The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-04-16 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL.

The veteran Graham is with us, not only in person, but in
power. What an embodiment of wonder this sexagenarien
is ! There are " small doubts" with " small speculators"
upon " small matters," respecting his age : of course, and
as usual ! Some will have it that he is upwards of 70, others
that he is not 50--" because no one older could sing as he
does !" Upon the best authority, short of such a voucher as
a certificate of his birth and baptism,

the hour, the minute on't,
and by some " perfect spy of the time," we believe that
Braham is now in the 68th year of his active, energetic, and
buoyant life.
Last night .a reception was given to him of which every
party then in the house may rightly feel as proud as the
deserving object of it. Numerically it was not a good house—
indeed, we are satisfied, that it will prove to be the thinnest
during his brief engagement ; yet, to the credit of Liverpool
taste no house, however full, could have exceeded the actual
proof of its appreciation of Mr. Braham's genius, standing
as a natural vocalist, who has successfully, and with unexcep-
tionable honour, stood the test of being weighed, and never
found wanting in the balance of public favour, during a
career of more than forty years on the Bristish stage. He
is in glorious voice, and as hearty, and to all appearance,
as much under the exhilarating stimulus of applause, as a
rising aspirant in the bloom and prowess of youth.' He was
heartily applauded, and enthusiastically encored in the
exquisite air and, dramatic music of the Fancy Sketch,"
and in that perhaps too ornamental air (present taste consi-
dered) '• Is there a heart that never loved." " Masaniello"
is to be produced this evening. Old as he is—and the old
chanticleer knows it, and glories in the honours time is.
growing upon him—what English vocalist can sing the music
better than Braham ?
The little part of Julio was well dressed, acted and sensibly
spoken by an interesting'and promising child, one of the two
sons of Mrs. E. Benwell. Hasty as this notice is, it were an
injustice to the real ability of this child, not to record the fact
of the proof which last night he evinced to an audience that
cordially went with him and his juvenile efforts to please.

BRUTAL AND FATAL ASSAULT.—We have received in-
formation on the point of going to preas that a most brutal
assault was committed on a policeman last night in College-
lane. A woman in the neighbourhbod, who was quarrelling
with her husband, called out for the assistance of a policeman,
who in endeasouring to check the affray, received a deadly
wound in the neck, and is now lying at one of the inns in
Col age-lane..
THE LIVERPOOL.—This magnificent steam-ship sails for
New York on Saturday next. She has already 85 berths
engaged. •

