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WREXHAM ART TREASURES EXHIBITION.
WREXHAM ART TREASURES EXHIBITION. LECTURE ON THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF PAINTERS. On Friday evening, Mr Forbes-Robertson delivered his second and concluding lecture at the above exhibition, subject, The British School of Painters." Major Cornwallis West again occupied the chair. The attendance was extremely limited Mr Forbes-Robertson commenced by observing that the circumstances of the times and the march of events generally had been particularly unfavour- able to the growth of art in England. While in Italy during the 15th century art, but particularly painting, flourished in all its branches under the fostering patronage of the princes of the Church, the noble house of the De Medicis, the Dukes of Urbino, and the Doges of Venice, the people of England and of Wales were slaughtering each other in the fiercely contested battles of the Roses f and this terrible internecine conflict, continued during a whole generation, was concluded on the field of Bosworth by the grandson of Owen Tudor, who became Henry VII. Amongst other good, things which Henry VII. did for his countrymen, such as laying the foundation of the future English navy in his ship The Great Harry," was the encouragement which he gave to art. Indeed art patronage, like modern English history, began with this monarch. The most distinguished of the artists employed by Henry was John Mabuse, a fine example of whom would be found in 121 in the catalogue, a small portrait of a gentleman painted on panel. The power of this artist in imitating texture was almost as remarkable as his extrava- gance in money matters. Henry VIII., the son of the preceding, so far as art was concerned, carried on the work of bis father, and took into his service Hans Holbein, a great humourist, philosopher, aDd painter, and the friend of Erasmus, the Dutch Theologian. There was a noble collection of Holbein's drawings at Windsor. Although Holbein had the credit of being severely accurate in his drawings of faces, yet he was not above practising the common flattery of his profession. Lord Crqmwell, Henry's minister, sent this Holbein to take the portrait of Lady Ann of Cleaves, and the painter drew so favourable a likeness. that the king consented to wed her; but finding how much he had been deceived, the storm at first directed to the painter fell on the unhappy minister, and Cromwell lost his head. With the advent of the Stuarts came a still more active patronage of art, and Charles I. not only had the finest, painters in Europe, but was one of the best conniseurs of the time. To him we are indebted for the famous cartoons of Raphael, which he purchased at the suggestion of Rubens, who discovered them amongst some lumber, where they had lain con- cealed after being used by the manufacturers of the tapestry for which they hnd been sent as designs. Charles's collection was dispersed at the Revolution, but Cromwell bought the cartoons and gave them to the nation. Probably he gave £300 or .£400 tor them; but now every single drawing was worth, perhaps, a prince's ransom. England had her artists before the arrival of Holbein. There was a celebrated metal founder who lived in the reign of Henry VI, and executed work which was little idferior of that of his great Italian contemporaries. Moreover, the art of missal painting was carried to great perfection both in Ireland and in the North of England, and during the wars of the Roses native pictorial art flourished in the land up to the time of the Reformation, of which we had evidence in the interiors cf some of our churches while their own parish church showed how far ecclesias- tical architecture had advanced. The tower for stately beauty and design was not to be equalled, much less surpassed, by any tower he could remem- ber throughout the length and breadth of England (applause). But in this country we had no great saint like St. Francis to give an impetus to art; for such was the veneration of his countrymen, that at his death they raised a church to his memory, and called together all the finest painters in Italy to decorate it, which at once gave such an impetus to art in that country that it never flagged for 300 or 400 years afterwards. The consequence was that we had never produced a Cimabue or a Giotto. Of native artists who flourished in the reigns of the Tudors mention was made of Nicholas Hilliard and his pupil Isaac Oliver, the latter one of the finest miniature painters in Europe. Hilliard was much employed by James I., and Oliver worked much for Charles I. For an example of the latter see a portrait of Queen Elizabeth in one of the cases at the further end of the hall. They would also observe a portrait of Mary Queen ot Scots in black head dress and white furred pelisse, which had been ascribed to Nicholas Hilliaid, and which he considered one of the best portraits ex- tant of that unfortunate queen. Charles brought over many foreign artistes. Among them was Schneiders, a disciple of Rubens, who painted the "Lion Hunt" now in the exhibition. Van Dyke, also a pupil of the great Peter Paul, after the death of his master became court painter to Charles I. In the reign 1641, which closed so ominously for the king, Van Dyke died and was buried in St. Paul's. This man was the immediate introducer of modern art into England. He was one of the princes of the pallet, and lived in a style which no cardinal could surpass, leaving property at his death of the value of £20,000. William Dobson was the first English artist of any eminence who painted life-size portraits. His art education consisted in copying Van Dyke's and Titian's works, and on the death of the former became serjeant painter to Charles. He died at the early age of 36. The magnificent pictures on the walls of this exhibition of King Charles I., and the Prince of Wales and Henrietta and her little son, afterwards James II., were undoubtedly copies from Van Dyke painted by Dobson. Another man made of Van Dyke metal was Sir Peter Lely, who came to England in 1641, and who painted all the famous beauties of Charles the Second's dissolute court. Van Dyke was always much lauded for his hands. The ladies' hands he copied from those of his wife, Mary Ruthven.the daughter of a Scotch gentle- man, and his own hands, which were very tapering in the fingers and ladylike supplied him with a model whenever he painted men's portrait?. I Cooper, of whom there were examples in the exhibition, was a famous miniature painter, and we had none like him until we came to Andrew Robinson, who created