The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-11-20 00:00:00

HE-LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

GAGLIARDI'S MECHANICAL MUSEUM

Gagliardi, an Italian artiit,,has been'. 'exhibiting for

the last fortnight or three weeks at the large room at the back
of the King's Arms Hotel, Castle-street, a very interesting col-
lection of figures, in wax-work,, the size of life, copied from
.casts, bust; and portraits of the principal personages they are
intended to represent. By the aid of some very ingeniously
contrived mechanism, he has given to each figure the varied ex-
pression of the eye, countenance, and bodily gesticulation of
breathing, sentient beings, all of whom are dressed in the Cod-
tiimes of the countries to which they belong, and of the stations
which the originals filled in those countries. The exhibition
is divided into four groupes or scenes, arranged with a very
considerable degree of taste and judgment, so as to produce a
good pictorial effect.
The firaigroupe consists of three figures. The front is occu-
pied by Canons and his brother Miou/is, hitting at a table under
the walls of Missoloughi, tracing the plan of an attack on the
fleet of Ibrahim Pasha. In the back ground stands, the figure
of' the celebrated mountain-chief Coloctroni, who took so ac-
tive a part in the revolt of his,countzymen. The postures and
the occasional movements of these figures, together with the ex-
pression of their faces, convey to the spectator an excellent idea
of their sense of the perilous enterprise on which they are deli-
berating.

The second groupe represents the death of Zumalatarreguy,
the late bold and intrepid commander of the royalist army, who
took the field for the purpose of wresting the crown Of Spain
from its present possessor and placing it on the head of its
rightful and legitimate owner, lion Carlo's. Viewed as a pie
ture, the arrangement of the figures, witho'ut reference to the
mechanical motion given to them, produces a very bold and
striking effect, and is on that account the best part of the exhi,
bition. In the foreground is seen a full-length figure of the
still breathing chief, stretched on some loose straw; immedi-
ately behind him, that of his wife, seated on a stone, convul-
sively grasping in one of her hands the skirt of her husband's
cloak.. The general, as the last act of consciousness, turns his
head to catch the eye of the female figure, who, as if the sight
were too painful for endurance, averts her bead in an apparent
agony of grief; while it remains in this position the head of. the:,
general gradually returns to its former posture, and 'the 'eyes
close in excellent imitation of death. The other figures in the
groupe are the son, father, and other relations and followers of
the dead commander. The attitudes of each, together with the
expression given to their countenances, are all exceedingly
good, whether viewed separately as parts, or as completing the
whole of a good historical picture.
The third section of the museum contains what we aro told
is a fac-similio statue of Fieschi, the inventor of the infernal
machine, taken a month after his arrest, and as he then appear-
ed in the prison. Assuming this to be a correct likeness, there
is nothing in the appearance of the man indicative of a ferocious
or sanguinary disposition. His countenance and eye bespeak
great resolution, coupled with what we should call in Eugland a
light and merry heart. We leave his head, which, we presume,
will some day or other be separated from his body, to the care
and inspection of the phrenologists.
We come now to the fourth and last scene, the beheading of
John the Baptist, which consists of about fifty capital figures,
to all of whom an appearance of vitality is given by mechanism.
In the composition of this spectacle, the artist has sacrificed his-
torical accuracy to stage effect. The head of the Baptist is not
brought to the court of Herodias " in a charger," but is held
up by the executioner, no blood flowing from it, merely to show
the closing of the eyes after decapitation. However, as a stage
scene, the effect produced is really excellent. The sneer of
triumph in the queen and the exultation of her party is finely
contrasted with tho horror and dismay of the believing and
half-believing followers of the first promulgator of christianity.
These emotions are admirably pourtrayed in the countenances
and by the gesticulations the drarnatiepersonte of Sig. Gagliarli.
They are, indeed, so naturally expressed that it is difficult to
speak of theta as unconscious automatons. We have neither
time nor space to enter upon a minute description of each of
the characters represented in this piece, but we must devote a
line or two to the figures of one of John's disciples, in the act
of consoling an officer of the guard who holds in his hand a
couutermand of the order given by Herod, which he looks on in
hopeless despair. The attitudes and continued motion of these
figures are in perfect keeping with nature.

There are also some very fine costuordmic views in the exhi-
bition. They consist of the Town-house and market-place of
Donai, the entrance to Rome, the bridge of Bourdeaux, the
port of Brest and • its citadel, the ruins of the amphitheatre at
Naples, view of Rome at a distance, ruins of the Pantheon at
Rome, and some other views, taken from different parts of the
world.

In conclusion, we would remark that we have seen but very
pew exhibitions so welt entitled to noticeas"that of Signor Gag-
lia►di. We have; however, to suggest to him the necessity of
employing an English tongue to describe it to his visitors.

CORRESPONDENCE.

