The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-01-14 00:00:00

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

The sixth ordinary meeting of this Society was held last
evening, in the theatre of the Royal Institution. The
papers announced were on the " Unity of the Fine
Arts," by S. Huggins, Esq., and on " Architectural
Criticism," by H. P. Horner, Esq. Mr. Huggins' paper
was a very elaborate exposition of the views of the writer.
who contended for one principle, which was essential to
excellence in each branch of the Arts, including sculpture,
painting, poetry, music, and even architecture. He ad-
duced many names from ancient history in support of his
argument, the bearers of which hiid'fieen famous in most,
if not all, the departments of Art. The Rev, H.H. Hig-
gins wished to understand whether what was meant by the
unity of art was a mere conventionalism or a principle.
Mr. Huggins said it was to be found in nature, otherwise
it could not be a principle. Mr. Higgins thought that
many men who excelled in one branch of art had no ade-
quate appreciation of another, and he therefore could not
understand on what basis the principle of unity of art was
founded. Mr. Huggins contended that where this was
the case the deficiency arose from physical causes, and
that any such instances did not invalidate his theory. A
long debate ensued, in which several gentlemen took
part ; among them Dr. Dickenson, who contended
that by the daguerrotype process, a portrait could be pro-
duced rivalling the nicest proficiency of the rules of art.
Mr. Huggins differed, and stated that by that process it
was true the expression of the countenance at the precise
moment of taking the portrait was gained, but it failed
entirely in depicting the character of the individual ; it
might on the contrary be said of the artist, that he painted
the soul, which can never be said of the daguerrotype.
—Mr. Brooks Yates, who occupied the chair, concurred
in Mr. Huggins views of the subject. A
gentleman present observed that he was aware
from the fact of having recently been through
Germany, that the subject was exciting great interest.
He had had a conversation at Munich with the celebrated
Hess, who held the same views as Mr. Huggins.—Dr.
Hume came forward to continue a paper commenced on
a former occasion, in consequence of the absence of Mr.
Homer. The paper was entitled, " Suggestions on the
advancement of literature and learning in Liverpool."
He said it was necessary, for the benefit of those members
who were not present on the former occasion, to state the
subject of the paper then commenced. On that occa-
sion, he alluded first to the establishment of a public
library and museum; his suggestion next referred to our
schools, and advocated the establishment of one answer-
ing in character to Queen's College, London, and
Queen's College, Birmingham, in Liverpool. To show
the importance of this, he would instance the case
of our Established Church ; and he would divide
the clergy into two classes—the educated and the
uneducated,—by the latter he meant such as had not
received a literary and scientific education at all ; and he
regretted these were greatly on the increase. He had
broached this subject so far back as 1846, and what he
proposed was that the four institutions should combine
for the object. At present these institutions were com-
posed of about five hundred gentlemen, paying some-
thing like £5OO annually. The learned doctor went on
to say that much might be effected by a judicious appli-
cation of this power. From this subject, he went on to
elaborate the objects, internal economy, and operation of
the public schools at present in existence, consisting of
the Royal Institution School, (which he characterised as
based on the model of the ancient Grammar Schools,) the
Mechanics' Institution Schools, and the Collegiate
Schools

It is calculated that during the past year the sum of
£lO,OOO has been saved by deaths, changes, and removals
in the naval service.

Dr. W. Stokes, the eminent Dublin physician, and Mr.
Whiteside, the barrister, have declared against abolishing
the Lord-Lieutenancy.
Resolutions in opposition to the sealed order of the
Poor Law Commissioners, for another rate-in-aid, have
been passed by the Athlone, Ballinasloe, Ennistymon,
and several other Unions.

Lord and Lady Ashley have arrived at East' Lodge,
Brighton, where their youthful family has been residing,
from visiting Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, at
Broadlands, Hants.

The steps pursued by the committee to protect the
interests of the fifth shareholders in the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway have been approved at a meeting of
the parties concerned, and the ultimate measures to be
taken are to receive consideration.

The Duke of Wellington, we are glad to state, con-
tinues in excellent health at Strathfieldsaye. The Mar-
quess of Salisbury and Miss Burdett Coutts, we under-
stand, were the sponsors, by proxy or person, at the recent
christening of the infant daughter of Lord Charles
Wellesley.

Mr. Langston's statement, at the county meeting, that
Dr. Pusey, as Regius Professor of Hebrew, has for fifteen
years received £lOO per annum by a Parliamentary vote is
incorrect. The Regius Professors receive, as professors,
a stipend of X4O per annum, paid to them by the Chapter
of Christ Church. They receive nothing from Parliament.
The country is likely to have the benefit of Sir Edward
Sugden's valuable services in parliament again. The right
hon. and learned gentleman has been invited to stand for
Windsor, in the vacancy that is created by the appoint-
ment of Mr. Hatchell to the office or Attorney-General
for Ireland—he having hitherto been only Solicitor-
General.

Lord Beaumont has, at his sole expense, built, at
Carlton, a school to contain 120 children, where that
number are taught history, cyphering, writing, and geo-
graphy, for one penny per week, including books and
stationery. He also rents another room for an infant
school, containing 50 children, taught upon the same
terms.

