
trated in Mr. Rayner's paper. He, however. (as it was
an open meeting) objected to the process of enamelling
being applied to the imitation of Mosaic or other antique
works, when the scope of the artist could be developed as
it was in the slate panels (groups of flowers) produced.
With regard to the Cannabis ornaments, though they are
lighter and less liable to crack than papier mache, and
most elegantly sharp, they did not, he thought, give the
effect of that which he would like to encourage—original
carving. There was beauty of design, but too much
sameness.

Mr. 11ORNRR took the opportunity of suggesting the
establishment in Liverpool of a school of design, picturing,
in a very long address, the benefits which it would:confer
on mechanical artisans, carvers, founders, and others.
J. B. YATEs, Esq., mentioned the Mechanics' Insti-
tution as offering every facility, and passed a high eulogy
on tile drawing master as having produced some very
pretty pictures.
Mr. Councillor BENNETT and Mr. BOULA made some
relevant remarks, all tending to add importance to the
paper read.
After several other members had expressed their senti-
ments, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Rayner, and
the meeting separated.

MANCHESTER SETAKSPEF lAN SOCIETY.—The per-
formance of the gentlemen composing this society, in aid
of one of our best local charities, the eye and ear infir-
mary, will take place on Friday week. We hear that
numerous parties have already secured places ; and we
may mention that his Worship the Mayor, Lord Skel-
mersdale, Lord Sefton, and many of our leading gentle-
men have each taken a box.
MISERY OF EMIGRANTS IN NEW YORK.—On Mon-
day, 43 emigrants that had arrived that day in the ship
Epamimondas, from Liverpool, were found wandering in
the streets without food, or the means of getting it. They
were !taken to the Fourth ward station house, and there
lodged for the night, and food supplied to them. The
children seized the offered bread in the wildest manner.
and devoured it more like hungry wolves than human
beings. There were upwards of eighty, in all, removed
into the Fourth ward station house. The Commissioners
of Emigration have undertaken to protect these poor
people, receiving the commutation money, as they do,
and bonds that the emigrants shall not be a burthen on
the city, yet they permit them to roam about in a starving
condition. This is too bad.—New York Herald, April 2.
A LIVING UPAS TREE.—Lieutenant Marchland, of
the United States navy. has brought home with him from
Java a living Upas tree, so famous for its real and fanci-
ful poisonous properties. By his assiduous care it was
preserved alive during the long voyage, and a few days
before its arrival at Norfolk, Virginia, leaves sprouted
forth. It has been presented to the National Ins' itute at
Washington, and can be seen at the new observatory.
It was once rumoured and believed that the poisonous
effluvium of the tree was so fatal that birds flying over it
dropped dead, and that all vegetation died under and far
around it. It is now ascertained that the juice only is
poisonous. Into this juice the savages dip their arrows
which then have a double fatality.—New York Observer.
ORIGIN OF THE BLUE-COAT HOSPITAL.—In the reign
of George the First, one of the most permanent, pros-
perous, and useful of the charities of Liverpool was esta-
blished, and that chiefly by the noble generosity and
untiring zeal of one man. Bryan Blundell. the founder
of that noble and flourishing charity, the Blue-coat
Hospital, was one of the most remarkable men whom
Liverpool produced in the early part of the eighteenth
century. It appears, from a brief and modest sketch of
Mr. Blundell's life, written by himself, that in his earlier
years ho was a shipowner, and commander of his own
ship, in the foreign trade. He and the Rev. Robert
Stithe, one of the rectors of Liverpool, were very inti-
mate, and, being alike benevolent and generous, they
agreed to use their best endeavours to found a charity-
school in Liverpool. They began by soliciting subscrip-
tions from the mayor and most respectable inhabitants,
and gradually got together a yearly subscription of from
sixty to seventy pounds. With this they built a little

school-house, which cost thirty-five pounds, and appointed
a master at twenty pounds a-year, who was paid out of
the money collected at the sacraments. They then took
fifty poor children into the school, clothed and gave them
learning. Mr. Robert Stithe was made treasurer, " and
I," says Mr. Blundell, " went to sea on my employment,
telling Mr. Stithe that I hoped to be giving him something
every voyage for the school." In 1713 Mr. Stithe died;
but from 1709 to the time of his death, Mr. Blundell had
given him two hundred and fifty pounds to the sunnnrt of