modern English miniature painting. Sir Godfrey Kneller, a second Sir Peter, was represented in several portraits in this collection. Although this artist painted all the crowned heads of his time both here and on the Continent, there was a native artist who was quite I as good a painter called John Riley, who received no small amount of patronage from the court and the country gentry. Another artist, Jonathan Richardson, was not only a good portrait painter j but a profound critic, more technically learned even ( than Ruskin, though not possessed of Euskin's eloquent command over the English language. From Van Dyke's time art deteriorated greatly, and the manner of painting had also become dreary and, like the monstrous wigs of the period, very formal a.nd lifeless. This Richardson was the master of Hudson, who in turn became master to Sir Joshua Reynolds. But all this time pure English art was confining itself to portraits, and mostly only heads, and the prevailing taste had rather repressed any desire on the part of artists to wander into the regions of sacred art. Sir James Thornhill was largely employed in painting St. Paul's and Greenwich Hospital, and many private houses still to be found about the purlieus of Soho bore traces of his workmanship. He had a hand- some, healthy, upstanding daughter, and she having a will of her own married much against her father's inclinations, a keen-eyed, square-headed young man whose name was William Hogarth (applause), a self-taught artist; and so far as the art of paint- ing was concerned he might be truly called the founder of modern English art. His contemporaries of the time, although scarcely his contemporaries in talent, were Sir Joshua Reynolds, Gainsborough, Romney, and Copley among the Englishmen, and the glorious Welshman, Wilson (applause). This Sir Joshua came up from Devonshire, and went in for Venetian colouring; while Remney prided himself on the thorough expression of form. Gainsborough eqalled Sir Joshna in colour and had a delicacy peculiar to himself; and whilst he rivalled Sir Joshua in portraiture he fairly divided the laurels in landscape with the great Wilson. "The Market Cart" in the Exhibi- tion was a splendid example of his skill in landscape. Copley, the father of Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst, painted that spirited portrait of Heber when a boy of 13. Wilson, of Montgomeryshire, who must be looked upon as the father of landscape art in Eng- land, and the in°pirer to a great extent of Turner, Cope, and a host of others, was one of the original 36 members of the Royal Academy; and those two grand landscapes 393 and 394 showed how full of power and classical feeling his works really were, partaking much of the style of Claude and Salvator Rosa. And yet this man, like their Exhibition, was not appreciated in his day. Then came Con- stable, with his dewy meadows, who wasrepresented there in his famous picture of The Lock." As an example of Turner, at 4-he best of his prismatic period, he would point to his view of rocks and sea and a beautiful hazy effect as being full of fine colouring; while they got a full sense of wave power in Cotman's entrance to a cave on the Cornish coast. For simple landscape, there was wonderful power also in Barker. These were the men, especially Constable, from whom the modern school of French landscape painters derived its in- spiration. Having remarked that the Reformation by snapping our religious history had no doubt acted prejudically on native art, the lecturer pro- ceeded to observe that they had all heard of the famous Gainsborough that was stolen the other day, the "Ten Thousand Guinea Duchess." as she wa3 called. Well, they would find in 264 another portrait of the stolen Duchess. He was perfectly satisfied that the man who painted the face of the Stolen Gainsborough" was not Gainsborough but Sir Thomas Lawrence. It was a portrait that Gainsborough had evidently begun and never finished; but through the competition and the tricks of the auction-room it was run up to ten thousand guineas, to be afterwards so neatly cut out of its frame and stolen. Its absolute value was very likely about .£100; so much for historic associations (laughter). This was the famous Lady Betty Foster, second wife of William fifth, Duke of Devonshire. The Lady Betty they had there was wor^h quite as much, and if they could not show them the ten thousand guinea beauty, they could show them Lady Bet ty's second husband on the left as they entered the hall. Hogarth, when he started with his figure painting, hal imbibed much of the manner and spirit of the Low C rtries, the Tenniers men, and rather worse, the familiar delineators of domestic and rude life, We had nothing to go upon in the way of any other sort of art, and Hogarth having struck the key note we seemed to go up in our art until he was again touched by Wilkie in a sweeter way but not more powerfully, and by Mulready, Webster, and others. The modern Scotch school expanded it a little and introduced more of the heroic element, but they could see that art in England all through had never had any ecclesiastical side to it, and had never had anything of an historic aspect at ail, and for the reasons he hoped he had tried to ex- plain. the unprecedented war of the Roses and the Reformation. Speaking of modern artists, the lecturer mentioned the names of Holman Hunt, J. B. Watson, and William Davies, of Liverpool. The latter, a great landscape painter, was com- paratively unknown to fame but he was satisfied that five years hence his works would fetch ten times, if not twenty times, more than they fetched now. In London, when perfectly well known, his works would command any price- Then there was Maddock's Brown, whose wonderful picture of King Lear was in this exhibition, and Gabriel Rossetti, the most strong-headed of all the pre- Raphaelite school, who was not only a painter but a poet of no ordinary wit. They might see some of his works here, though they were never exhibited in public exhibitions. Whenever he painted a picture, he called a of his friends together to show it them and hear their remarks. His works were remarkable for a rich wonderful glow of colour He and others of thepre-Raphaelite school created a great stir in England some twenty or thirty years ago, by introducing a new and peculiar style of painting, which, discarding general effect, went in for imitating grain and texture and every- thing else in the the closest manner, but in doing so they often forgot the rules of perspective and the difference arising from the distance of objects from one another. But they