The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-12 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL.

Last night, and to a brilliant house, Mr. J. G. Vanden&
hoff made his first appearance on this stage, in the part of
Leon. And of all first or early appearances which we hays
witnessed of aspirants for distinction, as actors or actresses,
we have no hesitation in recording that of Mr. Vandenhoff,'
jun., to be the most successful. Bias apart, there can be but
one opinion on this point. When his debut in London was
noticed in this journal, we took occasion to observe, that
when he appeared here he should have fair play ; and fair
play he may depend upon at the hands of the general press,
which it is but just, as well as courteous, to include in a no-
tice respecting the exhibition of talent in a department of the
Instructive and Fine Arts, with which the party feelings or
the politics of its possessor have nothing to do. Mr. Van-
denhoff may be easy on the score of petty enemies : he can
afford not to notice them. No friend can wish him such
assistance as the dislike of the envious or the mean! .but,
if assailed by it, he ought to know, as a man of the world,
that it can do him nor no public man either lasting or serious
injury. Say what people will, in embracing his new profes-
sion, the step has been evidently a considered one, and he has
stood the first trial with more than credit to himself and the
management, in London and Liverpool. If he can play any
ten or twelve leading parts—whether in Genteel Comedy,
the Mixed Drama, or in High or in Domestic Tragedy—as
well as he can and does play Leon, why then his success is
certain. He has only to apply himself resolutely and devo-
tedly to master the essentials of his art, which Genius itself
cannot otherwise secure than by submitting to a succession
of drudgeries, and, in addition to reputation, he may com-
mand a handsome income, if not an enviable fortune. At
the termination of the Comedy he was called before the cur-
tain, when he bowed and briefly acknowledged his thanks for
the encouraging reception extended to him by so numerous
an audience.

In the circumstances, a gencral notice is at present pre-
ferable to any hasty analysis of Mr. Vandenhoff's conception
or acting of a single character. It will be more appopriate
to " dogmatise" at the conclusion of ,his engagement, when
we shall have had an opportunity of judging of his powers in
such parts as St. Pierre, Faleonbride, and the Duke Aranza.
Judging from first impressions, which, however, as regards
acting, are especially fallible, we should anticipate that Mr.
Vandenhoff will fill up a place in his new profession at present
unoccupied by decided talent—namely, a line of parts which,
for effective representation, require the union of requisites , s
for Genteel Comedy and First Tragedy. Perhaps he is not - •
endowed with that peculiar and rare genius for attaining erni-
nence in high and passionate tragedy ; still for such talent as
he has shown that he possesses, he has an ample field from
which to select a number of fine parts,—and pick them he
should, as every prudent man before him has done.
A word or two in respect of others. •
The play of " Rule a Wife and Have a Wife" was well
cast and well acted throughout. Miss Cleaver and Miss
Faucit played and looked admirably. Air. Baker's " old,
woman" was the most picturesque of her sexy and Slaiter
the most attentive of full-blown daughters ! Michael Pe—
rez the " Copper Captain," was ably represented by Mr •
Howard, who was on his mettle, and more than satisfied his -
audience. This is one of the best things we hare seen-
him do.

COURT OF REQUESTS.-THURSDAY, OCT. 7.

ROBSON V. HODGSON.

This was one of the numerous cases which have arisen out
of the publication of Robson's New Liverpool Directory.
Mr. Hodgson having subscribed for the work refused it on
delivery, and resisted payment, on the ground of alleged in-
accuracy. He proved from a copy produced in court that
he had gone through the first 50 pages of the alphabetical ar-
rangement, and marked 260 errors, and argued, that, taking
these as a fair average, the whole f that arrangement, Occu-
pying 158 pages, would contain 820 errors, and the three ar-
rangements together into which the work is divided, consist-
ing of 424 pages, would have about 2200 errors. The alpha.
betical arrangement also was objected to as exceedingly de-
fective.
The Commissioner, however, after adjourning the_case to
the following morning, decided in favour of the plaintiff.

We have great pleasure in Making it' known, that, along with '8
the recent change in the proprietory and politics of the Lon- ,
~
34"‘
don Courier, the same Editor, who conducted it with so'.'"„
much talent before the whigs came into office, has again re•l''''";*
sumed his editorial duties.

