The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-09-19 00:00:00

never r

ts, who obtained:

anlike con-

at talent which he

That the ed

Igium thus

eated attestation, and never in more significant or grati-
fying form than that which it assumed amidst the bustle

of preparation for inaugurating the edifice, which forms at
once the best evidence of his genius, and the surest testi-
mony of sound judgment in the community by which it
was adopted. Among that community the pleasing voice
of grateful recollection still finds a ready echo, and its call
has been answered by friendly efforts to soothe the
widowed sorrows and foster the rising hopes of those he
loved, and on whose future fate his fond regards and
closing eye dwelt in anxious and agonised solicitude. The
too early decease of Mr. Elmes, and the comparatively
few opportunities his brief career had afforded, rendered
„ it impossible for him to make adequate provision for his
dosewife and son. Adding to their bereavement, a policy of
•
insurance on his life became forfeited in consequence of
. Liver- his death occurring in a foreign land without intimation
lessened by their of his intended ' been made ;

temporary exile havi
ilthough it is but fair to state that the insurers
paid over to his representatives a fourth part of the sum
insured. At the suggestion of Mr. Radley, of the
Adelphi Hotel, and a few friends, a subscription was com-
menced a week or two before the opening of the Hall, to
raise a fund for securing to that son an education suitable
to his prospects in life ; and for bestowing on the widow
a portion of that pecuniary reward which they consider
due to the architect; thus offering homage to his genius,
paying respect to his memory, and, as far as in their
power, endeavouring to assuage the sorrows of their
bereavement.*

Narrowing space forbids dilation on the fate
of this gifted son of genius. He was, we believe, born in
London, and in that noble centre of artistic culture,
under the tuition of his father, who still survives, he
studied the elements of his beloved and dearly-cherished
profession. The productions of his architectural skill and
taste are not numerous ; yet Liverpool is fortunate in the
possession of several, both private and public ; of these
latter, the Collegiate Institution, as it exists, can scarcely
be looked on as a favourable specimen. The design, in
its principle, as well as in its details, was not carried out.
With a knowledge that, as originally planned, it would be
too expensive for the funds at command, it was reduced and
impoverished to what it now appears. In general contour it
is heavy, and its details are commonplace. In its ponderous
monotony few traces are to be found of that graceful
elegance of form, those varied combinations of outline and
arrangement, and that rich exuberance of chastened
fancy, which constitute the peculiar characteristics and
form the chief attractions of St. George's-hall. Like that
of many another delicate organization, the career of Elmes
proves that the impulses of an expansive mind are often
too impetuous for the fragile mechanism by which they
are destined to be carried out or perish—the ardour of his
flame consumed the sources of its brilliancy—while the
flashing radiance of the jewel diffused illumination, its
action wore out and shattered the casket—and, at the early
age of thirty-five, the grave closed over all that was mortal
of Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, of whom it may, indeed, with
truth, be said " his works form his best monument."
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE, AND PRO-
GRESS OF THE WORKS.