produced a revolution in painting, and made art in the country a much more serious profe-sion, and artists moie hard working and painstaking; and although their mission had passed awqy, still they were men to be respected on account of what they had accomplished. One of the foremost of the pre-Rapliaelite brother- hood was John Everett Millais, who painted the three Ladies Grosvenor. After he had made a great fame as a pre-Raphaelite, he changed his style, and began with, A British Lady lamenting the de- parture of the Romans." He (the lecturer) looked upon these three pictures as a culmination of his genius, as far as dexterous power of brushwork was concerned, and they could not have finer examples. These pictures had been sent first to them they had not been seen anywhere else (applause). The Marchioness of Ormond, when a little girl painted by Mr Cholmondeley, was close by, and they could thus have an opportunity of comparing the child with the full-grown woman. There were beautiful drawings by Turner and Cox, and other great fellows; but it was impossible to go into a criticism upon them. He could talk to them for many nights, but they could see how impossible was the task. They would understand how anxious he was to tell them anything he knew himself so as to help them to a better appreciation of all the marvels of this great Exhibition, for he assured them it was a very great Exhibition (applause). He could not help mentioning the names of the contributors, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn.the Duke of Westminster, Mr Cornwallis West, Mr Rae (of Birkenhead), Mr J. F Jesse, the Hon. George T. Kenyon, Mr Middleton Biddulph, Mr Townshend Mainwaring, Sir Richard Brooke, Mr W. W. Wynn (of Peniarth). and a host of others that must occur to them. He hoped they would feel with him that these men had done their duty as county gentle- men, and as men having a stake in the country, in supporting this Exhibition in the handsome manner they had done (applause). In bringing his remarks to a conclusion, though he confessed to a little dis- appointment at the smallness of the attendance. he hoped the result of these lectures would be to spread a taste for the esthetic in art in this neighbourhood. Let it not be said that these con- tributors, that these gentlemen, whose names he had mentioned, had appealed to a higher instinct than they possessed, that they had laid before them art treasures which they could not appreciate. Rather let it be said that the people who were the best choral singers in the world, and who in their eisteddvodau could preserve with such reverence the traditions and customs of their ancestors, the people who could produce such artistes as John Thomas and Madame Edith Wynne, and give them such glorious national music, could also keep pace with the march of intellect, and while retaining a reverence for the past, delight in the practice of all that is beautiful (loud applause). Dr. Williams, in moving a cordial vote of thanks to the lecturer, expressed the obligations of the audience for the very interesting way in which these lectures had been delivered and thought they would have the effect of deepening the im- pressions produced upon their minds by the beauti- ful objects they saw around them. He also paid a warm tribute to Major West as the originator of an exhibition which had been expanded far be- yond its original dimensions, and had become the astonishment and wonder of everybody (applause). The proceedings then concluded.
BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. MONDAY.—Before T. C. Jones, Esq., in thechair; and R. Lloyd, Esq. (ex-mayor). STEALING A BREAST OF MUTTON. Thomas Vaughan was charged with having stolen a breast of mutton, the property of Thomas Hughes, butcher, of Overton. William Hedgcox said he was a butcher, in the employ of the prosecutor, who kept a stall in the Wrexham market hall. On Thursday night he went down to the Feathers Hotel, after loading his cart with meat at the entrance to the market hall. The prisoner followed witness into the yard of the Feather's Hotel, and took out of the cart of the prosecutor a breast of mutton, which was worth 3s. He put the meat under his coat, and in reply to witness, prisoner said he had only taken it in fun." The prisoner said he was very sorry for what he had done; he was drunk at the time, but he took the meat in payment of 7s 6d., which the prosecutor owed him. There were four previous convictions for offences of various kinds recorded against the prisoner, one being for larceny. Sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. RESULTS OF SUNDAY DRINKING. Richard Dyke, landlord of the Fairfield Tavern, Wrexham, was charged with having permitted drunkenness on his licensed premises, on Sunday, the 20th ultimo. Mr Jones appeared on behalf of the police to prosecute, and Mr Bury defended. Francis Derricott said he was a farm labourer, lately residing at Sontley. On the day in question, he went to the house of the defendant with a man named William Jones and five others. They went to the defendant's house at about a quarter to seven in the evening. Was then partly drunk. Had ale, porter, and ginger beer at the defendant's house. Left there at about a quarter to nine o'clock. Was then drunk, and proceeded towards- Sontley. Came to his senses at six o'clock on the following morning in the cart-house. The man Jones, who was found dead under Sontley bridge, was not drunk when he left the house; but he fell a little worse on the way. Cross-examined by Mr Bury: Could recollect nearly everything that took place between twenty minutes to seven and half-past nina on the night in question. Witness called for ale, and paid for it. Paid for another quart of something; could not tell what he then had. On leaving the house at nine o'clock, he interfered with a preacher bv speak- ing "to him. The defendant was in the house, and told witness, You have had no ale in my house, and you shall not have any." Charles and William Jones took witness out of the house of the defendant and started him off home. The deceased, William Jones, was sober when he left the house. Parted company with the deceased about seventy yards from this side of Sontley bridge. Re-examined by Mr Jones: Three-half pints of porter and a bottle of ginger beer were also brought for them. Several other quarts of porter and ginger-beer were brought in. The wife of the defendant he believed served them with the drink ? By the Bench The defendant told him he should have no drink at about twenty minutes to nine o'clock. William Davies said he remembered going to the house of the