The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-15 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL.

Tile entertainments this evening are Fletcher's comedy of
" Rule a Wife and Have a Wife," the interlude of " No,"
and the " Hunter of the Alps," being for the benefit of Mr.
Vandenhoff, jun., and the last night of his engagement.
Since our last notice of the debutant he has appeared as
St. Pierre, also as Falconbridge, and the Duke Aranza.
We witnessed his performance of all of these parts, and name
the circumstance as so far entitling us to record an opinion
on his merits as an actor now and in expectancy.
As the phrase goes, Mr. Vandenhoff has not mistaken his
profession. We thought so after seeing him play Leon on
Monday, and have to confirm the favourable general notice
of its personator as " set down" in this journal on Tuesday
last. Parts requiring an association of ability for Comedy
and Tragedy are those in which Mr. Vandenhoff, jun., in all
probability, will find himself ultimately best liked by his
audiences. Being a novice, as a matter of course, he has a
vast deal to learn. His figure is of that kind which
admits of being made up for almost any part which he may
attempt. His eyes are rather small, but they are not
without lustre or expression. Those who say that his
voice is deficient in power, are ignorant either of the
correct mode of analysing the qualities or character-
istics of the speaking-voice, or are wedded to some
fancy of their own ;—or perhaps they may be of those who
would assign the palm of superiority to an actor, whose
power of lungs exceeds that of his brains—like the worthy
citizen at Leeds, who could not think highly of John Philip
Kemble,—" cause he could na shaw'out (shout) loike Coo-
mingks." This Cummings was not a bad actor, and was
gifted with a voice with which he addressed his friends of the
gallery like a boatswain hailing a man at the mast-head
through a speaking-trumpet. It will be found that it is not
in respect of power that Mr. J. G. Vandenhoff 's voice is de-
ficient, but very much so as regards tone. Are we in error
in thinking that there is an unpliable because a constitutional
hardness about it? If so, as we apprehend it is, this will
operate as a serious hindrance to the effect of his delivery in
scenes or passages requiring pathos and delicacy of modula-
tion. At present Mr. V. works his voice with little if any
modulation, and in two and only two tones. In the fuller of
those two tones, there is sufficiency of power and body, for
any theatre in England ; but the same cannot be said (now)
of the other. As to his acting nothing decided can be said
beyond this: it is promising—very promising. In St. Pierre
he exposed throughout a misconception ofthe character, especi-
ally in his first scene. His second dress, as a cavalier, may have
pleased the taste of many, as showy ; but it was out of cha-
racter. It was too boyish, and the boots positively girlish.
The covering of his " upper man" was wanting in length,
both behind and before. Any thing that can give a handle
for the imputation of an approach to the barely decent,
should be sedulously shunned : but we beg to be understood
as quarrelling with the whole dress, for its want of manli-
ness. St. Pierre, with all his " backslidings," and a lost
spirit though be was, was not without " the true shoot abuse
could not eradicate, and leave the trunk and root alive—
MANHOOD !"

In Falconbridge, though redundant in attitudes and gesti-
culation, he was better in conception and execution than as
St. Pierre; and as the Duke Aranza, in the comedy of the

" Honeymoon," he was better and better. Such is our con-
scientious estimate. To-night Le will be called before the
curtain at the end of the comedy, which, by-the-way, is
Fletcher's—his partner Beaumont did not produce a line of
it. The house will in all probability be excellent, and Mr.
Vandenhoff will doubtless make a speech—in lieu of Epi-
logue. Success attend him!

IRISH MISSION IN VENTRY. '

A meeting was held last night, in Christ Church school-
room, for the purpose of explaining the objects of this mis-
sion, and of affording an opportunity to the Rev. Charles
Gayer to state the circumstances which have induced the
friends of the church to make this appeal. At the time ap-
pointed (seven o'clock) the large school-room was very full,
and that too with very orderly, respectable persons, and very
many from among the working classes.
The Rev. F. OULD opened the meeting with prayer, after
on hymn had been sung. He briefly addressed the meeting
ou the importance and necessity of the spread of the gospel
among the benighted people in the popish districts of Ire-
land.

The Rev. Mr. GAYER, from Dingle, was introduced to
the meeting. He proceeded, after a few preliminary obser-
vations, to describe the: situation of the village of Ventry.
It was, he said, near the town of Dingle, on the extreme
western coast of Ireland, in the county of Kerry. His
graphic and characteristic description of the localities, the
prejudices, and the habits of the people in that district, and
the strong feelings of clanship which prevails in that remote
part of the country, and which lat'er feeling he described as
operating very much in favour of the good work of reforma-
tion which was going on among the people was truly inter-
esting. He said, that at the present time a church was in
the course of erection, in which the services of the church
were to be performed in the Irish language to the people in
Ventry for the first time. In that parish within the last
three years upwards of 250 persons had been converted
from the Church of Rome to the Church of God. They
were all natives and residents of the parish, and their con-
version was in a great degree attributable to the preaching
of the gospel and the reading of the scriptures in their native
language, which were the principal objects of this mission.
They had already three ordained ministers who were all con-
verts from the Church of Rome, and several more in a
state of preparation for ordination. The relation of the de-
testable lying tricks to which the priests had recourse to
frighten the poor deluded people out of their proper senses,
and put a stop to the progress of true religion excited a
proper degree of sympathy in the meeting, while, on the
other hand, the great moral change which had manifested
itself in the deportment of those who had been reclaimed,
and the providential escapes of the same persecuted people,
which the reverend gentleman very graphically de-
scribed were indeed interesting and cheering beyond
description. He then exhibited several relics which
had been given up to him by some of the converts. He
in a very forcible and eloquent manner expressed the blas-
phemous superstitions and idolatries of popery, and con-
eluded by requesting the prayers of those present, as well as
their contributions, in furtherance of the great work of God
in which they were engaged.
The Rev. Mr. MANSFIELD followed in a very eloquent

