The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-10 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL.

Mr. C. Kean's engagement terminates this evening with a
strong bill. The "ady- of Lyons" as an afterpiece, pre-
faced by Colman's play of the " Iron-Chest," judiciously shorn
of those patchy musical makeweights, and other heavy busi-
ness, which. made it worse than. stale, flat, and unprofitable,
in the pahniest days of Kemble and his Satellitea. The per-
formanceS being for Mr. Kean's benefit, we do hope that the
house will be crowded. From a concurrence of causes, we
regret to learn that this professional visit has not been as suc-
cessful as was expected. - The fact of his spiritectperformance
in the "New Way to Pay Old
.Debts" being played to a honse,
the receipts of which could not have much exceeded those of
any average Saturday, night during a..nine months' season,
must have been as disheartening to his admirers as to Mi.
Kean himself. HoWiver, the race is not always to the swift
nor the battle to the strong. Stars and their employers must,
with others; occasionally suffer from the eclipse and preca-
riousness of, the times. Of energy and enterprise there has
been no lack. This is at least satisfactory., During the past
fortnight full plays, embracing the strength of the company,
have been the attraction. Richard the Third has-been per-
formed twice—Hamlet repeated .oftener-Rolla; once—Sir
Giles, once, and Claude Melnotte twice. -And- though true
that neither Shylock, King John, Richard 11., Lear, Macbeth,
nor Reuben Glenroy have been personated ; yet those who,
on that account,
,industrionsly seek or affect to attach blame
to the management, expose their presumption by-obtruding
an arbitrary decision on a subject;of whose fluctuating merits
they are, by ignorance, incompetent to judge: -
Hackett, the American comedian, is:to . commence his en-
gagement on Monday. The houses will be good. His
countrymen in town, from the docks, and hotels alone, ought
to make a show in two of the three parts of the most tasteful
theatre anywhere out of London. To their credit be it
spoken and recorded, the Americans not-only- profess them-
selves proud of their country, but, actively support the cause
of their countrymen, and in respect of actors honour their

" bills," not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous.
What sort of Falstaff Hackett makes of Shakspeare's hu-
morous Jack. we do not know. In such, pieces as, on a for-
mer visit, the people of Liverpool had the pleasure of seeing
him, he made a most favourable impression. He is by-far
the- chastest, most .sensible and -,quiet comediap.the-United
States have grown, and spared as a visitor' anaong.,us. 'His
school; or style, reminds us :of the veteran Dorton ; and it
..
is Dowton's withbut being sullied with that cldSta.,ver's ob-
jectionabje indulgence, verbally and by, suggestion in lan-
guage—or gaggery by looks and gesture—trenching_ offen-
sively upon the obscene. Why such a high-low-game-and-
the-jack artist as Placide.does I.ot come this way, across the
Atlantic, is best known. to himself.- Is be afraid of sea-
sickness, or of the hen-cocp life of the voyage ? Ability
such as he is the reputed possessor of, would find great love
amongst us. This is said advisedly, and apart froth. that
reciprocity of courtesy which is duo to American performers
for the generous reception, untinetured.with jeakiuSy, which
the natives of the States.c.xtend -enthusiastically. to:British
talent.-

The promise incidentally made in our .last notice of the
Theatre Royal, cannot be fulfilled at•present : it tnust.estand
over. Meanwhile it is satisfactory tohe able to statdi with-
out any just ground for conscientious contradiction, that
Van Amburgh's noble and astonishing exhibitions with' hii
forest of trained animals, have drawn crowded and fashion-
able audiences at Manchester. There the result of the first
night of their appearance was such •as to remove all-preju-
dices on the score of fear, and to cause every one whose own -
eyes entitled them to judge, to circulate an unqualified ex-
pression of their indisputable merit in every circle of their
acquaintance. Such has been the attraction of the " lions,"
and such the nightly throng, that Van Amburgh has been
preised into a re-engagement, and has inconsequence de-
layed his necessary departure for Dublin to the latest
moment. We must again have them at our Theatre-royal
on their return from Ireland : people outnumbering • six full
audiences at least, are anxious to enjoy the rational treat of
which others here, lost no time in hastening to participate. Be-
tween this and their re-appearance in Liverpool, we shall return
to the subject ; and since the topic has been mooted, we .are pre.
pared to show, as far as our limited space permits, that in
the engagement of Van Amburgh,• as in. other illustrationsof
their " ways and means," • the enterprise. of the present con-
ductors of the theatre is exceedingly•to be desired, and very
much to be commended. This was ,stated. respectfully. in the
Standard before, and it is respeetftilly reiterated now. The
issue and the public voice have been with the opinion, as
most probably it will be. again, in; spite, too, of the trying
interference of a great political crisis. •
From time to time, as leisure and opportunity allow, it is
proposed to review the, merits of. the
.Stock-company as at
present constituted, and therewith to •give .an . analysis,
with occasional notices of the decided talent possessed
.by
several of its members.

