The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-17 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1852.

face, he added, " If you really do wish it, " I'll run up
stairs to my mother, and see what can be done ;" and
lightly he ascended the stairs. The door closed after
him. He did not return any more than his mother had
done. Randal remained standing at the foot of the stairs,
his eyes fastened on the door; he could scarcely contain
his rage and impatience. And now the carriages are
heard coming round, whilst the sleet and rain beat piti-
lessly against the windows, and the wind roars and howls
furiously. Mrs. Langford, who had been sitting over the
fire quietly in her own dressing-room, now entered the
hall, accompanied by two or three young ladies who were
to officiate as bridemaids ; servants were seen hurrying
up and down, preparing people for the departure, helping
the gentlemen to their coats, and holding shawls and
great-coats, while the young men attended upon the
young ladies. There was much chattering, laughing, and
bustle going on, whilst the wind without burst out at
intervals into the most furious blasts, howling and shriek-
ing, and the rain and sleet drove more violently than ever
against the chattering windows. Surely such a day of
tempest had scarcely ever been known in the country.
What weather ! we shall all be blown over ! How horrid
cold, &c., &c., and small feet kept stamping in pretty
impatience upon the floor; and in the midst of this can-
fusion of cheerful voices, and all the hurry incident to the
occasion, there that tall, dark figure stood, his eyes riveted
on the red door, and suffering from an agony of mingled
vexation, anger, distrust, and impatience, impopsible to
describe. Feeling desperate, and resolved to force an
explanation at any risk, Randal set his foot upon the
stairs, and was beginning impetuously to ascend, when the
bated obstacle was suddenly thrown aside. the door flew
wide open, and at the head of the stairs, as about to de-
scend, the bride at last appeared. She was leaning on
her brother's arm, and supported, as it were, behind by
her mother. Her white dress floated round her, the
beautiful hair was half hidden, half displayed, by the
light folds of the rich Brussels veil. Her fair forehead

GUILD OF LITERATURE AND ART.

AMATEUR PERFORMANCES AT THE, PHILHAR-

MONIC HALL,

We have taken several previous occasions to explain the
objects of the'" Guild of Literature and Art," as stated in
the prospectus of that institution ; but they are so well,
and so briefly, set forth in a rhymed postscriptum or epi-
logue, to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's play of " Not so
Bad as we Seem," that we may repeat them here without
incurring censure for tediousness. The question there
put is—

" Wherefore should authors not build
* * their own noble guild?
Some fortress for youth in the battle for fame;
Some shelter that age is not humbled to claim ;
Some roof from the storm for the pilgrim of knowledge,
:Not unlike what our ancestors meant by a college;
Where, teacher and student alike the subscriber,
Untaxing the patron, the state, or the briber,
The son of proud Learning should knock at the door,
And cry, " This [the head] is rich ; " and not whine,
" That [the pocket] is poor."
For the promotion and support of such a guild, or col-
lege, it was, that two performances were given at the Phil-
harmonic Hall, in this town, on Friday and Saturday
evenings last, by a company of amateurs, who, in the va-
rious departments of literature and art, have acquired a
world-wide celebrity.
The pieces performed on each occasion were Sir E. B.
Lytton's comedy, " Not so Bad as we Seem ; or, Many
Sides to a Character :" a piece expressly written to serve
the Guild, and the copyright of which was presented to the
institution ; and a farce, by Mr. Charles Dickens and Mr.
Mark Lemon, entitled " Mr. Nightingale's Diary." The
cast was as follows :

NOT SO BAD AS WE SEEM.
The Duke of Middlesex and the Earl of Loftus (Peers attached
to the son of James 11., commonly called the Pretender),
Mr. DUDLEY COSTELLO and Mr. COE.
Lord Wilmot (a Young Man at the head of the Mode more than
a Century ago, son to Lord Loftus), Mr. CHARLES DICKENS.
Mr. Shadowly Softhead (a Young Gentleman from the City,
Friend and Double to Lord Wilmot), Mr. WILKIE COLLINS.
Mr. Hardman (a Rising Member of Parliament, and Adherent
to Sir Robert Walpole), Mr. LACY, of the London Theatres,
in the unavoidable absence of Mr. John Forster.
Sir Geoffrey Thornside (a Gentleman of good Family and
Estate), Mr. MARK LEMON.
Mr. Goodenough Easy (in Business, highly respectable, and a
Friend of Sir Geoffrey), Mr. F. W. TOPHA m.
Lord Le Trimmer, Mr. PETER CUNNINGHAM.
Colonel Flint. Mr. R. H. HORNE.
Mr. .1-aeob Tonson (a Bookseller), Mr. CHARLES KNIGHT.
Smart (Valet to Lord Wilmot), Mr. JONES.
Hodge (Servant to Sir Geoffrey Thornside), Mr. JOHN

