The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-19 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL MANDARD.

THE APPROACHING MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

ST. PETER'S WARD.

A meeting of the electors of this ward was held last
night,- at the Clarendon Rooms, the members of the Na-
tional Confederation having expressed a desire to nominate
Mr. Ferguson, one Of the churchwardens, for the vacancy
in the Council, arising from the retirement by rotation of
Mr. Stewart. The meeting wack numerously attended, and
was most enthusiastic in the object in view. Mr. M'ln-
tyre, surgeon, was called to the chair, and opened the busi-
ness by stating, that they had now to select a candidate for
the vacancy, and that he should be glad to hear any
proposition that might be made by any one present.
Mr. John SMITH, (of the Mercury-office) in an elegant
and impressive address, proposed Mr. Ferguson, .as a
gentleman peculiarly fitted from his abilities, his long ex-
perience as a parochial officer, and iis continued care to
economise the funds of the parisioners. Mr. Ferguson
was a gentleman who was well known to the ratepayers of
Liverpool, during a long period of life, in the course of
which he had filled various situations connected with the
financial arrangement of public bodies, and which in
every way qualified him for being the representative of
such a ward as St. Peter's. He would therefore propose
that "John Ferguson is a fit and proper person to re-
present the ratepayers of St. Peter's ward in the Town
Council, as the avowed advocate of economy in the ex-
penditure of the public money. and an equitable adjust-
ment of the necessary local burdens." He concluded by
representing the Town Council as a most important body,
having an immense and growing estate under their con-
trol, and capable, if good representatives were returned,
of rendering the town the envy of surrounding countries,
and the admiration of the kingdom. (Hear.)
Mr. THOMPSON inquired if any one present could in-
form him why an old servant should be turned overboard
in behalf of a new candidate ?

Mr. MINTON said that, in his opinion, Mr. Stewart had
neglected his duty in the Council ; that he was absent on
all occasions when his vote was wanted to economise the
expenditure. Had he attended and given his vote
conscientiously, though against the general views of the
constituency, his conduct might have met with forbear-
ance. As it was, he thought they had better cease to sup-
port him. He paid a high compliment to Mr. Ferguson
as a model of a good citizen—active, honourable, and ever
desirous, though at personal sacrifices, to support the pub-
lic good.
It was then moved and seconded, " That this meeting
invite Mr. Ferguson to become a candidate for St. Peter's
Ward at the ensuing election ; and pledges itself to use its
best efforts to secure his return." _ _

A committee was then elected (with power to add to
their numbers) to carry out the objects of the meeting.
It was then moved and seconded, and unanimously
passed, " That a subscription should be commenced by the
friends of Mr Ferguson, in order to defray the expenses of
that gentleman's election."
Mr. WATSON warmly advocated this motion after it was
passed, with a view to set a going the machinery for the
requisite collection, by taking the names of contributors,
which was immediately complied with.
After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting sepa-
rated—the greatestunanimity having prevailed throughout.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—YESTERDAY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner PERRY.)

IN RE TERENCE BELLEW MC. MANTIS.

Tn the case of this bankrupt, who is well known to be
one of the rebel leaders and now in custody in Ireland on
a charge of sedition, Mr. Yates, jun., solicitor, applied for
an extension of time for the bankrupt to surrender until
some day in December. He thought the bankrupt would
be tried about the Ist October. His Honor enlarged the
time to the 16th October, and in the course of his remarks
intimated that the time might, if necessary, be enlarged
from time to time, as there is an indictment preferred
against him also at Liverpool.

MEETING LAST NIGHT ON THE SUBJECT OF
REFUSAL OF SITES FOR THE FREE CHURCH
OF SCOTLAND.