CHESTER RACES. -

TUESDAY. , •
The LATE STAND Cur, value 100 says, the gift of the Hon.
E. M. Ll. Mostyn, added to a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each.
One mile and a quarter. Three to start or no race.
Mr. Flintoff names ch h Harkaway, 5 yrs • Calloway. 1
Sir T. Stanley's br c Gasparoni, 4 yrs .. Ternpleman 2
Mr. Price's br g Captain Pops, 4 yrs M..Jones 0
Mr. Ogden's br c Harptirhey,4 yrs • • Marlow 0
6 to 5 agst Harkaway, 5 to 2 agst Captain Pops, 4 to 1 agst
any other.—Captain Pops took the...lead at a. good pace,
Harkaway next to him, and the others close, up. At the
distance Captain Pops fell back, and narltaway and Gaspa-
roni ran a splendid race, head and head, Harkaway, after
some severe punishment, winning by "half a Leek..
HER MAJESTY'S PLATE of 100 gs: Thrice round.
Captain Lamb's ch li Chit" Chat,. Connelly 1
Sir R. Bulkeley'sb f 'Plecotee,'4
Mr. Barrow's b m Catherina, Templeman. 0
Mr. R. S. Johnson's br h; Job Trotter., 0
12 to 8 agst Catberina, 2 to 1 agst ,Chit 4liati,4 to 1 agst
each of the other two. Piceotee led of alet.i.s.low pace; Job
Trotter second, Chit Chat third, andilte mare; in the rear ;
at the ship yard, the second time roina,•job:made the run-
ning at a better pace, and at the workhouse. weitt• off in good
style, the three leaving the noire a greater length, behind ateach stride ; a good race took place from the, Castle-pole,
Chit Chat winning by half a neck.
.
A SWEEPSTAKES, of'd 225 sot's each, for two .ysar_ old. colts.
' Halra mire.
Mr. FoWler'ilh.qit; liOdgson : 1
Sir T. Stanley's' ;t' Silsanetta,-,by tledoxe.-TernPlemon, ; 2
Sir R. Bulkeley's ell t Jenny Jones,,by.fre4tcher.Dacling , 0
Mr. T. Walter's ith'f The Rose, 1)y Priam , Alarkw. 0 .
Mr.!lo.'ll.'Pricers br f The Rose of ;IN:X'aelp,e.',.s -0.
TWO
_paid. 2' to 1 agst each of the Roses, 3to 1 agst Mr. '. •„;
Fowler's, 3 to 1 agst Susannetta, and 4:to 1 agst - any -otlinT.-
This was a smart race with all except Cornuto and Captain
Lamb's, which two appeared not to have: the least pharice in
any part of 'the race. The other four came all togetherpat a
quick pace, at the distance chair,, from whence, the race was
very spiritedly contested; the- winner coming infirg by a
neck. Jenny Jones was third and The gosefourth, though I,4th,
neither were placed. Jenny lost several lengths at the•start.,: Kid
SIXTY GurNtas (clear) the gift of the Members for:the
City.—Heats, once round and -a dirt rove, •
Mr. Buckley's ch c Charley, 3 •yr 5..... G. Whitehouse- 1 w o
Mr. Meiklam's hr c The Drone, 4 yrs... Templeman 2 dr
Mr. Price's b f The Lady Abbess, 3 yrs...
Mr. Ogden's b c St. Leonard, 4 yr 5..... .............. dr
Capt. Lamb's br•c Speed, 3' yrs— 0 -dr.
Four were drawn.. L.-tdy- Alitess carried Sibs-Browne's
filly 211)s, and Charley -fibs over weight. 6 to 4 agst The
Drone, 2 to 1 agst St. Leonard, the two against the field.
Charley lad'the whole length; and won easily. •
WEDNESDAY. . . -
The DEE STAKES of 50 sovs. each, h. ft. To start at the
Castle-pole, go once ,reund, and finish at the, Coming-in-
chair.
Sir T. Stanley's•b c Apothecary by Physician Terripleman
Lord Westminster's eh e•The Ree0rder.......... HOimes 2
Mr. T. Walter's ch c Sir Mark, in). to Rococo... Marlow 3
Sir R. W. Bulkeley's b c.Owen- Swiftby Jerry, ... DarlinK 0
Mr. F. Price's ch c Dalcinlir by Muley M. ;Jones
Two paid. 7t04 on Apothecary, 4 to 1 agst
.Duleimer,
4to 1 agst The Recorder, sto 1 agst Owen Swift, and 6to I. •
agst Sir Mark, who took'the' lead for about a quarter of.a
mile, after which The Recorder took it up at an improved
pace, and maintained it to .the distance, ,where ,a splendid
race ensued between the , three. placed,horses, • -was .
eventually *on at the finish by a head. Only. ..
The STAND CITP, value 100 sovs. added to a sweepstakes of
10 soya. each ; twice round and a'distance. If walked over • .
for the cup not to be given. •
Lord Westminster's br h Cardinal:ruff,s yrs,- -Holmes w o
G. Calloway weighed forilarkaWay, and the horse was on
the ground, but after waiting more than a quarter of an hour,
and considerable betting having taken place rather in favour ,
of the Irish tit, Mr. Ferguson sent word hiS horse should not,
0.-13 drew. •
The CESTRIAN STAKES of:, sovi..eaCh; with 30 soya. added ;.
second to receive 11l sovs; heats once and, a distance.
Sir T. Stanley's b g liarboni, Ityrs T. Lye 0.1 1
Captain Lamb's chic Nimrod; 4 yr 5..... I ... Connolly 1 3 2
Mr. James's ch g Corinthian.. W. jones 02 0 .
Mr. W. Denham's b f Query, 4 yrs.. G. Whitehouse 2 .0 TI
6 to 5 on Query, 5 to 2 agst Barboni. and 32 to 1 against
Nimrod. First heat—Query led at a fair pace to the distance,
Nimrod then challenged her and won very cleverly by. a.
length. 2nd beat—ch g took the lead to the distance, where
Barboni went past him, and won easily. 3rd heat--Nimrod
led to near home when he was beaten without a struggle.