was surmounted by the pale greens and the white blos-
soms of her bridal coronet, and beneath them appeared a
face paler than all these ; the cheek was colourless,
wan greenish shades were around her

bloodless, ghastl

s and beneath hereyes, whichwerewide open, and seemed
to gaze into vacancy with a ghastly, unmeaning stare.
She moved forward as if impelled by others only, and by
no will of her own, in a strange, spectral, silent manner.
He was inexpressibly shocked. It was with a feeling
approaching almost to horror that he stood there for a
moment gazing on the altered face of her whom he loved
; then no longer master of himself, he was
rd to address her even now; but Everard
waved him imperiously back, saying in an angry tone—
" Are you resolved to drive my father mad ? For Heaven's
sake get along, Eleanor ; do you hear how it rains, you
will be drowned before you get to your carriage ;" and he
passed with her hastily on. And even while he was speak-
ing, the hall-door was opened, and such a whirlwind of
rain and storm burst in, that everything was thrown into
the most unutterable confusion. And in the midst of this,
scarcely sensible of what was going on, he saw that pale
spectre hurried forward, followed by Lady Wharncliffe,
who saluted him with a nod and a smile as she passed.
* * * * What followed was all confusion ; and the
wind roared through the door, and hissed against the case-
ment; the rain poured down in torrents with deafening
violence. People laughed and cried out, and the young
ones enjoyed the hurry and disorder to the utmost ; but
he heard nothing, for the roar of many waters was in his
ears, and a stood there like one bewildered. He started,
and was awakened, for now his grave and formal mother
came up to him in her coldest and most composed manner,
and as if this morning were the most ordinary in his life,
addressed him with, "You go with me, Randal, and Miss
Montague and Mr. Wharncliffe are of our party. Come,
if you please, the carriage is at the door, I believe. and
we must not keep any one waiting this horrid day," &c.
And his servant came up with his hat and gloves, which
he took mechanically, and followed passively out to the
carriage, whilst the winds lifted their loud voices, and
whistled and roared as if in glaring mockery ; the huge
trees bent and bowed their huge branches to the earth, as
if in a bitter irony of congratulation, and all nature
seemed rushing together in wildest uproar, like that which
was raging in his own breast.

so passionat

z forw

TENNIEL.
Paddy O'Sullivan (Mr. Fallen's Landlord), Mr. ROBERT BELL.
Mr. David Fallen (Grab-street Author and Pamphleteer), Mr.
AUGUSTUS EGG.
Lord Strongbow, Mr. JOHN EVANS.
Sir John Bruin, Coffee-house Loungers, Newsmen, Drawers,
Watchmen.
Lucy (Daughter to Sir Geoffrey Thornside), Miss MITCHELL.
Barbara (Daughter to Mr. Easy), Miss FANNY YOUNG.
The Silent Lady of Dead Man's Lane, Mrs. COE.
MR. NIGHTINGALE'S DIARY.
Mr. Nightingale, Mr. DUDLEY COSTELLO.
Mr. Gabblewig (of the Middle Temple), Charley Bit (a Boots),
Mr. Poulter (a Pedestrian and Cold Water Drinker), Captain
I IBowler (an Invalid), a Respectable Female, a.Deaf Sexton,
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS.
Tip (Mr. Gabblewig's Tiger), Christopher (a Charity Boy), Mr.
AUGUSTUS EGG.
Slap (professionally Mr. Formiville—a Country Actor), Mr.
Tickle (Inventor of the celebrated Compounds), a Virtuous
Person in the confidence of "Maria," Mr. MARK LEMON.
Lithers, (Landlord of the Water Lily), Mr. WILKIE COLLINS.
Rosins, Miss FANNY YOUNG.
SUSRD, Mrs. COE.

