The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-18 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

GRAND CONCERT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.—On Friday
evening a grand miscellaneous concert of vocal and instru-
mental music was given in this theatre, by Madame Clara
Novello, Miss Messent, Herr Reichardt, and Signors Sivori
and Piatti, and Arthur Napoleon. The theatre was well
filled by a fashionable and applauding audience, and the
various pieces, constituting a very inviting programme, were
given in a style worthy of the reputation of the different
artists.

ORATORIO AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—The oratorio
of the " Messiah" was given in this theatre, on Saturday even-
ning. The principal vocalists were Madame Clara Novell°,
Miss Messent, Mrs. Scarisbrick, Herr Reichardt, and Mr,
Winn. The orchestra and chorus were complete and efficient
and, under the able conduct of Mr. Land, the oratorio was
skilfully and beautifully performed. The house was well
filled, and the audience gave testimony of enthusiastic de-
light during various portions of the performance.
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, active preparations are on foot
for the presentation of the new Christmas Pantomime, which
will be produced on Wednesday, the 26th inst. The subject
is local, and the title " Harlequin Steam, or the Old Swan and
Knotty Ash," promises lots of fun, and plenty of local squibs.
During the present week, the chief attraction is found in the
surprising feats of Madame Labarere, the Lion Queen. This
lady goes through an extraordinary array of performances with
a troup of lions, lionesses, tigers, bears, and dogs.
SOIREE ORCHESTRAL.—Mr. Henry Lawson gave his annual
soiree musicale at his residence, in Duke-street, on Thursday
evening last. The pieces selected for performance were of a
highly popular character, and they were performed in such a
manner as to command warm applause from a numerous and
intelligent audience.

GRAND EtSNING CONCERT.—This evening a grand mis-
cellaneous concert will be given in St. George's Hall, by
Madlle. Eloise D'Herbil, the celebrated Spanish pianiste,
assisted by the most celebrated resident musical professional
artists. The programme is an attractive one, and, from the
sensation produced by the youthful pianiste on her previous
appearance, a high treat may be anticipated.

THE Hon. Mr. Justice Wightman and Lady Wightman
attended divine service, on Sunday morning, at the Church
for the Blind.