_ •
The design having been fully approved of, and all
the necessary preparations having been made, the
28th day of June, 1838, the marriage-day of Her
Majesty Queen Victoria, was fixed on as the most
suitable for the formal commencement of operations, in
the construction of St. George's Hall ; and on that day
the foundation-stone of the edifice was laid, under circum-
stances of great municipal eclat. The preliminary portion
of the ceremonial consisted of a magnificent procession, in
which the corporation of "Liverpool, with William Rah-
bone, Esq., the Mayor, at its head, attended by the other,
municipal authorities, took part. After perambulating the
principal streets, the procession halted at the site of the
Old Infirmary, where, at the conclusion of the ceremonies
usually observed on such occasions, the foundation-stone
of the edifice was laid, amidst loud acclamations, and ge-
neral indications of rejoicing. Subsequent to this event,
considerable alteration took place in the objects intended
to be realised in the building, which was designed origi-
nally to consist of two edifices. One of these was intended
to accommodate the law-courts, the other to provide suit-
able accommodation for celebrating musical and municipal
festivities of more than ordinary importance. In the first
instance, the Corporation undertook to build the Assize
Courts, and the town, as already stated, to construct St.
George's Hall. It was afterwards found that the site
could not with satisfaction be laid out with two edifices.'
The Corporation th en undertook to erect the united building
at its expense, and the money paid towards the erection of
St. George's Hall was returned to the subscribers. Under
the changed views now entertained by the authorities, Mr.
Elmes was requested to reconsider his plans with an eye
to their amalgamation, and this reconsideration ended in
his uniting the whole into one structure, and that struc-
ture became St. George's Hall, as it is now perfected. The
improved design having been finally determined on, the
building was commenced in earnest in 1841, as stated in
the inscription sculptured on the principal front. The pro-
gress of the structure, thus commenced, has ever since
formed an object of anxious solicitude to the community of
Liverpool ; and, under the fostering care of the corporation,
and the sedulously applied zeal of its committee, every aid
has been afforded in forwarding the edifice, with all the
celerity consistent with a due and salutary execution of
the work. The various contracts for the building, car-
pentry, plastering and plumber-work, together with the
other departments of construction and decoration were
entrusted to tradesmen who, by the excellence of the ma-
terial employed, and by the tasteful substantiality of their
workmanship, have, in all respects, justified the confidence
reposed in them. So assiduously were the labours of
those contractors plied, that the general form and elegant
proportions of the noble edifice became rapidly and
pleasingly developed ; and so early as 1851 not only was
the exterior of the structure completed, but great pro-
gress had also been made in completing some important
portions of the interior. On the 9th of October, in that
year, the building was visited and carefully inspected by
Her Majesty and Prince Albert, botmanne h of whom expressed
warm approbation of the admirable r in which the
work had been carried out, and unbounded admiration of
the chaste elegance of the design, and its happy adapta-
tion to the objects in view; and both stated unreservedly,
their opinion of the noble addition made to the architec-
tural beauty of the town by the construction of so magni-
ficent an edifice. Such good speed, indeed, had been made
in prosecution of the work, that on the Bth of December,
in the same year, the assizes were opened and held in the

* In explanation of this call upon the public generosity of
Liverpool, it is only fair towards the Corporation to state
that Mr. Elmes, or his representatives, received from the
Corporation funds the full amount of commission to which,
in terms of his agreement, he was entitled. To this extent
of remuneration, as responsible representatives of the com-
munity, the Council felt themselves limited; and to it the
payments were in consequence restricted.

entablature on the same level, and similar to that which
extends along the eastern side, and is continued on the
western front. The wall of the semicircle is pierced by
several windows, and its plainness is relieved by eight en-
gaged Corinthian columns, with fluted shafts and rich
capitals.
1, has received re- I The west front

is much less ornate in style than the
east—its chief ornamentation consisting in a projection
which corresponds in magnitude with that on the eastern
side ; from the character of which, however, it differs in
many important particulars. Conspicuous among these

are the absence of the charming colonnade and noble flight
of steps which, taken together, form so fascinating a
characteristic of the side already described ; their place
being occupied by a basement wall, out of which spring
thirteen massive square pillars similar to those ornament-
ing the recessed wings on the east, but which have no
place on this side. By a peculiar management of these
pillars, and the entablature they carry, a novel effect, and
a pleasing variety of aspect, have been attained. The
space between the entablature and the main wall is not
roofed in, and the free admission of illuminating power
above, as well as between the pillars, thus secured, pro-
duces a charming play of light, which, together with an
absence of massed shadow, gives to this aspect of the

edifice au air

softened pensiveness and quiet beauty

such as is but rarely met ivith.

THE SOUTHERN PORTICO,

In St. George's Hall, the architect, following the rule
generally observed in Greek Temples, has directed his
chief attention to the Portico, which, in this instance, has
been affixed to the southern end of the edifice, and here
he has concentrated the fullest elaboration of ornament,
combined with the purest and most majestic features
of the noble style which he has selected for working
out his design, to be met with in any portion of the
structure. This portico has been deservedly admired by
numerous connoisseurs, and, in the opinion of the late

it Robert Peel, it formed the gem of whole edifice

Surmounting a pedestal of noble-steps, nearly a hundred
and fifty feet in width, is placed a prostylar octostyle
portico a hundred feet wide, terminating in a pediment of
graceful angle, the tympanum of which is enriched by a
group of massive, spirited, and characteristic sculpture,
designed with artistic boldness and executed with freedom
and vigour. The columns of which the portico is com-
posed are individually of graceful and elegant proportions,
crowned by capitals of sweet design and rich in beauty ;
singly, they suggest ideas of symmetrical grace; in com-
bination, a fulness of harmoniously proportioned grandeur
and exquisitely balanced power. With the exception of
the frieze, nearly all the members which compose the en-
tablature of this portico are enriched, including the coffered
soffit of the arch forming the ceiling of the portico. The
planceer of the principal cornice has also sunk panels, and
there are carved pateras between the double fascia
modillions.