To THE EDITOR or THE I,II7EKPOOT, ST.,l.loliinD

Litt,—The self-sufficient representative of that diurnal schism
unitarianism may have-heard on other occasions a proverb of
which I wish to remind him do this—" Those that live in a
glass-house should not throw stones." He has applied to that
Whig suckling Sir Charles Pepys for an injunction to restrain
the Corporation of Liverpool from appropriating any portion
of their funds to the endowment of the churches. Why should
not the orthodox churchmen apply to the same unhi:issed foun-
tain of equity for an injunction to restrain the upright and diFi.
interested trustees of Renshaw-street Chapel from applying to
the support of a socinian minister the smuggled endowment of
Benn's-garden, undoubtedly founded for the maintenance of a
sincere and unequivocal Trinitarian pastor ?—Yours, .

X. N. S.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STAND,IRD.

Sin,—ln the Courier of to-day I observed a letter from the
attorneys of the Conservative Society respecting the objections
which have been so liberally and indiscriminately served out
during the last few days by the attorneys for the Reform Asso-
ciation, and being ono of the individuals so served, although
hitherto no party man, I am induced to trouble you with a few
lines, which will convince any unprejudiced mind that to give
trouble, and, if possible, erase from the register the vote of any
person that was likely to be given to a candidate standing on'
the conservative interest, is the object of these very, very liberal
men.

My ease is as follows :—My residence and place of business
are both situate in the same ward, and I am not rated or phiced
on the burgoss-list far any other. On Saturday last I was
warmly canvassed by a friend on behalf of. the liberal candi-
dates, but gave him no decisive tubswer. Early on Monday morn-
ing I was again canvassed by the person who had the district,
and to whom I was known; and who importuned me so much for
an answer, that I at length, to get rid of him, candidly told him
it was my intention to vote for one of the conservative' Candi-
dates, he being a personal friend, but my other two votes I
would not promise. •

Now, Mr. Editor, mark the result. Late in the afternoon of
,the same day I was served at rnydwelliug -house'witti t►-notice cif
objection, signed. by one Crooke, simply, I suppose, because I
Would not promise my vote to the three reform candidates. The
excuge cannot be in my ease "that I should he obliged to make
choice in which ward I would vote," because I can. only vote in
the one; and what they are to gain by objecting to me in the
one place, and allowing me to remain•on the list fur the other, I
cannot discover, except it be to give trouble; for say name still
is on the register form), place of Insiness, if 1 d,d not attend and
make good my claim for ►ny residence. This clearly shows that
the young, hot-headed attorneys of the Reform Asiociation
have stood at nothing, which is to me tolerable good evidence
of their cause being a bad one, at least in the ward for which I
ate entitled to vote.

Now, Sir, observe what they have gained by it. One v:Ot141,
had voluntarily promised to a conservative; the other two, it is
probable, I should have given to the reform candidates. But
now they do not yet one either for the ensuing municipal, or any
other election that may follow; and several persons (liberals)
resididg in the ward, to whom I have mentioned the circum-
stance, have declined voting, being so indignant at the mean-
ness of their party's proceedings.
The nature of my business is-such, that, if 1 have to attend
either one, two, or three days at the Barristers' Court, it may
be a serious pecuniary loss to me; but I am informed that 1 can
recover the expenses for my lost time, my case being so exceed-
ingly frivolous and vexatious; and 1 shall most assuredly try it
directly the registration is over.

• If you think my case of sufficient interest by giving it a
place in your columns, you will confer a favour on one who
always was, and still remains,
A LOVER OF FAIR PLAY.
Lieeipool, 18th November, 1835.

BOROUGH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

From the Liverpool Courier.
TO' THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL TIMES.

Sin,---The following intemperate observations appear in your
newspaper of this day.
" We wish we could say that welcnew as little of their ob-
jections, (the Conservative objections,) but thatis'by no means
the case. They have this day begun to send them in by hun-
dreds, and many of them to. persons whose votes are as good as
those of any in the:towrn Three separate notices, all sighed by
a person of the name of Peter Marrow, hare been sent to one
of our friends. Mr. Wales, of this paper, who has beau a
householder for thirty-two years, and has paid rates on property
of the value of £l9O per annum for the last dozen years has
also received two notices, sined by the same person. From
these specimens we presume that the-objecting has been indis-
criminate and universal. If so, we trust that ail persons whom
it is thus impudently attempted to defraud of their votes will
make a point of attending, if for no other purpose at least for
that of inflicting exemplary punishment on the party guilty of
this scandalous proceeding. We know not what steps the re-
I form association may take to counteract this manoeuvre, but
none which they can adopt will need any justification after
such a provocation."
It would have been as well if you bad-taken the trouble to
inquire into the facts upon which you presume that the ob.
jection on the part of the conservatives has been indiscriminate
and universal. Had you done so, you would have learned that
such is not the case, and you would have also learned that the
numerous objeotions which have proceeded (only yesterday)
from the office of the conservative association have been issued
in consequence of the course adopted by
.the- solicitor to the re-
fmln association on Saturday.
On Saturday afternoon numerous notices of objections, signed
by Mr. George Willian Crook, the solicitor of the Reform As-.
sociation, were brought us. When we perceived that two of
these (amongst at least a hundred) were addressed to Mr. T. 0.
:Cooper, for his office in Rumford-street, occupied by him nearly
twenty years, and Mr. Thomas Kaye, for his premises in Cas-
tie-street, occupied by him for twenty-nine years, we certainly-
did suppose that the objections on the part of the v'formers
were "indireriminate and universal." Upon inquiry, however,
we found that they were. served upon pers,ms occupying pre-
mises in several wards, merely for the purpose of compelling
them to elect before the barrister in which ward they wools! be
enrolled, it being the opinion of the professional advisers of the'
Reform Association that such election should he made at that
time.
The 44th section of the Act provides, that "if any burgess
shalt be rated in respect of distinct premises in two.or .more
•warsis, then he shall be entitled to be enrolled and to vote in such
one of the. said wards as he shall select, but not in more than '
,one." It will be observed that no 'time is ineutioued when this
selection shall be made, and whether before the revising bar-
rit,ter or the town•clerk after the revision, is a very doubtful
We have only to add, that this course (the necessity of which
is very questionable) having been adopted by the 'Reform Assco
dation, we were necessarily compelled to adopt a similar course
in self-defence. _ _