MR. THOMAS Toartnesott has purchased from the trustees
of Mr. Myers, of Liverpool, 100 acres of the Moor Hall
estate, at a cost, we learn, of £24,ooo.—Preston Chronicle,.
Loci', WAR ITEMS.—The steam-ship Niagara arrived at
this port early on Friday, from Kingstown, with the Galway
militia, who are to be despatched to the camp at Aldershot'.
To-day the same steamer will leave here for Dublin with the
4th Lancashire militia. A batch of naval volunteers were
forwarded to London on Friday, by Captain Bevis. An officer
from the Admiralty arrived here a few days ago, for the pur-
pose of examining a large number of applicants as engineers
in the royal navy. He has been assisted by Captain Bevis,
and his thief clerk, Mr. Benest.
Ma. SOHN Cowenre, of the Northern Circuit, died about
midnight on Wednesday, at his house in Albermarle-street.
His death was utterly unexpected, and is attributed to some
spasmodic affection ef the heart. He was in his .54th year,
and born in Lancashire ; the only son, we believe, of a physi-
cian. He became Senior Wrangler in the .year 1824, and was
till his marriage a Fellow of St. John's College. He was a
member of the Middle Temple, and called to the bar on the
9th of November, 1.827, and went the northern circuit, where
tie was universally respected. On the kit 'vacancy in the re-
presentation of the University of Cambridge, Mr. Cowling,
who was a Conservative, announced himself as a candidate,
and would have received powerful 'support, but he withdrew
in favour of Mr. Wigram. Mr. Cowling enjoyed a very large
and lucrative practice. He was distinguished for his scientific
and profound knowledge of law, and-the accuracy and logical
ability With which he brought it to bear on every ease in
which he was engaged. He Was of a remarkably shy and
diffident temper, and characterised uniformly by simplicity of
character • and honour in bdth priVAte and professional life.
For the last few years he has been spoken of as likely to be
raised to the bench.
HOCVSBING AND VIOLENT STREET ROBBERY.—Yesterday,
two men in the garb of boatmen, named William Henderson
and 'John Parry, were charged before the police magistrate,
With hocussing, assaulting, and robbing a young man who
gave' his name as Henry Von Sellingor. From the evidence
it appeared that the prosecutor, vaio is steward of the ship
Empire, which arrived at Liverpool last week, frem New York,
had.just come on shore on Thursday, and had immediately
hied himself off to a public-house, where he got drunk. He
then adjourned to another drinking establishment, where he
fell in with the prisoners, whom he did not know, and could
not even now identify. With them he had some more drink,
and they further proceeded to, the house of Mrs. Rossbottom.
Here the prisoner asked for a glass of whisky-punch, into
which he put some snuff, and gave it to the prosecutor to
drink, who was too oblivious to know what was going of -
but the landlady having observed the transaction, interfered
and prevented the prosecutor from drinking it. In return for
this friendly act, the prosecutor became .very indignant, and
left the house. He was-shortly after followed by the prisoners,
and in a brief space of time was knocked down and severely
;injured. His assailants robbed him of -a gold watch, of the
value of £3O. He eoild -eve no account of who the parties
were who robbed him, :but said he felt satisfied that he was
robbed by the men who,left the publicahouse with him. The
.prisoners were remanded till this day.
LECTURE ON "MR NEViSFAPER Raiess.—Last night, a lec-
',tare was delivered in the Tuckerman Institute, Lower Bed-
,eford-street, by Mr. .P. Rathbone, on the subject of the
Newspaper Press. The attendance was good, though not
t'very numerous, and the audience indicated their appreciation
of the subject by discriminate applanse. The lecturer traced
'flue origin of the newspaper, almost as far back as the art of
• printing, gradually eliminating the development of the actual
newspaper, from its•appearance as the Gazette to the present
time, when it embraces so wide .a lunge of subjects and so
able a corps of conductors. He stated the origin of news-
paper writing to have -sprung out ,of the combined talents of
. Defoe, Sir Richard Steele, and Addiscn, opposed to the united
abilities of Swift, aktterbury, and -Gay; recounting illustra-
tive anecdotes of all, of those eminent men. He then pre-
teeded to narrate the. influence exercised upon the public
mind through the 'Newspaper Press, the writings of Dr.
Jolmson, and, abovestliof Junius. The art of newspaper re-
peeing, and its pectliar value tcacciety, was next pointed
out; and he concluded by declaring his conviction that the
preps of this country is above the-reach of venality—that it
amaexercisecl, and continues to exereise, a power irrepressible
for good, and so admirably self-poised as to be incapable of
deliberate evil. One. and onlyorieccheck, appeared to him
likely to impede its 'utility. That was the danger of the
artist in over-finishing his picture—of the advocate super-
seding the calm deliberation and:unswerving impartiality of
thejudge. He declared his firm belief in the incorruptibility
and :igdispensable value.of the press: as the palladium of our
civilard religious liberty, which-to these is like the air we