Last night a numerous and highly respectable meeting
was held in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street, to meet
a deputation sent down by the Committee of the Free
Church of Scotland, to hear an explanation of the diffi-
culty under which that Church labours, owing to the re-
fusal of certain great landowners to grant or sell sites for
the erection of churches upon their properties.
John Cropper, Esq. was moved into the chair, and
after prayer being offered up by the Rev. Mr. Gardner,
and a few introductory remarks from the Chairman,
The Rev. Dr. BEGG proceeded to bring before the
Meeting the precise position in which the Free Church
stood, which he remarked was one which was scarcely
understood sufficiently by the English public. The two
conntries differed entirely in their position. In Scotland,
at the period of the Reformation, the possesiions of the
Church of Rome were granted almost wholly to the
aristocracy, whilst in England they were divided in part
among the aristocracy and in part to the endowment of
the Reformed Church. The law of entail was also more
strict in Scotland ; and as the result, the soil was par-
celled out in very large portions, some of the great holders
having estates of thirty or forty miles in length, and one
possessing a whole county. Dissent, too, in Scotland was
now the rule, and in England only the exception.
When the disruption took place in Scotland, the bulk of
the people went from the Church, with their ministers. And
they were on a sudden thrown upon the difficulty of pro-
viding churches, schools, and ministers' houses. At first
they met in temporary places, in the open air, and on the
the hill sides ; but they found that in many parts of the
country they were met, in their applications for sites for
building permanent churches, by the landowners with
direct refusals. Some of these were subsequently with-
drawn, and sites granted. This was the case with the pro-
perty of the Duke of Sutherland, on which all the congre-
gations were now supplied with churches. There were
other landowners who had promised sites, and when the
concession came to be examined, it was found to be worth
nothing, many of the sites being so situated as to be most
inconvenient for the congregations. One granted by the
Duke of Richmond, in Banffshire, was six miles away from
the glen inhabited by the free hurchmen ; whilst Lord
Cawdor accompanied his with restrictions of the most
preposterous character. There were many cases in which
sites continue to be absolutely refused. Such was the
case in the Isle of Skye, where he had himself seen up-
wards of 3,000 persons worshipping on the side of a hill;
in Ardnaremuchaw they were compelled to build a float-
ing church, which they moored on an inland lake. On
the property of Lord Ward, recently purchased, and on
which he was rooting out the population to make way for
deer, they were absolutely refused any site. The Duke
of Buccleugh, who owned a part of five counties, had re-
sisted the movement in every way ; but they had suc-
ceeded in some of these in meeting with small patches of
land to suit their purpose, whice were held by private
parties. After a long series of details of their proceedings
with his lordship and other landowners, the reverend
gentleman concluded with an eloquent appeal for
the sympathies of Englishmen, • and a denunciation
of the coqueting which is going on with popery, and of
any endowment of the priesthood by this country—a mea-
sure in which his English hearers would find the whole of
Scotland ready to assist them in resistance to the utter-
most. The rev. gentleman concluded amidst loud cheers.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by D. D. M.
Crichton, Esq., at the close of whose speech, of which we
cannot give even a sketch, our reporter was forced to
leave.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(BY EXPRESS.)

LA PLATA.

By the arrival at Havre of the French vessel Parana,
we are in possession of intelligence direct from Monte
N ideo to the 18th of July.
The position of affairs was not materially changed. In
spite of the attacks directed by Oribe against the capital
of Uruguay, and notwithstanding the embarkation on
board the French steamers of part of the French force,
the city still held out, but the position of the unfortunate
inhabitants was exceedingly precarious. -
Coin had become very scarce in consequence of conti-
nued exportation, and commerce was de facto at a stand-
still since the re-opening of the Argentine ports, which
had drawn away the European ships to them. Emigra-
tion on a grand scale was consequently the order of the
day, and every vessel was carrying off to Europe or the
Brazils some families with all that they could realise.

The raising of the blockade of Buenos Ayres had in-
creased the insolence of Rosas, by whose orders the news-
papers in his interest abused France and its agents with
the grossest invectives.
The points on the western coast occupied by Oribe were
still blockaded by the French squadron.
A rumour was current at Monte Video at the departure
of the Paqueboy of Parana that a secret emissary from
Rosas had arrived there, bearing the conditions of a peace
with the Montevidean government.