The amateurs themselves are, we presume, too well
known to need describing in detail. Mr. Dickens, as
everybody is aware, is the author of " The Pickwick
Papers," of " Nicholas Nickleby," and a number of other
works of genius and humour. Mr. Charles Knight is the
editor of the best edition of Shakspere extant, and the
author of a number of biographical andcritical works, and of
numerous admirable essays on life and manners. Mr. Mark
Lemon, besides being the writer of a number of successful
dramas, is the editor of Punch. Mr. R. 11. Horne has
produced a couple of tragedies, one of which has been emi-
nently successful on the stage ; and of the epic poem of
" Orion," which, to say the least of it, proves that the
age of poetry has not passed away. Mr. Robert Bell has
I-lORTICULTURE. given to the world a couple of five act comedies, and two
or three longer works of fiction, among which is the novel,
" The Ladder of Gold." He is also, or recently was, the
Grape Mildew.—The Journal des D6bats contains a editor of the Atlas newspaper. Mr. Dudley Costello has
feuilieton. by Monsieur Lion Foucault, on the occurrence published several welcome books on continental travel.
of this disease in France. It seems to have spread uni- Mr. Peter Cunningham—son of the late poet-sculptor,
versally from the stoves to the vines in the open air, and Alan Cunningham—has issued a valuable book on the
to yield to none of the prescribed remedies. M. Guerin streets and historical memories of London, and is well
Meneville found in September, 1850, in the south of known as an accomplished antiquary ; and Mr. Wilkie
France, a similar, if not the same, Oidium on Sainfoin, Collins—the son of Collins, the well-known English
though the surrounding vineyards were unattacked. The painter—is author of a clever novel, " A Christmas
same Oidium occurred also in the course of the same Tale," and some other works that have acquired a fair
year on clover, as well in localities where the vines were reputation in the world of letters. Mr. Tenniel, Mr.
affected, as where they were free from disease. Professor Topham, and Mr. Augustus Eeg, are artists of some
Crevelli, of Milan, has found the Oidium on Verbascum, eminence already, and have given the world an earnest of
Ranunculus acris, and other weeds, and has figured the future fame.
spores of every variety, and believes that all are referable It may be proper to mention, that, in consequence of
to one and the same species. He has also found, in the the unavoidable absence of the gentleman who was to
neighbourhood of Gap, on willows, a mould not distin- have sustained the part of Lord Strongbow, our towns-
guishable from that of the vines ; and at Paris, clover and man, Mr. John Evans, of Upper Dawson-street, at the re-
groundsel have been gathered covered with Oidium. quest of the amateurs themselves, undertook the part at
Monsieur Robineau believes that the true enemy of the about half-an-hour's notice; and, as the racy talent of
vine is a species of Acarus, which occupies the larger that gentleman is well known amongst us, we scarcely
veins of the leaves or the point where the leaf is given off need add that he acquitted himself in the most credit-
from the stem, and which extracts its juice with its pro- able manner.
boscis. Linnaeus had observed these insects on exotic ' The plot, scope, aim. and object of the first piece will
plants in stoves. They have at first six and then ten feet. Lc better uoderstood from the center/Mg ef. it,
Monsieur Robineau refers the potato disease to similar which appeared last spring in the Times, than from any-
mites which suddenly spread over whole fields. and de- thing we could hope to say on the subject :
range the process of nutrition.—Botanische Zeilling. " The action of the drama takes place in the reign of George
In the current number of Hooker's Journal rf Potany, I.: and it is connected with history by a Jacobite plot and the
there is a notice, with an illustration of a new fern, called introduction of Jacob Tonson,hthealstorollsoell,iser. Redtilitnwthicalei
Deparia Moorii, in compliment to Mr. Charles Moore,
!Vona% Mowbray, ae clearest, is
somewhat
who ha; died before yt he
director of the Sydney Botanic Garden, who discovered it I play begins, has left some posthumous memoirs in the hands
in " a dense wood, southside Copenhagen River, New lof Mr. David Fallen, a Grub-street author. These memoirs
Caledonia." It is remarkable for its reticulated fronds, a i contain facts likely to prove annoying to several persons in high
character which, Sir William Hooker stares, would, in the society, and more especially to the brother of the deceased, the
minds of some very able botanists, entitle the plant to I proud Duke of Middlesex. Lord Wilmot, a leader of fashion,
constitute a new genus; but he does not view the impor- who is idolised by the rakes of the day, but who conceals an
lance of such a structure in this light. excellent heart under a mask of profligacy, and Mr. Hardman,
a plebeian member of parliament, who strongly supports the
Tuberoses.—There is no difficulty in flowering this Walpole administration, are rival lovers of Lucy, the daughter
charming plant by the following treatment. Select now of Sir Geoffrey Thornside, an honest gentleman, who in early
