538 PANORAMA OF MANCHESTER. 



convenient. In this spirit several public buildings have been got up 

 amongst the rest the Town-hall stands conspicuous. According to 

 Mr. Everett, this is built in the " same style as the temple of Ere- 

 cheus at Athens, and the dome in the centre is after the model of the 

 octagonal tower of Andronicus, generally called the Tower of the 

 Winds. In the niches in front," he continues, "are figures of Solon 

 and Alfred, and in the attic are medallion portraits of Pythagoras 

 and Locke Solon and Judge Hale." Truly the taste^ governing 

 this consomme must be pronounced to be admirable ; but we rather 

 wonder that the " Tower of the Winds" remains quiet amidst its in- 

 congruous neighbours. 



We grieve to learn, from the same authority, that the interior 

 decorations of this splendid building are unfortunate in their exe- 

 cution. The simplicity and bonhommie displayed by the author in 

 this part of his work is one of the best hits we have for some time 

 seen. " These four paintings," he says, " represent the four car- 

 dinal virtues prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude !" But, 

 he adds in a foot-note, " it is a singular proof of the different impres- 

 sions produced in different minds by the same representation, that 

 these figures are supposed by Mr. Baines and others to represent the 

 'four quarters of the globe !' " Very singular, indeed, and to avoid 

 such confusion in future, we would strongly advise the gentlemen of 

 Manchester to insist upon their artists labelling their works. 



The English are proverbial for being a portrait-loving people : 

 every man and woman, of whatever degree, having the same desire 

 for posthumous remembrance. Dryden, when in a caustic humour, 

 said, in his beautiful verses to Kneller 



" Good Heaven ! that sots and knaves should be so vain 

 To wish their vile resemblance to remain ! 

 And stand recorded, at their own request, 

 To future days a libel or a jest !" 



This disposition the Mancunians seem to enjoy, according to Mr. 

 Everett, in an extraordinary degree. Over the fire-place in the 

 public room, and meant as the lion of the place, is the grand picture, 

 intended to represent the meeting of the Allied Sovereigns at Carlton 

 House, in 1814. Such a picture, one should naturally suppose, 

 would be historical, and commemorate the men who were actually 

 present. No such thing, the opportunity of being immortalized in 

 such illustrious company was too good to be lost by the men of 

 Gotham, and ! infandum the officials of Manchester, of all 

 sizes and ages, occupy the canvas. The perversion, gross as it is, 

 would, we have been told, have remained a secret to the world at 

 large, had not the vanity of one of the " pictured heroes" overcome 

 his prudence. Like poor Dennis, who could not hear the thunder 

 praised without exclaiming " Zounds ! that's my thunder !" when 

 somebody was admiring the rubicond visage and portly abdomen 

 of a worthy burgher, he was so delighted that he called out 

 "that's me!" 



Lancashire has for ages been famous for the wit of its inhabitants. 

 In their own rich Doric dialect " they ha' been 'cute folk sin' Adam 