the school, earned on his several voyages, two hundred
of which he had nut out to interest. When Mr. Blundell
came home, in 1713, he found that his friend and fellow-
labourer, Mr. Stithe, was dead, and that the new rector,
Mr. Richmond, was much indisposed at times, and not
able to undertake such a charge. He, therefore, deter-
mined to leave off the sea, and undertake the care of the
school, of which he was chosen treasurer in 1714. At
that time there was £2OO at interest, which was all the
stock the school had. "In a little time," says Mr.
Blundell, " I aaw some of the children begging about
the streets, their parents being so poor as not to have
bread for them, which gave me great-concern, insomuch
that I thought to use my best endeavours to make pro.-
vision for them, so as to take them wholly from their
parents, which I hoped might be promoted by a subscrip-
tion." This subscription produced between £2OOO and
£3OOO, of which sum, however, Mr. Blundell himself
gave £750, being the tenth part of his whole property.
He also determined to apply the tenth part of all his
future earnings to the same project, and, in fulfilment of
this generous determination, gradually made up his £750
into £2OOO. Out of these various sums the Blue-coat
Hospital of that day wes built at a cost of £2OOO to £3OOO,
and was finished in 1718. This noble benefactor of the
under-
takings of
to
the end of
Liverpool continued
is
life. t
So
o prosper
great," in a
saysh
ll his
e
" has been' the mercy and providence of God, in prosper-
ing me in business, that I have made up the £750 to
£2OOO, which I have paid to the use of the school; and
my chiklren (six in cumber, the youngest of them now

near thirty years of age) aro so far from wanting, and
being worse for whet I have given to the school, that they
are all benefactors to it, some of them more than £lOO at
a time.—Baines' History of Liverpool.
Woman was formed to be sued and won ; it is the law of
their organisation. Mcn value a woman's affection in
proportion to the efforts it has cost to gain it. The
rights of a difficult conquest are worn with pride and
exultation, while the fruits of an easy victory are held in
indifference.--.Fraser': Magazine.

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY NEWS.

The same listlessness which ive have had the unplea-
santness to report for some months continues to pervade
our produce maricets, and, we are sorry to add, without
any hope of improvement. All confidence on the part of
buyers seems to have vanished, the result being merely
retail sales in every article to supply immediate wants
only. The money-market keeps tolerably easy ; but, in
the absence of all spirit. prices of produce are gradually
declining. There can be no doubt that the want of con-
fidenCe in what is miscalled free trade, and the ridiculous
position of the government, or rather our living without a
government, are quite sufficient to account for this unpre-
cedented s ate of things.

In the early part of the week the panic in the share-
market continued ; but the last few days there has been
less disposition to force sales, and the market has improved
some little in consequence. There is yet a large bull
account to settle, and, after the severe lessons speculators
have had, we may expect to see a more regular market,
with less excitement. It is very doubtful whether we have
not already anticipated the full benefit of the coming
exhibition, several of the lines having risen no less than
.£lOO per cent, within the last nine months ; take Dover,
.Leede—indeed most of the principal lines— not to mention
the non-paying dividend lines, such as Caledonia, &c.
To-day, however, we have indications of another spell of
activity. A brisk demand has sprung up for shares of all
the old lines. and prices have steadily advanced all day,
closing at the best. We annex quotations :—Aberdeen,
144 ; Ambergate and Etst Junction. 31d; Late Ches. and
Wheat!. 20 ; Caledonian, 14 ; East Lancashire, 164 17c
17; Old Leeds, 59 43 4 60 4 ; Do. Fifths, 64d ; London
stock, 128 4 8 4 4; Do. New Quarters, 5 44p ; M'chester
Slef and .L'eolii, 344; Do. preference, 12; Midland, 61
4 1 ; Do. Halves. 14 134 4t, ; North British, 94; North
Staffordshire, 6 15-16 d ; S'bury and Birm. B, 6; Old
Dovers, 264 4I 4 7 64c 74; York, Newc. and Berwick,
preference unpaid up, 1 l ; York and North Midland.
263 27 4; Boulogne and Amiens, 9 11-16.
The business transacted in our Cotton market on Sa-
ttirday was extremely moderate, the sales scarcely reaching
4,000 bales. The market was heavy, with prices a shade
lower than the rates of the previous day. To-day there
has been no change of importance to notice. Prices are
azain a shade lower. The sales amount to 4,000 bales,
all to the trade, and the market closes dull and heavy.
Import since Friday, New Orleans, 3,434.

EXPRESS

N E W S.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

PRIVY COUNCIL

At a meeting to-day, at Buckingham Palace, the
Master of the Rolls was admitted and sworn in as a
member, and took his seat at the board.
Lord .L.ingdale, the late Master of the Rolls, has been
attacked by paralysis, and is seriously unwell.