large and well-ripened bulbs, and have them potted by life has suspected his wife of an intrigue with the deceased
the first week in March in six-inch pots, in a compost of Lord Henry, and has led an unhappy existence ever since.
mellow loam, leaf-mould, and some rough sand. Use David Fallen, though he is starving himself, and has six starv-
plenty of drainage, and let the soil be tolerably moist. n children to feed, is too honourable to part with the scanda-
lous bequest, either for the price offered by the renowned book-
When finished, about one-third of the bulb should stand seller, Jacob Tonson, or for that offered. by Lord Wilmot, who
above the soil. Place the pots on a shelf near the glass in assumes the name and appearance of the equally renowned
an early vinery or a forcing-house. Apply but little water bookseller, Edmund Curll. But when Lord Wilmot, throwing
until the pots are full of roots and the plants are in full off
dhldeixsgitteinatidndorr (rrisiblDeasvtird„r raenfireiemnt()leorino.thtehaDatkeehaosf
growth, when they will need a liberal supply—observing,
been especially neglected by the aforesaid duke gives up the
however, never to water unless the plants require it ; over- manuscript, by way of taking the noblest i evenge on the
watering is the cause of numerous failures : in the earlier haughty aristocrat. Now, this manuscript, though excessively
stages of the growth it causes the embryo flower to perish, stinging as far as the Duke is concerned, is accompanied by a
and in the later stages it very often causes repletion, and letter which fully clears the fame of Luc)'s mother; and
both leaves and flowers perish from premature decay. Hardman, aware
to
his re of this fact, obtains the letter from the Duke
When honour. On the other hand, Lord Wilmot
the flower-stems have attained a foot or so in "
hasy a Il
discovereda that Sir Geoffrey's wife, reputed to be dead, is
height, it is best to remove them to the greenhouse, tak- living in an obscure residence, and procures a meeting between
ing care to secure them to a neat stake. the mother and daughter. Thus the game of generosity is well
OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. played on both sides, and if Hardman saves the Earl of Loftus
The Greenhouse and Conservatory will require fire-heat (Wilmot's father), and the Duke of Middlesex, from the con-
to expel the damp • and, with a little management, we may sequencese nos
ofs lieingim
implicated
for
dinr
he hasaJao urbiptepelhone
t;A(Ii
fromlmo s
Wilmot has
been no less magnanimous, for he has purchased from Sir
now have a tolerably good supply of spring flowers. Ca- Robert Walpole magnanimous,agovernment office for Hardman, at the price
mellias will still assist the display. Hyacinths, tulips, of a Murillo. Advantages being so great on either side, love
jonquils, narcissusses, are rapidly pushing forward ; many alone can settle where the balance is to be placed, and Hard-
heaths and acacias, and the various Australian leguminous man, discovering that Wilmot is really the man
.after Lucy's
(pea-shaped flowers) plants are coming into bloom ; all of heart, resigns
,rcolans ey is vot risehimppaemr o;tiaTioinn,
which will assist in the display. Commence propagation
from the stock plants of Verbena petunia, scarlet gera- whichwho takes Wilmot ?Or his model, and Mr.‘ Easy, a respectable
city gentleman, who is, nevertheless, so proud of getting drunk
niums, calceolarias, and other bedding plants, which can- with a lord that his pride takes him to the watch-house, appear
not be got too forward ; they will bear hardening off as secondary personages. In the delineation of his characters
sooner; and do not receive so great check when planted out. the author has kept in view the title of hisl norlc,, ot sols
d is lir
Kitchen and Fruit Garden.—Finish the pruning of
ca cos er
thee min'a"n sa•ns id
iets ft
ai eoLeicl ianratfoa faculty o• f
Hardman
Thus, cco to
accordance
fruit trees as soon as possible. Make successional sowings with the good-humoured moral of the play, the proud Duke's
of peas and beans. Sow round-seeded spinach, and in superciliousness is compensated by his high sense of honour,
dry light soils commence planting early potatoes. Wilmot's rakish aberrations are excused by his excellent heart
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. and head, and David Fallen, though apparently an abject hire-
"J. N., Chester."—Many thanks for your contribution, ling, is found to possess a strong sense of virtue—and so on, as
but it will require condensing very much before it is suit- far as one may be pleased to pursue the work of analysis."
able for this column. The merits or demerits of the production it is not our
"R. Symes."—The Chard beet is a good substitute for purpose now to criticise. Ample commentaries have
spinach, if the leaves are gathered young—pigs are very already appeared in the London weekly and daily news-
fond of the roots and waste leaves.
papers ; in periodicals of all sizes and denominations ; and
" Amateur."--The weeding hoe called Gidney's Ima for the last few days, in most of the Liverpool and Man-
proved Prussian Hoe is the best for a lady's use. Chester journals. It must suffice for us to say that the
entertainment proved in all respects a most attractive one,
