The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

THE DAILY TIMES, THURSSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, IMO

, -
THE PROUSIL F.ttmiLy _AND MISS

Our native strains,
That melt us as we sing them,

and with a pathos, execution, perfect knowledge of
Music and words 4 that compel her auditors to bate their
I°l-path hist aiJy ii,o6 4(1 arOd Shoilid be lqst,
children do not afford -treats to as tint hi
thi4 case the fact is reversed, for Blanche Cole can
afford by 116• matchless singing a treat of no common
order. This interesting little girl is a marvel; she
' executes the most wonderful ronlades, cadenzas, and
shakes, as if she had been singing for a quarter of a
century, instead of one-fourth of. that period. Little
Blanche, for all the world reminds us of one of those
diamond-eyed little birds, that jump out of a golden
snuff-box, and while shaking its begrimed wings trolls
forth some.familiar old song. I:ter-voice is.gpxible and
tivtrett eltPerife,.4,ttd her correct node of ethineia-
tion, arid the feeling with liniCh ale ClaiverS het tekttis
worthy of all praise. The child is d Woridei, We
must hear her again. This is the highest compliment
we can pay her,
• - v

THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
UPON ANCHORS.

At the sitting of this committee on Tuesday, Sir, J.
Elphinstone in the chair; two witnesses from. Liverpool
Wert; exqmined.
Mr. Macdonald, Marlagbt of the Lit erpool Corpora-
tion testing machine, stated that the iiia4iitiestld in
constant use, and was not sufficient ter the work
required. In 1855 the number: of fathoms of chain
cable proved was 10,717, of which 8,862 were found to
be defective, and 576 were condemned. In 1856 the
number of fathoms proved was 11,336, of which there
were defective, 9,575 ; condemned, 438. In 18.57
the number of fathoms proved was 12,826, of which
there were defective 10,393 ; condemned 316. In
1858, the number of fathoms' proved was 9,387,
of which there were defective, 8,278; condemned, 383.
In 1859„4 to Atighst 1, the number of fithoms proved •
Was 5,711, of which there Vki.dre..defeaive 1,038, OA-
demned 357. The number of failairuS of slosh
proved during the same period was 36,884, of which
there were defective 21,487, and condemned, 1,541. The
defects chiefly arose from the cables being constructed of
bad iron. The condemned chains were frequently sold
to the owners of vessel* The cables of vessels classed
at Lloyd's are required to be tested. The cables of the
Royal. Charter were not tested by the Liverpool machine.
One of the makers at Liverpool had a testing machine,
but he did not believe that any other of the makers had
a machine:,

..___., ,
1 fly Air. Sackson--7=Six testing niaafiries Ncitiki dot ho
' sufficient to do all the work required. - Many ships
went to sea without having their cables tested. He
had no doubt that if all the cables were tested there
would be a great saving of life and property.
Mr. Henry Wood, chain-cable and anchor-maker, of
Liverpool and Chester, said there was a testing machine
at his establishment, the steam power of which tested
up to 300. The machine was similar to that used in her
Majesty's dockyards. Various qualities of iron were
used in the manufacture of cables and anchors,
Ile preferred Staffordshire iron for small sides, arid
Welsh for the larger Ones. The best. cables were
made from Plymouth bars. The strain on the
21-inch chains was 81 tons by the merchant test. Tho
chain cables for the Royal Charter were manufactured
at his works. The size was *inches and the strength
72 tons. Did not believe that either the chains or
anchors were at fault in that case. Was of opinion that
all sea-goitig ships should have their cables tested at a
public establislinieiit, and believed that a ptihlid test
would effect a great saving of life and property. lie
thought the shipowners and underwriters were
satisfied with the corporation test at Liverpool, and
could not say whether they would prefer being placed
under a Government inspector. He did not think any

places would support the expense of ,an establishment
for testing, except London, Liverpool, and the Clyde.
The Admiralty test in the case of the Royal Charter
would have been 81, and if it had been required that
the cables should be put to that test better iron would
htfire been used, and the cost would have been increased.
The committee then adjourned,

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COURT AND OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Tier Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Princess
Helena, rode on horseback on Tuesday morning in the
Riding-house of Buckingham Palace:
His Royal Highness the Prince Conseil, attettbd by
Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. D. de fos, *tilt to the
South Kensington Museum on Tuesday morning, and
presided at a meeting of the Council of the horticultural
Society, when Mr. Nesfield explained his plans for the
laying out of the new garden at Kensington Gore.
The Queen and Prince Consort, accompanif d by the
Princesses Alice and Helena, honoured the performance
'at' Covent Garden Theatre, on Tuesday evening with
their presence. , The Royul suite consisted of the
Countess of Desna, Lord De Tabley, Lord Charles
Fitzroy, and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. D. De Ros.
The opera selected was Dinorah, preceded by Ronurnee,
and concluding with the fairy rifle scene from the
pantomime of Puss in Boots.