defendant on the night in question, in company with the last witness and a number of I others. Charles Jones called for ginger-beer and porter mixed. Derricott got drunk after being in the house about an hour. The rest of the evidence was a corroboration of the testimony of the last witness. Cross-examined by Mr Bury: Derricott asked several times for drink, and it was refused him. Derricott was sober when he went to the house of the defendant, and drunk when he left it. Samuel Davies. brother of the last witness, cor- roborated. Mr Bury addressed the bench for the defence, statins: that the defendant had kept the Fairfield Tavern for a period extending over nine years with- out ever having had complaints made against him. It was admitted that D rricott was drunk on the premises of the defendant; but as soon as his state was seen by the defendant be was ordered to leave the house. The bench retired, and, on returning into court. fined the defendant £5 and the costs, and the license was endorsed. AT A REFORMATORY. Elijah McCoy. potter, was summoned for neglect- ing to contribute towards the maintenance of his child, who, a few weeks ago, was sent to a reforma- tory school. The Bench ordered the payment of week. THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A YOUTH.—THE PROSECUTOR DRUNK IN COURT. Edward Randies (17), of Rhosnessney, was charged with having embezzled the sum of .£3 3s 6d, the property of Price Clark, butcher, of Rhosnessney, near Wrexham. Mr Sherratt appeared in support of the prosecu- tion, and Mr Jones defended. Price Clark said he was a master butcher, and lived at Rhosnessney. Prior to the 23rd of August the defendant was in his employ in the capacity of a labourer, at the rate of 5", per week, and board and lodging. He had been in his employ for five weeks. Was in the habit of paying money to his mother (Mrs Clark), and paid some on the 19th instant. She acted as a sort of banker for him. On the 19th ult., he was in the Wrexham market until late, and on returning home he gave his mother £15 10s to keep for him. On the 23rd ult., he went to his mother's with the defendant for.£3 10s 6d to buy a calf with. His mother handed over that, amount to the defendant, who put it into his pocket. Witness and defendant then went to the home of the former. His mother lived in the town. Went home for the donkey and cart; had a cup of tea, and then went together to Gwersyllt to buy a couple of calvES from the residence of Mrs Bloomer. On going thither, defendant and witness called at the house of Mrs Hill, the Hole in the Wall beerhouse, at Gwersyllt, where they had some ale to drink. The defendant paid Is for the ale, at the request of the witness. Stayed in the house about ten minutes, and went to Mrs Bloomer's to see the calves. Mrs Bloomer resided in the Wilderness. Bought two calves, and only having £3 9s 6d left. he did not pay for them, as he was to settle for them on the day following. They then returned to Wrexham, calling on the way at the Hole in the Wall" beerhouse that would be about five o'clock. Called for two half-gallons of ale, for which the defendant paid out of the £3 9s 6d Stopped there about an hour, leaving at about six o'clock, with two calves in the cart. Asked defendant for 5s and he refused to give witness more than 2s, but defendant then went towards Rhosnessney with the cart and calves, and witness went to Wrexham to find two men to kill the calves. Witness got home about nine o'clock. On reaching home, did not see the defendant. On the following morning he asked the defendant to give up the money, when he re- plied "I gave you the whole of the money yester- day evening." Witness said, "Nothing of the and he replied I did." Witness then said, If you don't return me the money at once, 1 will go right straight to Wrexham and have you taken up," when defendant commenced crying, and after the lapse of about ten minutes he kept saying, I have given you all your money." The defendant had not given up the money save the 7s which had been I mentioned. Cross-examined bv Mr .Tones: His mother did not say she only had £9 9s: she acknowledged having £15. Had never given Jackson any money to keep. Witness did not take the money to his mother, be- canse the defendant was tolol to do so. He did not know that the reason why he did not carry his own money was because he was not capable of doing so. Was not drunk on the night in question. Was not at the Railway Inn, near the level crossing, at Wrexham, in a state of intoxication. Did not have a bit of a row with his wife on going home tln the night in question. He asked his wife for the money before asking the defendant about it. George Lloyd said he was at the Hole in the Wall" public-house on the two occasions referred to by the prosecutor, and corroborated the evi- dence concerning what happened at that place. At the close of the case for the prosecution the court adjourned to luncheon, and after the magis- trates had resumed their positions on the bench, Mr Sherratt applied for an adjournment of the case in consequence of the inability of the wife of the prosecutor to be present owing to illness. # Prosecutor was called into the witness-box, but was so intoxicated that he was scarcely able to stand. In reply to the court, he said his wife was approaching her confinement, and then that she was ill, as a reason for her not being present. The magistrates decided on proceeding with the case in her absence, and Clark, on leaving the wit- ness-box, fell down in the fire-place. Mr Jones suggested that Clark ought to be taken into custody for being drunk and incapable in court. The Chairman afterwards directed the officers of the court to take him outside. Mr Jones then briefly addressed the bench for the defence, and called the defendant, who made a statement to the effect that as he was returning home with the prosecutor on the day in question the la.tter asked him to give up the money, as he wanted it. At first Randies refused to do so, as he was ordered to return it to Clark's mother: but ultimately he was compelled to give it up owing to Clark's violence. The bench dismissed the case. CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE-OFFICER. Joseph Wynn, a member of 1he county con- stabulary, was charged with having used abusive language towards Patrick Walsh, hosier and hatter, having a stand in the Wrexham Market Hall. Mr Sherratt appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Jones defended. Complainant stated that on Saturday, the 2nd inst., he was at his stand when Mary Riley was being arrested for drunkenness by the defendant, who was dragging