THE MAGICAL FIGURES !—ln consequence of the nufn"---
ber of visitors to Mr. Colles's apartments • during the past '
week, he has determined upon keeping them open every even- ,
ing, this week until nine o'clock, for the accommodation of
those who may find it inconvenient to attend during the-P2",
,1 .ec-6)
day.—See Advt.
CHESTER DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY.—
On Sunday afternoon last, the sum of £59 10s. lOid. was
collected at St. Anne's Church, Aigburth, after an excellent .
sermon by the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, in aid of the praise-
worthy objects of this society. It is, we believe, the largest
Church collection that has been received for the same pur-

pose ; and as the want of church accommodation is still very
grievously felt, we hope many of our clerical readers will
render their assistance to alleviate it.

BLUE COAT HOSPITAL.—On Sunday morning; the new
Mayor, Joshua Wahnsley, Esq., accompanied by a great
number of the Town-council, attended divine service at St.,-YrtA,
Peter's Church, where a most impressive sermon was preached -
by the Rev. Jonathan Brooks, and a collection , made in be- .
half of the funds of this most benevolent institution. The 12iri5
rev. gentleman chose for his text the 6th GaL v. 10. We are:mot
happy to hear his appeal was most liberally-responded to, the.-
collection amounting to the sum of £45. The choir was
composed entirely of boys and girls from the school, and their swat
singing was universally admired. In this institution, nura.:ll24l
hers who would doubtless have remained in total ignorance
of the Gospel have been taught to praise their Maker's name,,
and to look up to him, through his•bleased Son, for pardon
of their transgressions' and for thoguidanee of the Holy Spimijmo
rit to direct them for the time to come. There are 350 chil- slum
dren in the establishment, 139 of whom are orphans, 203 fa-ri) ni
therless, 5 motherless, and 3 who have parents, but in indigent 10ff
circumstances. lo

" A PENNYWORTH OF PEACE !—And what that is, any- -ind
body in Lancashire can tell you ; and if you be not in Lan- ::91,
cashire, I can : it is laudanum or opium disguised in treacle,
and termed in other places ` Godfrey's Cordial.' It is in
vain to remonstrate with the poor on this practice—they al-
ways
ask you what they are to do, and think it unanswerable
to add, ' A pen'orth of peace is worth a penny.' Thus are lin
the constitutions of the poor sapped and stupified even in the to
cradle, and all the wisdom of England cannot point out any:.-tie
remedy, but that of taking off the violent pressure on the ,-ris
means of existence."—lforeitt in Tait's Edinburgh .4faga-, -
zihe, April, 1839.
Is it possible that a man of Mr. Howitt's information can
never yet have heard of the far-famed Manchester Medicine?
—" What that is, anybody in Lancashire can tell him,"—
and, indeed, we believe, in any part of the United Kingdom.
For it is an indisputable fact, that, since the commencement
of the present year, its sale (extensive as it has been for the
last half century) has increased beyond all former precedent.
It were almost superfluous to add, that we allude to that nics
and inestimable preparation, ATKINSON'S INFANT'S Pas•
SERVATIVE, which, so far from " sapping the constitution,"
and " stupifying" the senses—like those dangerous corn.:
pounds, whose basis is laudanum or other opiates—allays ir-
ritation, and assuages pain in the mildest and most innocu-
ous manner ; thus affording real comfort, both to the anxi-
ous mother and her suffering babe.—( See Advertisement.)
REMOVAL OF A NUISANCE.—On Saturday, at twelve
o'clock, in consequence of numerous complaints having been
made tolthe authorities by the inhabitants residing in Russell-
street, Bronte-street, Dansie-street, and the neighbourhood,
Mr. John Wesley Davies, bone-boiler, in Bronte-street, ap-
peared before the magistrates to answer to six special informa-
tions laid against him by Inspectors Thomas Fresh and Jas.
Cottam, Soulby, police-officer, John Pickering, gentleman,
and others. Between seventy and eighty witnesses were in
Court in support of the informations. As Mr. Davies, how-
ever, consented to plead guilty, the cases,were not gone into.
Mr. Rushton, in such case, inflicted the penalty of £5 ; but,
as Mr. Davies distinctly promised not to manufacture size
there again, the penalties will not, 'at present, be enforced.
Thus, a most intolerable nuisance has been effectually re-
moved from that neighbourhood.