The sculpture, which fills the tympanum, is in Caen
stone, executed in alto relievo, some portions being en-
tirely free ; it has been cleverly sculptured by Mr. W. G.
Nicholl and assistants, under the superitendence of Sir
Charles Eastlake, P.R.A., from designs furnished by Pro-
fessor Cockerell, R.A. The following has been given as
an official description of the sculpture :—" Britannia, her
spear in her right-hand, offering the olive branch with
her left, is seated on her island rock, the lion at her side,
and the Mersey, or ocean, at her feet. By her side is
Mercury, bringing to her the four quarters of the globe ;
Asia first, with the cornucopia at her feet ; America
behind Europe, with the sword of power in her right-
hand, raising Africa with her left; and lastly, Africa, in a
posture of gratitude and humility, with her sons in her
arms,the breaking of whose chains is the work of Britannia,
to whom she points. Beyond is Bacchus, the panther, and
the wine-vase. The other foreign products are represented
by two figures, drawing to land their several cargoes. On
the right of Britannia are the English arts and products
advancing to meet the foreign Apollo. Science holds the
torch and guides the car, and Agriculture is at her side.
Behind are the plough, the spindle, and the bee-hive,—the
peasant and his child forming a group to represent the
domesticity of England. Beyond is Metallurgy, forging
the anchor and engaged in the fabric of arms and ma-
chinery, which she knows so well how to use."
Engraved on the freize of the pediment, in antique
Roman characters, is the annexed inscription :

Artibus, Legibus, Consiliis.
Locum, Municipes. Constituerunt,
Anno Domini MDCCCXLI.

As already stated, this portion of the external structure
has received the chief attention of the architect, and here
his genius has been most successfully employed. In this
fine portico, and its immediate concomitants, we have a
rich development of graceful forms ; a studiously com-
bined arrangement of symmetrical parts ; and such a har-
mony of lines and masses, as deservedly constitute it the
tour de force of the whole design : yet, from the nature
of the surrounding buildings, and the peculiarly disad-
vantageous character of the street levels, the effect of its
charming combinations is greatly marred ; and its chief
beauties are rendered scarcely perceptible. The street
immediately in front of it slopes so rapidly down from
east to west, as to render a heavy basement indispensable ;
and has called for the introduction of two diverging flights
of steps into this basement, to obtain access to the real
level of the structure. These flights of steps, separating
as they ascend, produce, at the adventitious base of the
building a sort of inverted repetition of the crowning
pediment totally destructive of the general harmony and
entirely subversive of that simple unity of design which
ought to form, and which, but for this accidental de-
formity, really does constitute the leading characteristic
and charm of this principal feature of the edifice. Another
drawback on the effect intended to be produced by this
leading beauty of the design, occasioned by the peculiarity
of its site and the proximity of the adjoining buildings, is
the difficulty, or rather the impossibility, of seeing it at
such a distance, or on such a level as will enable the eye
of the spectator to embrace it as a whole, or survey it at•
such an angle as will reveal its details without producing
apparent distortion. These defects are so obvious as to
have given rise to numerous suggestions for remedying
them ; the suggestions themselves embracing varying
degrees of merit. One of these—that recommended by
Mr. Henry Sumner—proposes to remedy a large portion
of the unseemly difficulty by raising an artificial platform
for carrying the roadway along the south and north ends
of St. George's-hall, and continuing that raised platform
as far westward as the east side of Whitechapel ; between
the western side of which and the angle formed by the
line of Dale-street he proposes to erect a large edifice for
containing salt-water baths. This plan, if carried
would, to some extent, at least, diminish the deformity
occasioned by the overpowering ponderosity of the base-
ment, and the anomalous absurdity of the double flight of
steps referred to, while it would not wholly obviate either ;
but, worse than this, it makes no provision for opening up
a clear view of the south front of St. George's-hall. To
secure this latter object, without losing sight of the other
advantages, a different plan has been suggested : that is,
to open a wide street, running directly south from the
front of St. George's-hall, nearly on a level with the large
bottle-moulding which divides the basement from the
superstructure of the hall, and continuing it on an easy
gradient to the foot of Bold-street, where it_would tern 4-.