her along the place. Witness said, "For God's sake let the poor woman have another chance to go home to her suckling baby." Defendant said, I know too much about you: you have been to the Guildhall and taken a false oath." In the evening he had a number of cus- tomers when he saw the defendant, and said to him, What did you know about me; you are three-parts drunk and he said," I will lock you up." Witness said," Mind, I am a respectable citizen, and you are only a paid servant." The defendant was three-parts drunk. Witness sent for the Inspector of Police, and he said, "I saw him a short time since, and I don't think he was drunk." The defendant spoke in a loud tone. His customers, who were at his stall, went away with- out buying anything in consequence of what the defendant had said. Mary Jones, stallkeeper at the Wrexham Market Hall, corroborated; as did also James Cheatham, who said that the policeman was rather drunk." because his eyes were red." Ellis Edwards corroborated the evidence of the complainant. The defence was a total denial of the evidence given by the complainant, and the case was dis- missed. WEDNESDAY.—Before T. C. Jones, and R. Lloyd, Esqr&. CHARGE OF ASSAULTING THE POLICE AND A COUNTER CHARGE AGAINST THB OFFICER. Thomas Williams, a man occasionally employed by Mr Francis, chemist, in the capacity of a porter, was charged by P.C. Griffith with having assaulted him whilst in the execution of his duty. P.C. Griffith said that a little before nine the previous evening he was sent for from the police- station to the Public Hall, and on his way through Hope-street had occasion to pass Mr Francis's shop, when he noticed a woman leaning against the wall in Bank-street. He said, What is the matter, my good woman; are you bad ?" She replied, There's nothing the matter." He thought she was drunk, and pushed her about a foot from where she stood, but did not abuse her in any way. Thereupon defendant came across and said, That is my wife." He replied, There is no harm done," and gave him a little bit of a push. With that he sprang at him, and smacked" him in the mouth three or four times. Witness then threw defendant down, and held him on the ground. He believed Mr Francis came out and said, Let him go but he declined doing so. Then lock me up," said the defendant, and he did lock him up. He would not say he was drunk. Defendant complained that when the officer threw him down he knelt upon his breast, and screwed his neckerchief, and that he afterwards tried to choke him in the bridewell. He admitted having struck the constable, and Mr Francis was a wit- ness. P.C. Griffith: He did not see the beginning j of it. The defendant then retorted that the officer was drunk at the time this occurred but averred that he (defendant) had not tasted a H spo." The police-officer having no witnesses on his side, Mr Francis was called. He said he did not see the beginning of the disturbance. Defendant was in his employ on the previous day, and came into the shop for a small parcel for a person who was standing by the door; and as soon as he was gone out he heard a. scuffle, and Tom shouting his name. He opened the front door and found both men on the floor. He asked the police-officer what was the matter, but they were both so excited that he could make nothing of them. He asked Torn to go to the police-station, promising to follow him, and when he got there he was rather rudely handled by the officer. Mr T. C. Jones Well, it is not in your nature to be rude. Mr Francis, in reply to further questions, said he went to the police-starion to endeavour to obtain information as to how the disturbance had arisen. The police-officer was very excited, and he was sorry to say he was not as he ought to be. He should like not to say he was drunk, but he was under the influence of liquor, and he took him by the shoulders and pushed him out of the police-office, saying he would take the charge. Mr T. C. Jones: Was Thomas Williams under the influence of drink ? Mr Francis I cannot say that; but he had had some beer. The wife was waiting by the window for the money, as she cannot trust Tom with it. Mr T. C. Jones could not help thinking that the officer had exceeded his duty. P C. Griffith said he got excited when he was struck in the mouth. Mr T. C. Jones: You really assaulted a respect- able ratepayer and inhabitant of the town by putting your hand upon him. You had no business to do anything of the kind when the man had not said anything insulting or improper. No doubt Mr Bradshaw will take the case up and investigate it. Under the circumstances, I shall dismiss this case, with the concurrence of my brother magistrate, and I also have the power and the right to censure you for your insolence, and for the assault you have com- mitted on Mr Francis. THURSDAY.— Before Chas. Hughes and R. Lloyd, Esqrs. ROBBING A FELLOW LODGER. Thomas Jones, a jobbing gardener, lodging at a house in Brook-street, was charged by Wm. Bryant, a cabinetmaker, with stealing several bronze coins from his trousers pockets. From the prosecutor's statement it appeared that the parties slept in the same room and having missed money from his pockets for two or three nights, prosecutor on going to bed on Wednes- day night marked sixpennyworth of coppers and put them in his trousers pocket as usual, and pretended to be very drunk in the presence of the prisoner, On getting up the following morning, he missed two marked pence and two marked halfpence. He pretended to have a bad headache and went out as it for something to drink but in reality to fetch a policeman. P.C. Griffith came, the prisoner was charged with robbing the prosecutor, and on searching him the missing money was fonnd in his possession. The magistrates remanded the prisoner till Mon- day next.
COUNTY MAGISTRATES' COURT.j
COUNTY MAGISTRATES' COURT. THURSDAY. Before Lieut.-CoI. White. SLEEPING OUT. •A tramp brought in fron the Rhos was charged by P.C. Taffe with sleeping at the coke ovens on the previous night. The officer stated that farmers and others had been complaining that their pot itoe fields and gardens were being robbed, and also that a piece of beef had been stolen from a slaughter- house in the neighbourhood. On going to the coke ovens on the previous night, about eleven o'clock, he found the prisoner there, and a quantity of potatoes in his possession, and brought him to Wrexham on a charge of vagrancy. Prisoner stated that he had been working with a thrashing machine at Erbistock; and in conse- quence of the rain was unable to reach Wrexham that night, and went into the coke ovens for shelter. He was discharged.