DISTRESSING SHIPWRECK.—Captain Little, of Mt slnp
Glasgow, at Baltimore from. Liverpool, on the IStla''S-ept.,,
lat. 39 40, long. 61 2Q, took from a fragment of the poop,Of •
the wreck of the ship Arab, Capt. Robertson, from 146401 - -
ras, for Hull (England), three exhausted men, the ittiiitors
of nin .•_.:n, who had all perished, except these, when -the•
ship when to pieces, in the gale of Sept. 13. The survivors
had been on t;:c raft five days, with nothing but two cocoa
nuts to eat. The rest had starved, become mad, and plunged
into the sea. The names of those saved are William West-
wood. carpenter, of Selby, Yorkshire, England ; John Arsley,
a Prussian ; and Halvor Haralsen, a Norwegian.
THE MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL DISTRICT BANE.—
WC understand that some considerable changes have recently
taken place in the management of this establishment. T4R.,
most important of these is the appointmen, of three gentle
men, viz., Thomas Truman, James Heald, and §apakie
Walker, Esqrs.„ as a board of managing directors-„iiitii*
the entire control is vested durint., the intervals of the iuont.l4:
sittings of the general board of directors. We leiiila;a4:p;
that the general manager has tendered his resigna ,
companied by an offer to continue his assistanOe so fie 4
may be useful. We believe that Mr. J, '• 4
nection with the bank now depends on the' apkol,44''
successor to the situation which becomes yacaO4N

- lii td"b i .
-.40S Vii!.- -- Tl. 111, , ..1
/
paration. We understand, however, thit.,,gfrAW ps 4,..
his situation with the good opinion 'of:tliel39vito
.0. i,
which was expressed at a very full meeting:el:lW Ot last`,,
when a resolution was unanimously ' adiOteg&L't e st'ffect
that, notwithstanding the disasters which haLPg9c_piml during
Mr. Jackson's management, it was the iiannauh3l_opinion
of the board, that there was no impeachment of 14 'integrity
or general ability, and that he had been actuated by a zealchis
consideration of the interests of the bank, to which he had
unremittingly devoted his time and attention.—Manchester
Guardian.
FRAUD UPON THE GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY COM-
PANY.—Notwithstanding the many convictions which have
already taken place for the same offence, and the almost cer-
tain discovery of any person now attempting the commission
of it, we have to record another instance. A person of the
name of Robert Stephens, who described himself as a lath-
maker or cleaver, in St. James's-street, Toxteth-park, was
on Friday brought before our county magistrates, charged
by the officers of the Grand Junction Railway Company with
having on the previous day ridden in one of their carriages
from Hartford to Liverpool having made his fare only to
Warrington, thus defrauding the company of three shillings
and sixpence. The case was clearly proved, and Stephens
was fined thirty shillings besides the costs,And in default of
immediate payment, was ordered to be committed to the
COunty Gaol for six weeks.
ENORMOUS POTATO.—The lovers of potatoes, and- the
curious respecting natural and unnatural productions, may
see at our office a specimen of the farinaceous root, the di-
mensions of which are gigantic. It was grown at Helsel,
in this county, by Mr. James Clare. It is one of the pro-
duce from eighteen plants, which yielded a return of three
measures of ninety pounds each, being a total of two hundred
and seventy pounds. All these were of large size, but the
Brobdignag now in our possession was far superior in this
respect to any of its brethren. The root, when taken out of
the ground, weighed four pounds ten ounces, and was an
object of great admiration at the Root Show, on Wednesday
last, when it gained the premium in this department. The
root is of extraordinary shape, bearing a rough'resemblance
to some uncouth animal. Those who have seen it have com-
pared it to several descriptions of quadrupeds; according to
their several fancies. Some declare that it is like the hippo-
potamus ; others, that it resembles a pig ; while several are
of opinion that it is most like a bear. The portion which
indicates the head certainly' has a considerable likeness to
that of the last-named beast. Such of our readers, however,
as have curiosity enough to call and inspect
,the root, _may
judge for themselves.—Courier,• --i, - ' - .

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