speech, commenting in proper terms on the enormity of such
a system as that which they had heard so powerfully des-
cribed by the rev. gentleman who had just sat down, and
urged them to lend their most hearty efforts in the pulling
down of such a system of error as that which had reared
its head in the sister kingdom, for it was by their efforts
alone that it would be finally overcome.
After a few words from the Rev. Mr. CONNOR, a collection
was made on behalf of the funds of the Ventry mission, and
the meeting separated about ten o'clock.

STEAM VERSUS WIND.—The Packet-ship United States,
which sailed from New York on the 13th ult. ; and the
Packet-ship South America, which sailed on the 19th, ar-
rived at this port on Wednesday, the former having made
the passage in 31 days, the latter in 25 days. The steam-
ship Liverpool also sailed on the 19th, and completed the
voyage in little more than 174 days—and is now again ready
for sea.

THE SHIP " hunt stnn."—This fine vessel, commanded by
Captain. Mitchell,) the only iron sailing ship in the kingdom,
arrived from Pernambuco on Sunday last, after accomplish-
ing her second voyage to South America, and is now lying
on the east side of George's Dock. She admeasures 261
tons ; yet though a fine model has brought a cargo, princi-
pally of sugar, amounting to 310 tons of dead weight, the
thinness of her sides, and lightness of her hull, as compared,
with wooden vessels of like tonnage, giving an advantage in
stowage and in buoyancy. She brought 320 large cases of
sugar, and 762 bags of cotton, besides a quantity of hides.
She was built for the Pernambuco trade, and as there is a
bar at that harbour it was deemed advisable that she should
be constructed without a keel, so that she might cross it with
safety. It is found, however, that she could accomplish this
with that appendage, so necessary to holding a wind when
beating, and she is accordingly to be " keeled " when dis-
charged. She is still as tight as a bottle, never on any occa-
sion having made any water.

THE WEATHER.—Never was the fickleness of the climate
of England more remarkably exemplified than within the
last fortnight. The mutations from cold to warm, from wet
to dry, and from gloom to sunshine, have been extraordinary.
On Friday week, (the day of the municipal election) the air
was so piercing, with a high east wind, that it cut even the
robust "to the bones." A succession of more temperate
weather followed, intermingled with showers. On Tuesday
and Wednesday last, the sky was beautifully bright, with but
a few of those fleecy clouds that are more usual in June than
in November ; and the sun shone brilliantly oat, and im-
parted an agreeable warmth. The river on both days pre-
sented, about the time of high water, a very animated
appearance, being studded with vessels and boats of every
description ; and so clear was the atmosphere, that the
Cheshire shore looked most inviting, even comparatively
minute objects being distinctly visible. The steam-boats
carried an unusual number of passengers, and all was bustle
and animation. It is worthy of notice, that on the morning
of Wednesday, about five o'clock, a dense fog set in, so that
the lamps on the quays, which were before visible from the
opposite ferries, were totally eclipsed, until about seven
o'clock, when it cleared up. During the haze, the steamers
could not cross the river without imminent danger, and one
of them, the "Cleveland," of Woodside, went on shore near
Wallasey Pool. Yesterday, we bad another change, heavy
rain having fallen during the greater part of the day.

NEW STEAM-PACKET FROM CHESTER TO LIVERPOOL.—
Our spirited and talented neighbour, James Boydell, Esq.,
of Dee Cottage, has just started a most splendid steam-
packet, called the Skimmer, from this city to Liverpool.
This vessel leaves Chester every Monday and Thursday, at
high water, and the King's Ferry every Tuesday and Friday,
an hour before high water, (touching at Flint,) and arrives
in Liverpool on the same day. The Skimmer is a most
beautiful vessel, of 120 tons burthen, and draws only 51 feet
of water when loaded ; the length of her keel is 84 feet, and
beam 25. Her two engines, which are of the most beautiful
construction, are seventy horse power, were manufactured at
the Oak Farm Company's Works, near Dudley, and to show
the quality of them it is only necessary to state that on
Monday week, although quite new, they performed thirty-two
revolutions in a minute. Great praise is due to Mr. Boydell
for establishing this packet, which will prove such an excel-
lent mode of transit for goods from this city to Liverpool ;
and at the same time afford to the invalid a delightful sea
trip, that will so much conduce to the re-establishment of
health. We wish the Skimmer every success.—Cheater Gaz.
DRAYTON MANOR, TUESDAY.—Her Majesty the Queen
Dowager, attended by the Earl Howe, arrived yesterday
afternoon on a visit to Sir Robert and Lady Peel. The din-
ner party last evening was confined entirely to the noblemen
and ladies in the royal suite.

THE LATE DUKE OF BEDFORD.—The mortal remains of
the late revered duke arrived in the river last evening from
Inverness. They were removed to the family mansion in
Belgrave-square shortly after ten o'clock.—Morning Herald
of yesterday.