The gentlemen who drew the act, and they only, are the real
parties to blame. A little more care in framinx this clause
would have prevented that ambiguity and uncertainty in the act
which render it impossible to ascertain the real intention of the
legislature.—We arc, sir, your obedient servants,
PETER WRIGHT.
THOMAS CARSON.
• .INO. PENINGTON

8, India-buildings, 17th November, 1835.
[We were not a little surprised on reading the article from
which the above extract is taken.. Our contemporary, we well
knew, was betraying it sensitiveness which could not have ex-
isted had he taken the trouble to inform himself on the subject-
When the notice of objection was served on Mr. Kaye, on Se.-
turday morning, he was at a loss to account for the proceeding,
knowing well that his " votes were as good as those of any In
the town," having, like Mr. Wales, a double qualification, one
from his premises in Castle-street, which he has occupied for
twenty-nine years, and the other from his house in Pembroke-
place, in which he has resided for twenty vears. Against- the
latter qualification a notice was served yesterday, but dated the
13th (Friday.) On inquiring from Mr. Crooke the intent of the
:notice, Mr. Kaye was informed that his right to vote was not
questioned; and that the objection was only taken with a view
to gain a declaration as to the ward which he proposed voting
in. Mr. Wales may take comfort from the reflection that he his
not to defend himself from an "impudent attempt" of the con-
servatives, but from an attack suggested by his liberal' friends.
We do expect our contemporary will be candid, and tell his
readers, in his next publication, that any step which may have
been taken by the conservatives "to counteract this mameuvrey
will net " need any justification after such provocatiou."l-z-Ek.
ConalEß.

THE LATE ROBBERY AND ATTEMPTED MURDER

IN TOXTETH-PARK.

It will be remembered that the prisoner John Maginnis, was,
after several examinations, remanded, until the recover), or
otherwise of James Urch, the victim of his cupidity and bar-
should determine the exact complexion of his crime.
Notwithstanding the great injuries which the latter received,
he is now, we are happy to state, out of danger; and so far re-
covered, that on Saturday last'he was enabled to attend at the
Sessions-house to give evidence. lie is still, however, in so
weak a state that he cannot walk without the support of two
persons, and the effort attendant on speaking seems to cause
his considerable pain. The examination took place in the pri-
vate room, and his worship the Mayor, observing that the un-
wonted exertion to which the poor man had been subjec:ed path
eauserl considerable ex hausti,,u, sent for reircshments and
caused every attention to Ise paid to hint. Tue witness said his
name waa James Urch, it 'cabinet-maker. He had' for upwards
of twenty years resided at Bristol. Ile had a wife end five
Childreu. He came to Liverpool forthe purpose of proceeding
to America, but afterwards changed his mind and determined
tin remaining Liverpool, wilcie he had been offered work.
•He lodged for some time with Mrs. Mackeen, in Redeross.
street. Up to this point of the evidence, the witness had never
cast his eves towards that part of the room where the prisoner
stood. Mr. Shuttleworth, however, now directed his attention
to him, and put to him (witness) the question—" Do you know
that man?" The witness gazed earnestly in the direction in-
dicated by Mr. Shuttleworth, but did not seem at once to be
conscious of the presence of the prisoner. The latter was led
nearer to him. As he approached, witness seemed suddenly to
recognize• him, and, tittering a fearful shriek, he exerted what
little strength he bad in an endeavour to run from him. He
v.as, however, caught by two of the officers in time to prevent
him from'falling to the floor. It was some time before his agi-
tation (solid be subdued. Terror seemed to have absorbed
every other faculty, and be continued to shrink from the form
of the prisomm and to call upon the attendants to " keep him
off," till he f tllc prisoner) was removed to the furthest corner Of
the room. fhe wife of the witness having been placed by his
side, he went on with his evident:', which was of a nature com-
pletely to fix the crime upon the prisoner. The slayor was em-
plo:ied from shortly after eleven until half-past three, and the
further consideratiou of the case was adjourned till Moieday at
tivelve o'clock. The prisoner was committed for trial at the
next assizes to he holden in this town.—Couriei.

A S lioliT PA R I,IA MENT.—The shortest parliament on record
was that of I:199, which had but one session of u single day, and
.during that short space they contrived to upset one King and
set up another.