SHIP LAUNCH.—This day will be launched from the yard
of Messrs. umble and , Trentham-street, Cornhill,
a splendid sH hip; to be called the Milcrest
Ellen Stewart, and intended
for the East India trade.
We understand that a memorial is in course of signature,
from the merchants and rate-payers, to the Common Coun-
cil, praying that the Telegraph establishment may be open to
the public at large,'as formerly.
The following distinguished persons arrived, on Saturday
morning last, from Kingstown, in her Majesty's mail steam_
packet, Shearwater, William Smithett, R.N., commander :
—Daniel- O'Connell, Esq., M.P.; Sir W. Brabazon, M.P.;
Colonel Verner, M.P.; Sergeant Jackson, M.P.; ---- Arch-
bold, Esq., M.P.; Martin, Esq., M.P.; —Young,
Esq., M.P.; Barron Esq., M.P.; Chester, Esq., M.P.
with about sixty more cabin passengers.--A/Lion.
The Rev. L. J. Nolan, who has recently abjured the errors
of Popery, and been ordained a minister of the Church of
England, preached two admirable sermons at St. Jude's
Church, on Sunday last. The discourses of the reverend
gentleman were delivered with a mildness and suavity which
are sometimes not very apparent in gentlemen who have be-
come so disgusted with the doctrines they have renounced,:
as to indulge` in apparent asperity of language respecting
them. His remarks upon the votaries who are still beguiled
by the delusions in which he was so long involved himself,
were extremely sympathetic.
COLONIZATION OF NATAL.—We have had great pleasure
in perusing an interesting pamphlet by S.-Bannister, EN.,
on the colonization of Natal, in South-Eastern Africa, which
affords every information on the subject. We had prepared'
an extended notice of this proposed colony, which, for
want
of space, we are obliged to defer until Friday.
We observe with pleasure that a meeting is to be held at.
Hertford, on the 9th of May next, for the purpose of forming
a Protestant Association, at which the Rev: H. M`Neile and
Rev. R. J. M`Gliee are expected to be present. The prin-
ciples are already announced ; and that sound Protestant and
truly Christian Divine, the Rev. E2Bickersteth, is one of
the Provincial Secretaries.
THE FASTEST STEAMER AFLOAT.—On Friday arrived
here the Fire King, ill fifteen hours and a half from Greenock.
The Fire King is a wood vessel, the property of T. A. Smith,
Esq., (late M.P. for Carnarvonshire,) built after a design of
his own, and propelled by engines from Mr. Robert Napier's
Vulcan Foundry, Glasgow. Unprecedently short as this
passage is, it would have been performed in less time but for
the thick weather. Mr. Smith proceeded direct to London,
and the vessel left for Glasgow again the same afternoon.
Miss WHITNALL'S CONCERT.—The musical portion of
our readers will, we are persuaded, be pleased tesiobserve in
our advertising columns, the rich and varied entertainment
which the programme of Miss Whitnall's concert announces
has been provided for theirgratification, to-morrow evening.
The amateur or professional vocalist must be, indeed, fas-
tidious, who in the judicious, diversified, and the copious se-
lection of the songs, glees, duets, and ballads, of which this
musical banquet is composed, cannot find some portion of
them agreeable to his taste, and capable of affording- him
pleasure and delight. In addition to the attractions which
the programme of the concert presents, even if conducted by
ordinary vocalists, it is most strongly recommended by the
names of the distinguished performers who are to take part
in it, on the present occasion. In the first place, we beg to
instance MissWhitnall, whose personal and professional virtues
and accomplishments, equally entitle her to the patronage of
a public, proverbial like that of Liverpool, for its just appre-
ciation of private character and public merit. The mention
of the names of Miss F. Wyndham, Mr. Hobbs. and Mr. '-
Machin, as the other vocal performers of the evening, will be
sufficient to denote the admirable manner in which the en-
tertainments will be executed. Mr.-G. tioldeu presides at
the piano-forte. We confidently trust, that a crowded audi-
ence will be present to testify their approbation of the repast
that "the bill of fare" promises them, and to reward the
talents of the lady in whose behalf it is to be supplied. In
fact, we cannot anticipate the contrary, seeing that the oon-
cert is patronized by so influential a personage as his Worship
the Mayor.
WHIG PROCEEDINGS IN REFERENCE 1.0.-THE WIGAN
VOTERS.—Our readers are doubtless aware that the Whig-
Radical press has been busily employed in vilifying the cha-
racter of a respectable tradesman of this town, Mr. Charles
Rowland, who, it has been asserted, was guilty of aiding and
abetting the forcible detention of one of the voters,at the last
Wigan election. We have this day the satisfaction of an-
nouncing that Mr. Rowland has obtained a signal triumph
over his enemies. He was summoned to appear at the
Quarter Sessions at Preston last week, and after being de-
tained, at considerable loss and personal inconvenience, from
his family and business, his case was heard on Saturday last.
The examination of the principal witness against him, Bromi-
ley, the abstracted voter, was proceeded with, but his frantic
demeanour and incoherent statement of facts was such, that
his own counsel threated to throw up his brief. At a late
hour we received a report of the trial, of which we are sorry
we cannot avail ourselves on the present occasion. As we
shall give the details on Friday next, we shall not now enter
further into particulars, than to state that our respected
townsman, Mr. Rowland, was honourably acquitted.
LIVERPOOL TOWN MISSION. —Of the many valuable
public societies by which our large and populous town is
distinguished, there is perhaps not one that has so many
claims on the support of the community as the Town Mis-