Lord De Tabley and the Hon. Mortimer Sackville
West have succeeded Lord CaMoys and Colonel the non.
A. Liddell as the Lord and Groom in Waiting to the
Queen.

with the approbation of the committee, but the carrying
out of which must rest entirely with the ticket-holders
themselves; yet, if carried out, it could not fail to greatly
titlo the effectiveness of the gentital spectacle.
He rpEdnifileilddiidtt e Make is,, that patties gaitig,
6- 'Mild go arr4l%o rls ritkiCiit ffiotipsi fottitipg
s'it were, ciiiaot4le or Other ddnee p'aftieg at ifistitietive
Olifiracter ~and practice extensively
folloWed in Pairis; thetpringpal,hallS the
ds *ell ai id iioddOd. Its effect is f9upg to
.conduce greatly to the inieielt dried iiettire,sqltieriosg of
the general scene„ while it also contributes, in no eriial.
degree to proinote the harmony, and enliven the general
enjoyment. _

Is there any onein this town„ who has not heard the
Brousil Family? Is there any one who has not been
deligh'ed to listen to their admirable performances--
their exquisite playing ? If there be such an one, let
him or her lose no time in visiting Clayton Hall, where
he or she Will find themselves joining heart and soul
With the hosts of ddmlirers, cif these talented children.
hl y dar,iiiadttiti dOrr t *tip Ateituliciiid; against the violins.
Do hot think because your fafourite dtteffi
failed in obtaining an adequate knowledge of the Violin,
either in theory or practice, that it is necessarily an in-
strument of torture, at all times ? Don't be too hard of
belief and too broadly assert " that children cannot play
the fiddle" because Aufrustus failed, on attempting to
become a Paganini. Will the fact of four children
playing violins drive you into a fit. Dismiss such ap-
prehensions train your sensitive imagination. Hear the
Bronsil family play their solos, duets, trios and guar-
tetts, and you *ill at once wipe every cobweb of prejii-
dide frm,yrir mind ; and yciti• will admit that, instead
of a vOlihibeidg Ode cif lifc'# liditots, kis Obey an in--
stringent that cait prddiide Inds agri-,7)1e
Listen to Bertha Brousil. Here is a little girl with a
violin under her young chin, and a bow in her hand,
producing matchless effects upon a most difficult in-
strument. What " linked sweetness long drawn out " does
she notproduce ? What touching tones, and odd sounds too,'
does she not elicit by the agency of those things of
wood and cat-gut and horse hair ? Sometimes the notes
swell under hez hands, with the fulness of half-a-dozen
institiriMnts—soinetimeg a tone fine is produced, that
she realises KnOwles' exquisite tlidiiglit, "that-there is
nothing between it and silence." Ilettha ten=
ders the most elaborate PassdgeS. of the ineist difficidt
masters with Skill and brillipcyand.,i;e4:t;e that upiny
ni Servile ha:s been Violin playing; all his
erin adt night or t*d..d.go saw a dis-
tinguished professor aptilatid td the eery after
playing a solo. It did us good.to see it. she tlet3elieil it.
When we found in our bill that a little lady, a MiSs
Blanche Cole, . aged eleven years, would sing several
songs between the Brousil performances, we made up
our minds patiently to endure, suffer, and abide the
results. But oh ! Blanche Cole ! Horace's motto, nil
admirari, has been long the one of our adoption. The
•ease before us is an exception to our stern rule. To see
anti hear Blanche Cole, is to give up prejudice respecting
prOoitY:. Pant? the, !intent little fairy, with the
prettiest little face,. standing lietdte toil With all the
grace, ease, elegance of deportment, and the modest
confidence of genius, a very prime (Tonna in miniature.
There she stands in the face of all people, and then,
with the sweetest of little voices, does she pour forth
from her little throat,—