__-----_ GENERAL PURPOSES…
GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE. A meeting of this body was held on Wednesday afternoon, Alderman Thomas Jones in the chair. There were also present—Alderman J. C. Owen, and Councillors Shone, Smith, and Lloyd; Mr John James, town clerk, and Mr Smith, borough sur- veyor. MEDICAL REPORT. The Medical Officer reported that since his last report 37 births had been registered, 21 males and 16 females; and 19 deaths had occurred, making the rate of mortality 23 per thousand per annum, with the population calculated at 9,680 and 266 at the old rate of 8,537. He was glad to be able to say that no further cases of small-pox had occured, and that no case of zymotic disease had beenreported to him. THE FIRE ENGINE. The Surveyor submitted a report concerning the working of the fire engine since the same was adopted by the board twelve months ago. Since the board had had control of the fire engine station, several alarms of fire had been given, all of which had been attended to by the fire brigade, and one or two of which might have been serious had not the call been promptly answered. The total receipts after paying expenses of fires amounted to £ 10 17s Sd, oTst of which was to be deducted cleaning, maintaining, and superintendent's salary, probably about -67 to He regretted that the fire escape presented to the town had not been received, owing to the want of a suitable place tj keep tlie same, and the present engine-house being unfortunately a few feet too short, and in such a dilapidated state as to be unfit for keeping properly clean either the engine or the other properties of the board. With- out suitable accommodation, the requisiues fur fire extinction could not be efficiently maintained. THE MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR PRITCHARD. The Town Clerk rend a letter from Mr Bradley Jones on behalf of the committee appointed to make arrangements for the erection of a monument in the new cemetery to the memory ot the late Mr George Pritchard, of the Provincial Insurance Office, who it will be remembered unfortunately met his death by ii owning some time ago whilst on a visit to the Isle of Man. The application was that the body of the deceased be allowed to be placed under a monument in an ordinary grave instead of a vault, excluding all ocher members of the family, and that the grave be brickcd to & sufficient height to hold a coffin. It transpired that a faculty had been obtained from St. Asaph for exhuming the body from the old anl re-interring it in the new cemetery. It appearing that the monument would cover the space of two graves, it was agreed that the com- mittee be asked to increase their subscriptions to enable them to acquire the additional ground, and the Town Clerk kindly intimated that he might be put down for a sovereign towards the extra sum required. A MISUNDERSTANDING. Mr Lloyd said that some fortnight ago an inter- ment took place in the Nonconformist ground, the deceased being the son of the Weslevan minister, Mr Cox, who had only arrived the previous Friday, and died on the Sunday following On the Monday, Mr T. C. Jones having the conduct of the funeral, went up with Mr Cox to the cemetery, and fixed upon a site for a second-class grave The question was asked by Mr T. C. Jones whether it would be a common or a brick grave. Mr Cox said he had not made up his mind. hut would give an answer the same evening or the next morning. Mr Jones then asked the Superintendent if he had any- body there who could build a brick grave, and he said "No." On the following day, Mr Cox having decided on having a brick grave Mr T. C. Jones went to Mr Hugh Davies, who took the order and undertook to have the grave in readiness for the interment on Wednesday morning, at eleven o'clock. During the day, however, he heard that the superintendant had ordered another man to make this brick grave, and would not allow anybody else to go into the place. However, he went to see Mr Jones, and told him that Mr Hughes had been authorised by the board to do all the work at the cemetery, and that he had ordered him to construct the grave. Mr Jones told him he did not see how he could do that. and intimated that he had got his own man. and should not allow anybody else to do the work. They disagreed, and nothing was done until the morning of the funeral. At six o'clock on Wednesday morning, the workmen with a cartload of materials went to the cemeteiy. and Mr Hugh Davies went with them. The superin- tendent would not open the gates but as it happened one of the wickets was opt n, through which the materials were passed with considerable difficulty. The work was commenced, but presently the mortar being too stiff one of the men was sent for a bucket of water. The Superintendent refused the water, and then one of the workmen volunteered to go and fetch it from somewhere else, but was stopped by one of Hughes's men, and in the end they had to bring it all the way from the brick- works. That was the kind of treatment the parties had received. Moreover the superintendent said ne would net allow the interment to take place without three clear days notice, it being contrary to the rules. Now it was impossible to give three clear days notice in this instance. The person only died on Sunday, and notice was given early on Monday morning, and it was necessary for the interment to take place with as little delay as possible. What he would suggest was that they should instruct the Town Clerk to lay down the officer's duty in these matters, so that they might have a clear under- standing with the Superintendent in future. When asked, there could be no objection to his suggesting a person but he was not to take upon himseif to order all work in the cemetery to be done by one builder. If this practice were continued, they would not have many customers, and they ought to encourage people to come into the cemetery, or they would never make it pay. He further complained that people had been allowed to trespass by making a regular footpath through the plantation. The Town Clerk said the board would recollect there was a good deal of confusion with regard to the burial of a relation of Mr Coleman. They could get no one to make a vault, and Mr Coleman was put to so much annoyance and vexation tiiat ii was suggested by the Council that if there was any difficulty Mr Hughes, who had a yard close at hand, could do all the work if called upon. But it wu never intended that he should have the monopoly of the work, only that he should be resorted to at the last extremity, if no one else could du it. The Superintendent had evidently misunderstood the board, and supposed that Hughes and no other person was to dothe^ork at the Cemetery. He (the Town Clerk) was applied to in the matter on the Tuesday, when Mr Howel Davies came to liim. and stated the case: and he wrote a note to Low, the superintendent, requesting pim to allow Mr Davies to construct the vault, as the family wished him to do. It appeared that he either disregarded his instructions, or the note was never delivered to him because the parties had all this trouble on the Wednesday morning. The order was written by him on the Tuesday afternoon somewhere between three and four. Therefore it was very desirable that some regulation should be made. Mr Shone said the Superintendent of the Cemetery should be a man who to be on all occasions most courteous but when there was a necessity, as in this case. that he should step out of the ordinary routine of his duties in order to give the parties a little water to make mortar he actually declined to lend them a bucket It. was not until Mr Hugh Davies went to remonstrate with the man that he was induced to be moderately reasonable and courteous He suggested that the Superintendent be asked for an explanation of con- duct which he could not help thinking was most reprehensible. The Chairman having read a letter from Mr Hugh Davies giving full particulars of the dispute which had arisen, a res*lu+ion was adopted instruc- ting the Town Cierk to write to Low requesting an explanation. The Town Clerk here mentioned that it was very desirable that all communications to the Council or the Committee should be sent to him a day or two before; because he looked into all letters and arranged them for the agenda paper, and for ODe or two letters to come in just as the Council were sitting was setting a bad precedent. The Town Clerk ought to see all letters before they were handed to the chairman, because there were many points on which the Council desired information. and a reference to books or cases required dme. THE ORCHARD FIELD. The Town Clerk read a letter from Sir Wat kin's solicitors stating that the mineral rights in regard to the Orchard Field would be reserved, and re- questing that the purchase money be piid by the 29th of September. On the motion of Mr Shone, it was decided to comply with these terms. THE ALLEGED ENCROACHMENT IN EENBLAS- STREET. The Town Clerk announced that he had received the award of Mr Horatio Lloyd, and it was in favour of Mr Bradley's claim to the extent of the ground enclosed by his hoarding. Each party their own costs, and the Corporation a nominal charge of five guineas for the arbitration. The Committee expressed their satisfaction with the result of the arbitration, and thought the arbitrator's charge extremely reasonable. THE NEW ROADS IN HIGHTOWN. Communications had been received from several owners of property objecting to pay any part of the expense for the construction of conveniences to their houses. It appeared from the Surveyor that the amount in dispute between the owners utd the Corporation for ruakintr up the roads and re- pairing injuries done to their property was about JE100. It was resolved that the Corporation pro- ceed with the making of the roads, apportioning the expense among the different proprietors, and making good whatever damage had teen uone to their property. THE NEW SMITHFIELD. A letter was read from Mr John Bury calling the attention of the Corporation to the damage being done to Mr Meredith's property in making the road to the Smithfield. In raising the road the Corpora- tion had damaged the fences of the garden occupied by Mr Manley, and it had become dangerous to persons passing that way for want of a fence or some protection. If it was intended for the wall to remain at its present bight, a retaining wall would be required and a stone fence to keep animals from getting into the garden. The matter was referred to the Surveyor. [ So other business came before the meeting. ra
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An attempt has been made to assassinate the Greek V ce-Consul at Constantinople. The would-be a&fassin escaped.