breathe, and without which we die.
CAIFITURE OF AN ABSCONDING- WEBTOR."--On Saturday
Inspector Bates effected a clever capture. On the 4th instant,
George Foster, provision.dealer, absconded from Nottingham,
leaning carious debts tothe. amount of about £5OO, having
also deserted his wife and their children, preferring the attend-
ance ofa young woman, of considerible personal attractions,
who ituas ascertained had ,accompanied him as his wife. On
his popers.-being searched .alletter was discovered from Messrs.
Tapsoatt.and Co., of this port, containing particulars in refer-
ence to the American ship Topscott,.advertised to leave Liver-
pool for 24077 York, on Sunday. Mr. John Willey, of Notting-
ham, a creditor to the amount of f.,82:16a., came to Liverpool
and placed the case in the hand of Inspector Bates, giving Pi ,n,
also, for hie gaidance, a daeuenrooty,pe likeness of Foster. Bates,
armed with 212,abscondingdelatoes warrant, proceded in search
-of him. On Flriday afternoon he waserossing the canal bridge,
Oldhall-etneet, when he met a maan„taidently the original of
'the photographiin his pocket, szoompanied by a well-dressed,
..good-looking ickw woman. Sure of his,RvArry, he followed
in their wake, sad traced them to the,offioe of Messrs. Tapscott
:and Co., in Watentoo-road, where theanan todk two berths on
board the Tapscott,,booked in the name of George Brown and
..))les. Brown. He .tarterwards fotiowied2thenbfrem the office to
their lodgings, wheithe proceeded to the Yelegraph-office, and
,connnunicated with far. Willey, who returned; to Liverpool on
Saturday, and went nith Bates on board the iTapscott, where
•they;fo'and the abseouiiing debtor and his nseuelo.wife. Brown,
‘or rather, Foster, was waken into custody, and,yetterday was
forwarded to Nottingham. It appears that lie and his mistress
had travelled from that ttown to Liverpool in a.spring cart,
selling .provisions by ;the way, and that, on arriving
iu Liverpool, they had sold the horse and ,cart for
LI. Not the least singular part of the •affiiir is the
(act that,the woman is Faster's own cousin, and ,was travelling
maderberaisme. It is saidttehat tradesmen in Manchester are
creditors of:Foster to the extent of several hundredpounds.
VOZ,UNXILEW RITE Commarraez.—The committee appointed
to collect and apply the voluntary rate of 1863 met .at the
parish office on±aturday, present—Messrs. Luff, H,. Molynexx,
S. B. jacbsen, ii%radley, MlCnight, and R. Johnson. Mr. Jobyn-
son ,called to the chair, the minutes of the last meeting
were read andconfirmed. On &emotion of Mr. Luff, who had
at the raituest,of,the committee inaestigated the case, £3O was
voted to the ,widowof the late Mr. Lawrence, relieving officer,
who was severely ,iniiured in the bread riots of February last,
and who died soon,after, to enable her to maintain herself and
five young children, lay the business of confectioner.—The
clerk reported from the select vestry that, in accordance with
the recommendation of the voluntary rate committee, the
Yestry had, for the sum of £42 per annum, to be paid out of
the poor rate, insured the Uves of its six relieving officers for
4200 each. In the .e,vent.of their leaving neither widow nor
children the sum to revert to the parish funds.—The list of
paupers eligible for enaigrati.au., moved for in September last,
was ordered to stand over until March next.—Anepplication for
£6los. from thefinaneeeoramittee.to enablel3 disabled German
emigrants to return to that,country, having been sent back by
the authorities of the United States, was unanimously granted.
—The chairman and vice-ehairman of the committee having
been threatened with legal proceedings by Messrs. Atkins,
Hobbs, Liversidge, and Dr. Collins, if the funds at the disposal
of the committee were applied to any other purposes than the
payment of their further claims as members of the parish
parliamentary water committee, it was resolved "that a
sum of £l5O be reserved to indemnify the chairman and
vice-chairman for any legal expenses to which those par-
ties might subject them in any attempts to exact a fur-
ther sum from the ratepayers than the very large amounts
they have received, in full satisfaction of all de-
mands, as testified by their several receipts."—A renewed
application from the finance committee of the select
vestry for £lOO for the services of Mr. Wainwright was
met by Mr. Jackson with a request that the committee might
be informed as to the nature and extent of those services.
These being stated by the vestry clerk and members of the
committee who had acted on deputations to London, and
derived very great advantage from the assistance of Mr.
Wainwright and the conveniences of his office, it was resolved
unanimously that £lOO be paid Mr. Wainwright. It was at
the same time observed that as this was not voted at Easter
last, according to custom, the usual allowance had been
actually reduced by one-half, and that unless a new rate were
agreed to at Easter next the committee would not feel justified
in voting a further sum from the limited funds as its disposal.
—An application from the widow of the late Mr. Simpson,
relieving-officer, who died in the early part of the year, from
disease contracted in the discharge of his duties, was left over
for further inquiry.