Tux WINDOW TAX.—It is reported that the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, instead of proposing the total
repeal of the window tax, contemplates only a reduction
of the impost. In the event of his being compelled, by
the pressure from without, nominally to repeal the tax,
he hopes to retain a portion of it, by levying some new
sort of tax on houses.—Advertiser..

LOYALTY EXTRAORDINARY.-At the inauguration din-
ner of the Mayor of Kilkenny, on the Ist instant, Alder-
man Smithwick, in the course of his speech, said that, as
regarded himself, ne was not so ambitious about his coun-
try as others. All he wanted for Ireland was an Irish
King and Queen, and an Irish House of Lords and Com-
mons.

THE THREE DENOMTNATIONS.—On Friday week, the
annual meeting of the Protestant Dissenting deputies of
the three denominations (Independents, Baptists, and
Presbyterians), was held at the King's Head Inn, Poultry.
The report of the committee contained some statements
protesting against the aggression of the Pope, to which,
on various grounds, several of the deputies took grave
exception. A warm discussion ensued, which ended in
the adoption of a motion for adjournment,
ATTEMPTED MURDER AT DRONEIELD.—A few nights
ago, at midnight, as Joseph Harrison, a young man about
nineteen years of age, was returning to his lodgings, and
had just placed one foot within the house door, he saw an
arm protruded from a corner a tew yards above, when
immediately a gun was discharged, and he received a
portion of shot in his left side and arm. but luckily the
principal part of the contents lodged in his dress, and he
sustained no serious injury. _ _ _

MARRIAGES IN HIGH LIFE.—On We.lnesday, the Bth
of January, were married by special license, at the parish
church of Ballymascanlon, county Louth, the Hon.
Augustus Frederick Jocelyn, brother to the Earl of Ro-
den, late Captain 6th Dragoon Guards, to Grace, second
daughter of Sir John Macneill; and on the same occasion,
Edward Hare Croker, Esq,,. late Captain 6th Dragoon
Guards. to Isabella, eldest daughter of Sir John Macneill,
of Mount- pleasant, Dundalk, and Rutland-square, Dublin.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Lord John
Beresford.

NARROW ESCAPE.—On Saturday, as the Hon. Wzn.
Portman, eldest son of Lord Portman, and Mr. Henry
Bankes, son of George Bankes, Esq., M.P., were return-
ing from Blandford, in a dog-cart, to hunt at Bryanstone,
the seat of Lord Portman, the horse became unmanage-
able, and demolishing the splash-board by a kick oft the
leg, threw Mr. Portman forward on his head, under the
cart, Mr. Bankes being ejected in the same manner•by a
kick on the ancle. The groom on horseback then pro-
cured assistance, and the gentlemen were removed to
Bryanstone. It is satisfactory to add that thoagh they
were considerably bruised and wounded, no bones were
broken.

IRON MASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.—DUDLEY,
SATURDAY.—The concluding meeting of the quarter was
held in this town to-day, and the assembly at the hotel this
evening was numerous and influential. The improved pros-
pects of the trade were generally admitted, and, the prices of
last quarter may now be considered as finally fixed by the
principal houses of the district. As was anticipated at
the preliminary meeting held at Wolverhampton a fort-
night ago, owing to the lowness of stocks and increased
demand an advance has been realised 'iron pigs. Alto-
gether there is cause for congratulation in the improved
position of the iron trade, but at the same time much
reason for caution in avoiding unsafe and merely specula-
tive transactions.

t,e,73: 1,1,7 wort, The new mill of Mr. Boyd, at Belfast, fell down with
a tremendous crash, on Friday, burying a number of
workmen beneath the ruins. The building was roofed,
and the slating all but finished ; and no cause can be
assigned for the accident, save the supposition that the
heavy rain of the previous night had loosened the brick-
work to such an extent as to unfit it for the support of
the beams. About a quarter past seven o'clock, the
--Irmen commenced their operations for the day, and
h
nnt been more than three-quarters of an hour
at
Pie whole building came down with a
ie hie
T .e ruin was complete and instantaneous,
and the uukurtunate men, some of whom were employed
in preparations for arching the second floor of the mill
(which was three stories high, and about eighty feet in
length), and others, were at once overwhelmd. It is.
feared that thirteen lives, have been lost. The loss will
he about £3,000.
THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORE.—An address from the
clergy of the East Riding, expressive of opposition against
the Papal aggression, and a determination to preserve the
Church of England pure and undefiled, having been pre-
sented to the Archbishop of York, his Grace has re-
sponded to the sentiments contained in it in a letter, in
which he thus alludes to the ambitious designs of Dr.
Wiseman :—"Nor will the natural jealousy with which
you regard this invasion of the prerogative of our Sove-
reign, and this attack on the independence of our church
and country, be diminished when you call to mind that
the probable author of this presumptuous movement has
been already raised to a dignity which may entitle him to
aim at. and ultimately to obtain, the highest position of
authority and power in his own church. The result of
his elevation to the Papacy might, without vigilance on
the part of the people, disturb the peace and endanger the
liberties of our country by the more extended influence
which would then be at his command. The late attempt
is only a feretaste of what might be expected but for that
determined spirit of resistance which has been everywhere
manifeated."