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MESSRS MOODY AND SANKEY.—Some time ago it was reported, on the asserted authority of the Rev Dr Hepworth, that Messrs Moody and Sankey had had a disagreement resulting in a separation. It appears now from a circular which has been forwarded to us that such an assertion was totally incorrect, and calculated to produce not very high opinions of the oelebrated Evangelists. On the 1st proximo these notorieties commence some services in Chicago, and they continue in that city until the end of year, when they go to Boston. WREXHAM BOARD OF GUARDIANS —The weekly meeting of the board was held on Thursday, when there were present Captain Griffith-Boscawen, chairman Lieut.-Colonel White, in the vice-chair; the Rev R. O. Burton, and Messrs G H. Whalley, H. Lees, C. Belmont, E. B. Samuel. M. Hughes, J. Davies, W. Lester, R. Jones, C. W. Parsonage, J. Beale. E. Rowland, and A. Sutton. The clerk submitted the returns received from the vaccination offieers for the half year ending December 31st, and was instructed to take the necessary proceed- ings with respect to the defaulters which appeared therein. The number of inmates for the past week was 217, last week 211, corresponding week last year 2:!5. Vagrants relieved 64, imbeciles or idiots in the house 35. Workhouse schools—boys 19, girls 23, total 44. Number receiving industrial taaining—boys 8, girls 9 total 17. THE MARIONETTES.—During the week Messrs Chester and Lee's French Marionettes and Negro Burlesque Variety Company have been performing nightly in the Public Hall; but, unfortunately their concerts have not been so largely appreciated as they deserved. Under the title in the programme of a Chinese Fair are introduced a variety of little mannikins," including contortionists, acrobats, balancers, jugglers, bell-ringers, grotesque figures, and nondescripts, which go through a number of performances, exceeding in many instances in skill and ability those of real life. One of the most laughable and at the same time ingenious of these figures is that of the Magic Turk, which is transformed into half a dozen smaller dancing figures, which go through all kinds of side-splitting antics. The next part of the programme consists of a short. Ne^ro entertainment, supported by Messrs Pete White, C. Norman, and J. May. Although this portion of the entertainment is a. short one, it is enjoyable. A comic sketch fellows, and the evening's amusement is concluded by the pantomime of Old Mother Goose, in which the characters are sustained by marionettes. The scenery is well painted. The transformation scene The Realms of Beauty and Sparkling Waters" was excellent. THE WREXHAM SEWAGE FARM.—The West Derby Local Board of Health has had a deal of trouble with its sewage farm, and notwithstanding the offer made to it by Colonel Jones, of Wrexham, some time ago, it refused to accept it and has gone on with the farm being retained under its immediate control. To show that this is not altogether the most profitable mode of dealing with sewage, the following letter of Colonel Jones to a Liverpool contemporary, on this subject of local interest, will suffice:—" In point of taste comparisons are said to be odious, but so are some of the best medicines prescribed by physicians for sick people. With thib preface permit me to set a very simple rule-of- threesum to the ratepayers of West Derby bearing upon your report of proceedings at a meeting of their local board on the 5th inst. I entered upon this farm in February, 1872, when much mischief had been done to the land by two years of Local Board mismanagement, whereas I am told that the land purchased about the same date by the West Derby Local Board was then in good agricultural condition, so that any deficiency of produce might have been expected to arise in my case rather than in theirs. The conditions as to soil and markets should also give advantages to West Derby, with its proximity to the large town of Liverpool, while the climate must be much the same, and thus a comparison of gross receipts on the two farms during the same period need not be complained of as unjust to the West Derby Local Board, which has announced its receipts for the four years ended 25th March last to be .£8.117 12s 9d. Reference to my farm cashbook shows receipts for the period of four years ended 1st February, 1876, amounting to £ 5,852 17s 3d, but Hafodywern measured only 84 statute acres, including roads, buildings, &c., while the extent of the West Derby farm is, I believe, about 207 acres. My rule-of-three sum therefore runs as follows 84 acres: 207 acres: .£5,853; and I make its answer to be .£14,423, which exceeds the amount stated at the meeting by £ 6,306." THE VOLUNTEERS.—On Tuesday last the members •f the 1st Denbighshire Rifle Volunteer Company assembled at the head-quarters, when the prizes were distributed ny Mrs Yorke, of Erddig Hall, to the successful competitors at the recent prize shooting. There were present Capt. and Mrs. Torke. and the Misses Yorke. Capt. Conran, Lieut. amd Mrs Evan Mcrris Lieut. Crawford, and the aon-commissioned officers and privates of the company. Capt. Yorke said that as the happy occasion which brought Mrs. Yorke and himself before them that evening was known to all, he should not occupy any of their time in discussing it. He wished, however, to congratulate the winners of the prizes then to be distributed upon their success, and to express the gratification it give him to observe that the shooting this year had been extremely good. He felt that he was justly proud of belonging to No. 1 Company. He felt sure they would all rejoice with him that they had again the valuable services of their esteemed adjutant, and he trusted his health was now permanently restored (hear, hear) He could not conclude without naming Sergt. Instructor Jones, as be considerd the efficiency of the corps was mainly owing to the energy and perseverance of Sergt. Jones in discharging his duty (applause). Mrs^ Yorke then distributed the prizes and as the results of the shooting competition had been previously announced, it is not necessary to repeat the names here. After the distribution had con- cluded, Lieut. Morris, addressing the Company, said it was