ST. ALBANS ELECTION COMMITTEE.
The council for the petitioners having declared their
inability to proceed without the missing witnesses. the
chairman said the case must be proceeded with or be con-
sidered closed. The Room was then cleared, and after a
deliberation of half an hour, the parties were re-admitted,
and the Chairman announced that the Committee had
come to the following resolution :—" That Jacob Bell,
Eici. is duly elected to serve as a burgess in the present
parliament for the borough of St. Alban's."
The Committee then announced that they should make
a special report to the house on the subject, and tho room
was cleared.

LEITH BOROUGH ELECTION, MONDAY.—The Lord
Advocate was returned to-day without opposition.

SPAIN, MADRID Bth.—The ministry had not then
been completed. It was believed at Madrid that the
elections would commence on the 10th of May. That
the " Cortes" would assemble about the 2nd June, and
that the first proposition submitted to them would be for
the arrangement of the public debt.
PIEDMONT.—The Genoa Gazette announces that some
cases of a malignant disease had appeared in that city and
neighbourhood. The authorities had given orders to
adopt proper precautions to prevent its propagation.
HAMBRO', APRIL 10TH.—Exchange on London 13-13 i
and bills on London in request.—Funds better.—Coffee
dull.

INDIA.—The Globe says the intelligence from India is
not altogether favourable as regards trade.
WEST INDIA AND MEXICAN MAIL.—No. news of the
steamer as vet ; and at Lloyds an increased rate of hail-
ranee has been paid, namely, 21 per cent.
PARIS, SUNDAY.—The new Minister of the Interior
contemplated serious changes in the administration of the
departments. The formation of a new Cabinet has given
great satisfaction in the country. There seems to be a
general disposition to give the Ministry a fair trial. No
change has taken place in Funds ; Fives, 9323.

TATTERSALLS BETTING
SOMERSETSH IRE STAKES.
Ban-6 to I (taken.)
CHESTER CUP.

Montague and Rhesus, 10 to 1 ; Knight of Avenel, 17
to 1 ; Vatican, 20.t0 I : Backbiter, 40 to 1.

2000 GUINEAS STAKES,

Mountain Sylph (colt), 2 to 1 ; Exeter, 5 to 1; Glen-
hawk, 12 to 1 ; any odds against Grecian.

THE DERBY,

Prime Minister, 6 to 1; Teddington, S to 1; Marl-
borough Buck, 12: to,l ; Theseus, 33 to 1 ; Neasnato, 40
to 1 ; Grecian, 50 to 1.

THE OAKS.
Hesse Homburg, 8 to 1; Iris, 8 to I

LONDON MONEY AND SHARE MARKETS,

-YESTERDAY

CLOSING PRICES,

Consols Account, 97 4: Ditto Money, 97} ; Three and
Quarter per Cents., 97j 8f ; Bank Stock, 211 12 ; Exchequer
Bills, 54 7. prem. Foreign Stocks :—Market rather livelier and
prices a shade better. Mexicans, 33 4; Spanish Actives, 181
194; Ditto Threes, 39 ; Ditto Passives, 41 4, Railway
Shares : —London Stock, 1274 8 ; Ditto Quarters, 5 4 prem.;
Midland Stock, 614 21; Ditto Halves, 14 13 dis.; North Staf-
fordshire, 62 4 die. ; South Eastern, 27 4 ; Edinburgh and Glas-
gow, 344 5 ; East Anglian, 44 1; Caledonians, 144 4; Ditto
Pref., 64 2; Eastern Counties, 7} 4; East Lancashire, 17 4;
Great Northern, 171 18; Leeds and Thirsk, 17 18; North
British, 91 104 ; Great Western. 874 8 ; Lancashire and York-
shire, 59 60; Ditto Fifths, 7 64 dis.; York, Newcastle, and
Berwick, 214 , Ditto Extension, 313 dis. ; Ditto Preference,
14 4 dis. ; York and North Midland, 264 ; Ditto Preference,
14 1 dis.; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 34 6; Lon-
don, Brighton, :.nd South Coast, 95 G.

The English. market has further improved, closing at its
highest point with a strong appearance. Railway shares ad-
vanced a little, market closing firmer than it has looked for
some days. Rates of continuation were high, but declined a
trifle as the day advanced.

MANCHESTER SHARE MARKET.—YESTSRDAT.
The following are the closing prices :—London and North-
Western. 1274; Ditto Quarters, 51 prem. ; Ditto eio Shares,
M. and 8.C., 2 15-16 3 pretn. ; East Lancashire, 16 13-16 1 17;
Eastern Counties, 71 cash 1 ; Caledonians, 14/ ; Ditto Pref ,
6 9.16; North British, 9; North Steffords, 6 dis.; Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincoln, 34.1 1; Ditto Pref., 12; Ditto New
Pref., I ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 341; Leeds Stock, 59/ 60 ;
South Eastern and Dover, 27 ; York and North Midland, 2611.