EEPORT. 



TuE most important event during the last year has been the opening of 

 the Walker Art Gallery, which took place on the 6th September last. 

 The day was in every way a memorable one, from the interest displayed 

 by all classes of the community, and the success which attended the 

 celebration. 



The proceedings were commenced by a procession of the Trades, with 

 banners and bands of music, mustering about 8,000, which paraded the 

 pxincipal streets, terminating in front of the Gallery. The key of the 

 building was presented by Alderman Walker to Mr. John Weightman,. 

 chairman of the Finance Committee, on behalf of the Corporation. The 

 Right Hon. the Earl of Derby, who made a suitable address, was then 

 requested to open the Gallery, in which the seventh annual Exhibition 

 of Paintings had been arranged on the upper floor, and a collection of 

 other objects of Art on the lower storey. His Lordship then proceeded 

 to unveil the first picture of the permanent collection hung in the 

 building, being the original cartoon by E. M. Ward, Esq., E.A., of the 

 painting in the corridor of the House of Commons representing the 

 Escape of Charles the Second after the Battle of Worcester. 



Previous to the opening, an illuminated address and a handsome casket 

 were presented to Alderman Walker, the result of a public subscription, 

 out of which fund a commission has also been given to Mr. Warrington 

 Wood for a marble statue of the donor. 



A banquet was subsequently held in St. George's Hall, the Earl of 

 Derby in the chair, attended by a large number of guests. In the 

 evening an exhibition of fireworks was displayed in Wavertree Park, 

 witnessed by many thousands of spectators. The day was fine, and 

 notwithstanding the extraordinarily crowded state of the thoroughfares 

 everything passed off without the slightest accident. 



