The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-09-14 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

ROYAL ANIPHITHEATRE.—In one of the most important
points of view, viz. : the choice of pieces for the amuse-
ment and instruction of the people, the present engage-
ment of Mrs. Fitzwi!liam and Mr. Buckstone, has not
been satisfactory. Encouraged by the success of certain
pieces in London—by no means a proof of their merit, nor
a guarantee of similar support in Liverpool—we have had
several new pieces produced ; but none of them of sterling
quality,and none of them likelvto become either favourites
or " stock pieces." The " Foundling" is one of these,
and it has been frequently played to large, but somewhat
wearied, audiences. We do not mean to say that the peo-
ple found no pleasure in it ; but, like an April day, between
sunshine and shower, so in the interval between the dis-
appearance of Buckstone and his re-appearance after a
whole act, all was a yawning blank. Every alternate act
Mr. Buckstone was off and on, and so the excitement
wagged. We never saw a more unequal play, nor do we
remember a heavier one—heavy in everything but Buck-
stone himself, who was all fun and sprightliness. Buck-
stone's drollery upon the stage is now only about equalled
by the extravagance of his writings, and in the latter par-
ticular it were well to be cautious of his fame as a play-
wright. The one is most excellent, the other is danger-
ous. We come now to another piece : it was an "after-
piece," so we did not see it, but we have heard enough of
its nonsense and its worthlessness—we mean " Baker wor-
ried by Buckstone." We lay on the shoulders of the
translators of this piece (for it is French, and was recog-
nised by several of our foreign friends as having been
played in Paris, by Ravel and Grassot,) the blame of all
its 'folly. It drew at the " Haymarket," but here it does
not suit the tastes of the people. " Sea and Land" is
another new piece, and of a different calibre. It is Mr.
Mark Lemon's recent " Adelphi piece," and that is
enough, almost without another word. It is full of spirited
and tumultuous action, and ;s sapped with pathos. Wild
Meg in the hands of Mrs. Fitzwilliam, is the character,
and is drawn with breadth enough to give it great indi-
viduality. She acts it well.

THEATRE-ROYAL CONCERTS.—This week Herr Som-
mer will astonish and delight the publicwith performances
on his silver Sornanerophone. Miss A. Poole is enßaged
as vocalist; and Miss J. Poole and Madile. Hund will
assist as instrumentalists.

The Toronto Colonist states that the " Swan of Erin"
is no longer Kate Hayes, but Mrs. Bushnell ; or, in other
words, that Catharine Hayes has married her agent.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND MIDLAND RAIL-
WAYS.-It is stated to us, on very good authority, that
the negociations between the above companies for an
amalgamation are on the eve of a satisfactory conclusion.
The great question is—will parliament sanction an amal-
gamation of the two undertakings ?—Morning Herald.

FROM BIRMINGHAM TO LONDON IN Two HOURS.—
The approaching opening of a broad gunge communication
between Birmingham and London has stimulated all the
energies of the London and North-Western Company not
to be beaten in the competitive race. 'With this view it is
the intention of the directors forthwith to increase the
speed of one train daily between London and Birmingham,
and vice versa, so that the distance shall be performed in
two hours. Engines adequate to the task have been con-
structed under the superintendence of Mr. M'Connell, and
are nearly ready for delivery. Before the end of the month
it is expected that London may be reached in the brief
space specified.—Birmingham Journal.—[ln reference to
the above, the Morning Herald says : "To perform the
journey between London and Birmingham in two ho 4r3
will necessitates speed of 65 miles per hour over more than
50 miles of the distance, even supposing that th 9 engine
runs through without stopping. We shall see how the
permanent way will ' stand' the working of engines
' adequate to the task.' "J

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY C'oMPANY•—At the half-
yearly meeting, on Thursday, the directors' report, re-
commending the declaration of a dividend of 7s. 6d.- per
shareovas received. The report showed that a correspon-
dence had taken place between the board and Lord
Sondes, who had suggested the desirability of their.gua-
ranteeing 3 per cent. upon an outlay of £600,000- in con-
structing a continuation of the North Kent line from
Stroud to Chilham ; and, in the event of their failing to
do so, Lord Sondes threatened to proceed to Parliament
for powers to construct a line, not only from Stroud to
Chilham, and from Stroud to Maidstone, but from Stroud
to Dover, and from Rochester to Gravesend, under traffic
arrangements with the London, Tilbury, and. Southend
Railway. In reply to his lordship the directors had stated
that they disapproved of the proposed extension, and that
they should recommend the shareholders to authorise
them to take measures to defend their property. In ac-
cordance with- this recommendation it was_ resolved,—
" That this meeting approves the views of the directors,
as expressed in their letter to Lord Sondes of the 2d De-
cember last, as to the extension of the North Kent Rail-
way from Stroud to Chiiham ; and that the directors be
instructed to take such further steps in relation to that
extension as they may deem to be most expedient for the
promotion of the interests of this company." The direc-
tors were also authorised to negotiate terms with the
South-eastern and Continental Steam-packet Company
for the purchase of that company's steam-boats, such
terms to be submitted to a future meeting of this company
for their consideration.

TRAFFIC RETURNS.—The traffic returns for the week
ending Sept. sth, on the undermentioned English lines

of railway, are as follows :

London and North-Western
Midland ...

£
53,782 .
25,603 .

60,053
24,279

Lancashire and Yorkshire....
London and South-Western ....
London and 8right0n..........
Great Western ..... ...........
South-Eastern .......... .....
York and North-Midland...
Manchester, Shetf. and Lincoln
Bristol and Exeter
York, Newcastle, and Berwick.,
Shrewsbury and Chester........
Eastern Counties and Norfolk ..
Great Northern .. ......
Chester and H01yhead..........
North Staffordshire... .....
Leeds Northern ..............
South Devon.. .. .....
South Wales.... ......
East Lancashire

19,928 ..
14,248 ..
14,046 ..
19,160 ..
20,315 ..
10,710 ..
7,981 ..
5,610 ..
15,021 ..
1,929 ..
15,619 ..
13,384
4,730 ..
5,596 ..
1,683 ..
2,311 ..
2,655 ..

The total receipts on the above lines being £259,399,
against £266,065 in the corresponding week of last year;
the decrease is shown to be £6,666. The number of miles
open on the above, was, in 1852, 4,3121, and in 1851,
4,179, showing an increase of 1431 miles. The returns
for the corresponding week in 1850, on the above lines,
was £229,211, and the mileage 4,1541. The results
afforded are extremely satisfactory, and show a very
marked increase over the receipts of 1850, whilst in seve-
ral instances the returns exceed even the takes of 1851.
The Lancashire and Yorkshire still shows an excess,
whilst the South-Eastern runs to within a few hundreds
of the receipts of the Exhibition year. We are glad to
note also an improvement in the traffic of the Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lancashire line, which has recently suffered
from the competition of the Great Northern since the
opening of the Towns line of that company. The South
Yorkshire is also improving, as likewise the Midland, the
Chester and Holyhead, and others which will be readily
distinguished in the foregoing list. On the whole, the re-
turns are very promising.—Railway Record.

LORD LYNDHURST has lately been suffering from an
affection of the eyes, and. bus undergone two operations.
Ile is IMP mull better.