Owing to some unaccountable accident our rep9rter had .;
not returned from Chester, with , the account of yesterday's .
racing, up to the time of our going to press.
~\Ve puderstand ,
that for the Marquis orlArestininSter's plate Caratan came •
in first, Harkaway second, 'and Cowboy third: • •
~ •
..„ .
=

,i;
MEETING OF THE ftEroaatastidw
a general meeting of tiffs" i ' iattp old et the
Music-hall, Joseph Wahrialey,''Esir.-11T a at-
tendance was very slender at thecanitnen*ricatr and not-
withstanding the curiosity -ezrcited t 0 leptrp! in; what manner.
the members would expresi themselve,Snuqr;.tie.}i,alexpected
crisis, caused by the resignatiot of Mellaaaii,Jrussell,,&e.,
and the -advent to power of a sound 'fort.,a'dfiiiiiiStratiou,
the room was at no time frill during the pideecdings. The
report was read, and announced a slightaeassion of mem-
bers since the last meeting, and an amount received in Sub- .
scriptions for the -year of £9OO and odd: It noticed one of
the objects of the meeting-7-the petitio4ng, in favour' of time
cheap transtnission of letters by post,' tht adverted to gene-
ral topics of " reform," hitliertO advocated by the zissocia-
tion' and concluded by expressing a hope' that the principles
laid down would finally triumph. The proceedings were not •
altogether so harmonious as was 'expected. The chairman'
addressed the meeting on the present crisis of affairs, and •
called on the assoeiation to come forward in opposition to the
Tories. A Mr. Smith made a pointed attack on the origitial
declaration of faith of the association, which he thought
was not sufficiently explicit, and so equivoCal, indeed, that
even Lord'. Sandon might sign it Mr. Egerton . Smith
rebutted this assertion, and after some altercation the
subject merged in the postoffice question, which was lis-
tened to with no little impatience: • Finally, a postoffice
reform petition was agreed to, and also a " magnanimous"
resolution to the effect that the-association should endeavour
to return two members to parliament next election (if they
can?) One person wished that Lord Nugent should be pro-
posed as one of them, but this was deemed premature, and
the meeting dispersed. •
New ZEALAND COLONIZATION.—A party of gentlemen ,
interested In the colonization of New Zealand went on 'Satur-
day to Blackwall to inspect the barque Tory, a vessel of 400 ' •
tons, in which the new company's first exploring and survey-.
Mg expedition will go out, under the command of Colonel
Wakefield. The Tory is equipped in the-most perfeet man- •
tier, and is provisioned for two years; she carries eight guns,
with abundance of ammunition, and a numerous crew. There
are to be no passengers exceptthe persons entrusted with the
conduct of the expedition, and some scientific gentlemen.
Her cargo consists of articles tit for barter in New Zealand.
It is intended that the vessel shall proceed in the first instance
to Okianga, on the Kiapara river ; hutattention will also be
directed to various other parts of the three islands., The
company, under whose auspices'this new attempt at colOiliza-
tion will be made have raised £20,000 to begin -with and..
have (it is said) "purchased 600,000 acres of land, from the
native proprietors. After examining the Tory, lying in the
West India Docks, the party proceeded to Lovegrove's hotel, t. 41
where luncheon was provided on a large scale. Mr.. Hutt. xao”d
one of the directors of the company presided, and mr.,Q,
Young was vice-chairman. Amone- the other- g0,41.411,41511i0-da
present, were the Earl of Durham, Lord Petre, .'ir,,%egroti`g bill
Sinclair, the Lord ProVOSt of" GlasgoW Mr': Sheriff 'ood, ladarti
Cap. Stockton, of the United States Navy, and
halfcivilised New Zealander, who la 'is resided 14,,I,qvaimaa;Oorm*
nearly twO nears and is well known aboatOvit. '.lNlr; -Wantis,
Baring visited the Tory, but was unable to attend the luneheOn.
Many ladies also were present, and ituleed'forMed the litrzes.
, •
portion of the company.— Spectakr. • ' —• •