PARIS, SUNDAY, 6 30 P.M.
The sway of General Cavaignac draws to a close. His
popularity, in the Assembly and out of it, has already ex-
pired, and his fall must necessarily soon follow. The
fundamental dissension which prevails between him and
the moderate majority in the Chamber, as well as his
ruPP,-0040nzent with thaircy.a,ul,.... vwc.va rpn ororl
so glaring in the debate of yesterday, that it is difficult to
see how things can go on much longer as they are without
a crisis. The speech of M. Falloux has produced a great
sensation. He has been congratulated by M. Thiers and
his party, and is already marked out as an aspirant to the
highest rank in it. It is now known that several other of
the most exalted of the red republicans were destined for
missions into the departments, to democratise the country,
if that project had not been crushed by the debate of
yesterday.
The discussion of yesterday has contributed materially
to the chances of success of Marshal Bugeaud. A great
number of electors who had refused their votes have since
given them to him, as a means of exhibiting their oppo-
sition to General Cavaignac, of whom he is a decided
political enemy.
The agitation of Paris is very great on account of the
elections. Lists of candidates, and advice to the electors,
continue to be posted up on all the walls of the capital.

EXHIBITION OF THE LIVERPOOL ACADEMY.

This exhibition opened on Wednesday ; and we believe
we are not far wrong in prophesying that it will be one of
the most successful which has been held in Liverpool. At
all events there is sufficient talent, both general and local;
to render it worthy of this result. Amongst the exhibitors
we notice some of the most eminent artists of the day ;
and we are glad to observe very many works of artists, not
previously known to fame, which are well worthy of criti-
cism. The hackneyed favourites of the public, we know,
care little for the observations of the press. When men
get to a certain height in the ladder of fame and of fortune,
they have a marvellous forgetfulness of the means which
have contributed to their advancement. Some can afford
to harbour this feeling; but aspirants will, we trust, be-
lieve us when we say that in any observations which we
may make upon their works we shall be quite unmindful
of any returns of this kind, favourable or unfavourable,
which we may have received.
We can scarcely, in this first notice, attempt detailed
criticism of individual pictures. We must confine our-
selves rather to a .statement of the general impressions
which the exhibition has afforded us. It has produced
little which is positively great in design or execution.
Here no great names showing us great works. But
there is an evidence of previously unknown merit
rising to previously unknown excellence. Possibly this
may arise from an increased exertion of the taste
of the committee. This, however, is certain, there
are fewer decidedly bad pictures in this exhibition
than in any other which we have visited. We
notice many new artists most favourably placed ; and
several well-known names placed precisely as their merits
deserve. When clever painters paint bad pictures, it is
not fair that they should have the same places as men with
less previously-acquired fame, perhaps, but who have suc-
cessfully endeavoured to earn it by care and study.
There are difficulties, however, in the way of the com-
mittee of this institution, as there are in those of all simi-
lar institutions. Great men will sometimes paint great
pictures,—great in the space they cover—and these great
pictures must be accommodated, while some little gem
must be content to be accommodated in a corner. Of
course all this has to be considered; and it would be
worth the while of parties visiting this and every other ex-
hibition to bear in mind that "number 1" is not necessarily
the picture which the committee set down as the first in
their estimation, and that there is many a talented pro-
duction which they have been compelled to place in com-
paratively obscure situations.
The picture upon which, on this occasion, the seal of
excellence has been set, by the bestowal upon its artist of
the £5O prize, is the " Euphrosyne" of W. E. Frost,
A.R.A., the subject of which is taken from a well-known
passage in Milton's " L'Allegro."
"Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee,
Jest and youthful jollity;
Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,
And love to live in dimple sleek ;
Sport that wrinkled care derides,
And laughter holding both his sides;
Come and trip it as you go,
On the light fantastic toe."

This painting is characterised by extraordinary finish,—
a lesson to those artists who affect rudeness of touch,
and who seem to throw in their colours instead of laying
them on ;—and the grouping is very fine. The abandon
of Euphrosyne, and of some others of the figures, is very
rich, and the painting altogether is one of first-rate merit.
No doubt it is the best picture in the exhibition ; but
there are many which we should ourselves prefer, as a
matter of taste, however.
We shall have an opportunity of noticing the exhibition
in detail : and when we state that it extends to 688 sub-
jects we shall perhaps be excused for not doing so in a
preliminary critique. One feels bewildered in a first, or
even a second view of such an abundant exhibition of art,
amongst which there is an unusually small quantity of the
mediocre. Indeed, we may say, candidly, that there is
scarcely a picture which is not good.