Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-16 00:00:00

AMUSEMENTS, &c.

THE AMPHITHEATRE —On Tneaday night the new
mele-drama, "Joseph Chavigny," was performed. This
piece was not very successful in London, so far as the
general opinion of the audience was concerned, but was
fortunate enough to secure no common share of praise
from very high critical authorities among the daily and
weekly papers. It was eulogised for originality of con-
ception and incident, and far sparkling epigrammatic lan-
guage. We can only soy ftr ourselves that we did not
form an equally high estimate of its merits. It is the
genuine, old melo-drama of the stamp with which we are
all thorough'y familiarised from our earliest nlav-going
associations. The principal character, Joseph Chavigny,
is the old famil'ar villain of the romance and the stage—
something of Karl Moor, something of Paul Clifford,
something of Robert Macaire—who has been cast out by
society, and charges all his vices upon it in consequence,
avenging, moreover, his early wrongs by scathing sar-
casms upon all its institutions and deceits. Any one at
all up in this kind of litera'ure can easily enough from
the beginning anticipate all the movements and the fate of
the hero. We are not surprised that he has a coarse and
brutal comrade, whose passions he dreads, and whom he
has to keep in order partly by conciliation, partly by stern
gaze and firm tone. That he has a daughter, who visits
him in his den, and whom he first repels, and then melts
over, is only to be expected. That when, on the point of
committing murder, he suddenly hears the sound of the
evening bell in a church, remembers his mother and his
childhood's innocence, and drops his hand, is an incident
properly appertaining to such a hero. Finally, when
he is shot by the brutal comrade, we see with calmness the
precise catastrophe we had been expecting all through.
These are the leading points of the drama, and the dialogue
is of the kind adapted to set them off. This is just what
this kind of mele-drama began with. Time has come
round, and where we did begin there now we end. Let us
hope that the life of this species of dramatic performance
has therefore nearly done i's compass. If anything
could have given new life to such a theme it would
have been the acting of Mr. Webster. We have
never seen that gentleman display more genuine dramatic
force than he threw away upon the part of Joseph
Chavigny. The greed of money, the heartlessness, Jthe
sudden change of emotion, the bursts of passion, the
frantic despair, were embodied with a natural power which
sometimes produced an electric effect upon the audience.
If the talent of the actor could make real such a specimen
of the nearly extinct "storm and force" school, Mr.
Webs'er's singular ability and careful study, would have
produced that very questionable result. Mr. Paul Bedford
was in his own department, only less effective in the degree
of importance attaching to his part. He performed the
coarse embruted son of the guilldine, with befittingly rude
force. Perhaps, theta were sometimes, occasional reminis-
cenceseen Prae"tmo ecnri tlc evidentise it it
on o the.
he
nearly. rendering
r.
of the of the
ifL oounfet
Wright was as irresistibly comic as usual, in "Welcome
Little Stranger," and " My Precious Betsy." Last night the
p(rf)rmances were for the benefit of Mr. Paul Bedford.
' Mother and Child are Doing Well" was the opening
piece,which was followed by the burlesque on "Norma" and
other entertainments suited to Mr. Bedford's peculiar and
original humour. The performers were all as effective, and
as much applauded, as ever.

LIVERPOOL BANKRUPTCY COURT —YBSTERDAY.—(BEFORE
MR. COMMISSIONER PERRY.)-I.O'VR v. LAWRENSON•—The
bankrupt, chain and anchor maker, of Liverpool, came up
this day on his last ex Itnination, and passed; and a day
was fixed for the certificate meeting.

INQUEST.—Aa inquest was held yesterday, before Mr.
Curry, coroner, upon the bony of a lad named James
Syons, sm of a fisherman living in Frederick-street, who
fell out of his father's boar, when lying in the Prince's
dock, last Tuesday. A. verdict was returned accordingly.
SAILING OF THE AUSTRALIAN SHIP PIRENIX.—This fine
and favourite Australian packet-ship, which is so well
known in the trade, sailed yesterday for Melbourne, having
been despatched by Mr. Walthevv, the well known manager
of the G° Liverpool line." She had about 250 passengers,
all respectable, and a full and valuable cargo of merchan-
dise.

THE HEAD.—Keep your head cool, saith the philosopher.
Ave, but how is that to be done in such weather as this ?
It is said there is nothing new under the sun—hut that is
very debatable, for if the new Summer Hats at Woxl's, of
Lord-street, be not unique and without any comparison,
then indeed co meth the proverb. There are three ingre-
dients in a hat—lightness, durability, and cheapness. As
to the two first ingredients, the hats spoken of are incom-
parable; and as to the latter, it may be supposed when a
first-class hat is had for 53 61 nothing more need be desired.
This could not be done except that Mr. Wood has succeeded
in purchasing au extensive bankrupt stock, at an immense
sacrifice. Any one can Batley himself by looking'at the
articles, which are truly astonishing in all respects. Who
wonld have a bad hat now ?

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF MODERN DRUIDS, LIVERPOOL
DiSTRIXT.-LOYAL COUNTESS OF SEFTON LODGE.—The
anniversary of this lodge was celebrated at the house of
host John Green's, Dey's-lane, West Derby, on Monday
last. the 13th July. The chair was ably filled by P.A.
Henry Lea, supported on the right by N.A. Peter Punstall,
and on the left by P.A. John Hindle. The vice-chair was
occupied by Brother Joseph Haggerty, and his supporters
on the right were Brother Garner, and on the left by
Brother Bagley. The dinner furnished to the members by
their worthy host, comprising everything that the season
and goof catership could supply, was amply provided;,
the viands being as varied as the taste were numerous, and
justice was accordingly done to the beenty of his board.
After the cloth had been removed, the harmony of the
evening commenced by the chairman proposing the follow-
ing toasts, viz Her Most Gracio is Majesty the Queen,"
" His Royal Highness Prince Albert," " His Royal High-
ness the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal.
Family," " Prosperity to the Loyal Countess of Senon.
Lodge," " Our Worthy Host," &0., &c. The toasts were
and
brotherhood among those who form this and similar
succeeded by excellent and appropriate songs, which
added greatly to the hilarity and conviviality of all
present. The meeting altoge'her was one of the most
calculated agreeable
to
and
fosterhappy
andcement
that could
fa
en s o
bl
ie desired, f and w
kindness
mutual benefit institutions.
SCHOoL TREAT.—On Tuesday, the teacltera and children
connected with the Zion Free Gospel Church, Elizabeth-
sireet, had one of those delightful day's treat which at this
season of the year is so much enjoyed by the juvenile:
population of this town. At an early hour in tile after.
noon, the teachers and children, about 150 in number,
assembled in the schoolroom, and from thence repaired
to the Wavertree Park, adjoining the Botanic Gardens, /
where everything in the shape of amusement and enjoyment
was prepared for them, the minister of the cheeoh, the
Rev. Mr. Sanderson, doing his utmost to contribute to their
comfort and happiness. After spending a. most delightful
afternoon, the party returned to the school-room, where a
most excellent and substantial tea wad provided for the
children end the members of the congregation. After tea
the minister, Mr. Sanderson, took the chair being sup-
ported by several of the leading members of the congrega-
tion,
He delivered a very appropriate and interesting
address, as did several other gentlemen. In the course of
the evening the children, some thirty or forty in number,
recited several scriptural pieces and dialogues in a very
creditable style, much to the amusement and pleasure of
their relative and friends, In the course of the evening
the Rev. Mr. Sanderson was presented with a substantial
token of respect from the congregation and teachers, which
was feelingly and suitably acknowledged, and after spend-
ing a most agrecakle evening the meeting WOW up.