owing to a feeling of duty that they had yolvnteered their services to the Queen. He felt sure that they would all join heartily with him in thanking Mrs Yorke for her very great kindness in being present and distributing the prizes, and for the great interest which that lady had taken in the success of the corps of which Capt. Yorke had for so long had the command (hear, hear). He felt sure he was expressing the sentiments of every rolunteer in tendering to Captain and Mrs Yorke their sincere thanks for the kindness they had re- ceived at all times from them, one of the chief results of which was the numerous and valuable presents which had been given as prizes for effi- ciency in shooting. Three cheers were given for Captain and Mrs Yorke. and the interesting pro- ceedings terminated. Captain Yorke and the .fficers of the corps beg to thank the inhabitants of Wrexham and its neighbourhood for the very hand- some manner in which they subscribed to the shoot- ing funds of the corps. ROMAN CATHOLIC CONSECRATION.—On Tuesday morning last the ceremony of consecrating the portion of the burial ground at the new cemetery allotted to interments according to the rights and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church, was performed by the Right Rev the Lord Bishop of Shrewsbury, in the presence of a goodly number of spectators. In consequence of the inclement state of the weather, which was very cold and damp, the ceremonial was considerably curtailed, and the number of visitors to the ground much less than otherwise would have been the case. At twelve o'clock, a procession was formed at the chapel of the cemetery, find marched in the following order to a platform which had been erected in the centre of the burial ground, in front of which were two crosses :— Thurifer Acolythe Cross Bearer Acolytho (with taper) (with taper) Chorister5. Father Boene. Father Langdon. Father Derry. Canon Buket. Canon Carrol. Canon Walker. Canon Cholmondeley. Canon Chapman. The Bishop. Canon Hilton, Y.G. The Town Clerk. Alderman Beirne. Alderman Beale. Alderman Jones. Councillor Smith. Councillor Murless. Councillor Roberts. Mr Smith (Surveyor). General Public. The children of the Roman Catholic Schools were arranged, two-deep, round the platform, and joined heartily and reverently in the services. The Bishop lead the prayer of consecration, which his lordship afterwards translated into English, and remarked that those around would thus be enabled to fully understand the meaning of the solemn ceremony which they were performing. The proper Litanies having been recited, the procession re-formed, and walked round the boundary of the ground, which the Bishop sprinkled with holy water. Having again arrived at the platform, several prayers were said, the Bishop fixed three tapers on the cross as emblems of the Trinity and of the mystery of the incarnation, after which the procession wended its way to the chapel, and the consecration cere- mony was concluded. It may be added that had it not been. for the inclement state of the weather Canon Cholmondeley would have preached an appro- priate sermon* THE RUNAWAY HORSES.—William Bosco, a coachman, said to come from Liverpool, on Monday last, was fined 5s and the costs at the Wrexham Police Court, for being drunk whilst in charge of a pair of horses and a wagonette. On the 31st ult., at about 25 minutes past six o'clock, a wagonette, to which were attached a pair of splendid chesnut horses, was standing ortside the Great Western Railway Station. The driver left them, and they started off, going at a furious pace along Regent- street and Hope-street, and dashing past the Town Hall they ran direct to the gates of the Parish Church where they stopped, singular to say, with- out doing the least damage. Fortunately, owing to the inclement weather the market people had nearly all left the town, and the streets were clear of traffic, so that the frightened team did no injury to any individuals. Whey they stopped they were taken charge of by a police officer, and Sergeant Lindsay was soon on the spot. After the lapse of a few minutes, the coachman came down on the box of a cab; but he was intoxicated and not in a fit state to have the care of the horses. A number of gentlemen protested against the man being allowed to proceed; but after a while a gentleman got on the box and drove towards the railway station. Whilst on the way, the owner of the turn- out met it, and on seeing the condition of his coachman, put the man inside the vehicle and, mounting the driving box, drove away. TREAT TO WORKMEN. — On Saturday last, Mr Chadwick, of the Eagle Foundry, Wrexham. treated his employees, between 30 and 40, with a ticket each for the Art Exhibition, which they visited, accom- patred by their employer. In the evening the men were entertained at the Old King's Head, Bridge-street, where Mr John Hughes laid upon the tables a sub- stantial dinner. Mr Chadwick presided, and was sup- ported by several gentlemen who had bean invited After the removal of the cloth, the chairman gave the usual loyal and other toasts—that of the Queen," and the "Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal family" being heartily received with musical honours. Mr Edward Plant, of the Broughton Iron Works, proposed" the taast of the evening, the health of the founder of the feast," in appropriate terms, and it was received most enthusiastically. Mr Chadwick feel- ingly acknowleged the compliment, and expressed the pleasure he felt in meeting them all on the present i occasion, congratulating the workmen on their excellent ,conduct both in the Exhibition and at the dinner, adding that, seeing the men took a deep interest in what was to be seen at the Exhibition, and knowing that the time was too limited to examine a tithe of the art treasures. &c., if the men desired to pay the Art Gallery one or more visits, and each would place sixpence a week in his bands he (Mr Chadwick) would provide them with admission tickets—an offer that was thankfully accepted. In the course of the evening several complimentary toasts were given, there was some good singing, and a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Hughes for their excellent catering, terminated the proceedings.