sion. The committee, including churchmen and dissenters,
by long experience are convinced, that the only way of con-
veying religious instruction to the poor, wretched and for-
gotten, is by visiting them in their own dwellings. If any
of our readers should doubt the necessity of such a course,
we entreat them carefully to peruse, and seriously to medi-
tate upon, the following statistical account of a single street,
furnished by one of the society's agents :L-." In this street,"
he says, " there are 338 families, containing 1835 hurl:torte
souls, f whom 1231 are adults and 604 children. Not one-
half of the adults can read ; and of the children 211 go to
daily schools, and 119 to Sunday schools, and there are arso
69 infants, leaving 214 children in one street whose, educa-
tion is entirely neglected. Of the 338 families, only 60 pro- 1
Tess to be regular attendants at any place of worship, And we ca,
know that profession is quite as favourable as practice ; and
there are 192 families destitute of the ScriptUres. " Whilst .t
visiting every house in such a street," the agent says, " such -:(1
scenes of wretchedness are often encountered, that words 0-!.
cannot describe." Ought not every Christian, philanthro-
pist, and well-wisher to his country, resident in Liverpool,
to rouse himself from his lethargy, and say, " Such things
ought not to be ; we cannot, we will not allow of their con-"
tinuance ; we have read similar accounts from our paperii;
we will support such an institution as this, and not allotv it
any longer to languish for want of funds." The committee
also appeal again to the ladies, and_we know that their hp
peal will produce a desirable etteet. Manchester is now sup-
porting forty agents, all actively' employed ; and why should
Liverpool have only fourteen, and these few not sufficiently
supported? If the committee had fuuds, thirty might im-
mediately be fully employed, and that number ought to be
employed, which would be calculated in two or,threo years
to produce a most favourable change in 'the morals and spi-
ritual welfare of the people. .
SPLENDID COLLECTION OF ricTup.Es.—Wewere admitted
last week to a private view of the splendid and unique collec-
tion of pictures belonging to the late Wm. Earle, Esq., and
now in the Exhibition Rooms, Post Qfftee.Place; preparatory
to their being sold, by Messrs. Winstanley, to-morrow and
the day following. The paintings are 122 in number, princi-
pally by the old masters, and, with reference to condition,
genuineness, and character of art, form one-of the finest pri-
Nate collections it ever was our fortune.to see,—the best, in-
deed, we are told, that Liverpool haa possessed since the
dispersion of that of Mr. Roscoe. The collection contains
several noble gallery pictures ; but, as is usually the case hi
private mansions, those of a cabinet size predominate • and it
does the highest credit to the fine taste of its deceasedowner,
there being scarcely a piece that is not far above mediocrity,
and an entire absence of the trash which speculating picture-
dealers are usually too successful in -imposing on amateurs
under sounding names. Of Vandyke there are three speci-
mens ; one a head of Charles the First, of the first order and
another, a head of a lady of the Percy family, scarcely inferior.
By Salvator Rosa there are six pictures, all of a high order,
and two, in particular, of surpassing merit. There are two
noble gallery pictures by Spagnoletto, and one or two smaller
by the same artist; a first-rate composition by Caravaggio,
and an exquisitely-painted duplicate of the celebrated
" Misers" by Quintin Matsys. A sketch by Rubens, of the -
" Slaughter of the Innocents" is most characteristic of the
colouring and composition of that great master. There is
an undoubted head by Rembrandt, and another by Pan.l2l.
Veronese ; and works by Poelemburg, Da Rosa, Coypel,'H
Luca Giordano, Corregio, Breughhel, Guido, Bercheeti-9,i!
Proevitall, 'rempesta, Cuyp, Da Salerno, Guercino, .ilElth 5l
other scarcely less distinguished Italian and Flemistoirefelo lee
ters. The pictures by artists of modern, or comparitiitlyiE
modern schools are few in number, but of great
Among them are paintings by Eastlake, Kneller, Fuseli,
Fogaoli, Williams (of Rome), Wright (of Derby), and ewo,
one " the Mouth of the Brenta," an exquisite gems, by: Pdter
Wilson. But it is in vain for us to attempt to discriss, Or
even to enumerate within -any reasonable limits of space,
the particulars of this superb collection ; and we can only
express our deep regret at its approaching dispersion, and
that in this instance, as in so many others, so rare gems
of art are probably doomed, after a brief glimpse at a public
sale, to be buried in private mansions, instead of being col-
lected in public galleries to elevate and refine the public taste.
ARMING.—We have reason to believe, that the purchase
of pikes and other arms is much more extensive in this neigh-
bourhood, than is generally suspected. At the meeting at
Hindley, to lay a church-rate—the chartists assembled, and
marched in procession through the village, preceded by-two
females, armed with each a long pike. They were followed
by two men with naked swords, and amongst the company a
number of pikes were exhibited ; and also fire-arms, which
were fired off occasionally, About Westhoughtote
and Chowbent, great quantities of pikes have been sald—m-
deed there are smiths in the neighbourhood of those .places
constantly employed in the manufacture -of those WeQ,pOTIS
and we believe there is scarcely-a sick or benefit 'society in
which a majority of radicals are to be found, that a resolu-
tion has not been passed to apply the funds in the purchase
of pikes or other dangerous weapons.—Tirigan Gazette.

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