and that more brilliant or more crowded audiences
THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE.—The first step towards a re- never filled the noble hall in which the performance took
sumption of labour by the operative engineers was made place. At Devonshire House, where the play was first
on Monday morning last, in compliance with a resolution brought before the public in May last, in presence of the
of the Central Association of Employers, the members of Queen herself, thorn could not have been a more atten-
which at that time opened their workshops to such men as tive, a more discriminating, or a more delighted audience.
were willing to sign the declaration agreed to by the The prelude to the piece was an overture of music,
masters. The Globe says that up to twelve o'clock on resembling that which was current in the early portion of
that day, not less than 400 men had signed the declaration the Georgian era, and at which Steele, Addison, and their
at Messrs. Maudslay and Field's factory, Lambeth. The contemporaries and immediate successors, occasionally
Morning Chronicle, after quoting this statement, says smiled in the Tatters, Spectators, and Guardians of their
that the attempt to open the shops with men who are day. That over, the curtain rose, and the distinguished
willing to sign the declaration " may be said, at least for amateurs presented themselves in succession, according.
the present, to have proved a perfect failure." as the author had prescribed for his dramatis personce,
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.—The Board of Admiralty and were successively received with enthusiastic applause.
have appointed Sir Edward Belcher to the command of The acting was, generally speaking, of finished excellence.
the Arctic Expedition which will be sent out this spring So far as reading, comprehension, and appreciation of
to renew the search for Sir John Franklin. It is probable character could go, this was to be expected from men
that Captain Kellett, lately returned to England from a whose lives have been devoted to kindred studies of the
service at Behring's Straits, and who has volunteered to varying phases of mankind, mentally, morally, and eater-
act as Sir Edward Belcher's second captain, will be nally ; but the imitative power—that faculty which is
appointed. Commander MlClintock and Lieut. Osborne peculiarly the department of the actor, by which alone he
are likely to have the command of the two steamers. can hope to realise the ideas of the author in the mind of
This arrangement excludes Capt. Penny ;—for it is not the spectator, and to create the emotions and impressions
contemplated that the expedition shall consist of more which the play was written to impart—could scarcely have
than two ships and two steamers. But it is affirmed that been looked for is the perfection with which it was brought
Captain Penny will have the command of a private expedi- forth. Everything harmonised admirably, and the absence
tion. Beatson's expedition will shortly be ready toleave of those efforts for effect and for applause, which so fre-
England. Overtures have been made to Lieutenant Pim quently mar the presentments of less skilful amateurs,
to accompany Mr. Beatson as scientific observer ;—but gave a vraisemblance, in this instance, to scenes and per-
that officer prefers enrolling his name among the volunteers sonages which the most accomplished professional players
to join the Wellington Channel expedition.—Athenceurn. would have found it difficult to excel.
STRANGE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.—About two o'clock The afterpiece—a one act farce—has not been quite so
on Thursday morning one of the city police, in passing long before the public as the comedy. It is a clever and
along King William-street, London, was startled by ob- amusing brochure, in which Mr. Nightingale (Mr. Dudley
serving a body of fire suddenly burst from a man's mouth, Costello)—we borrow the outline which we find ready pre-
who was standing at the corner of the street. The officer pared to our hands in the columns of a Manchester con.
ran forward to ascertain the cause, and discovered the temporary—is a peevish dyspeptic, who keeps a diary of
party to be a Frenchman, and that he had attempted self. his ailments and their treatment. IraVing refused his
destruction by the following mode of procedure :—lt niece Rosins (Miss Fanny Young) to an overtalking
appears that having withdrawn the yoke of an egg, he had barrister, Mr. Gabblewig (Mr. Charles Dickens), the
inserted three ounces of gunpowder, and, placing this in I lover is despondent. till he finds that uncle and niece are
his mouth, ignited the same with a fuzee. His mouth and I coming to the same inn at Malvern. They arrive; and
throat were greatly burnt, but otherwise he escaped ma- the dyspeptic is immediately beset by a country actor
terial injury. He was immediately conveyed to Guy's named Slap, alias Mr. Formiville (Mr. Mark Lemon),
Hospital, where he was searched. The only articles found who, disguised as a medical man, endeavours to wheedle
on him were a large canister of powder and a box of him into buying his nostrums. Gabblewig, discovering
fuzees. He gave his name as Henri Rengree, belonging the tricks of Slap, his quondam brother Thespian, circum-
to Aix.la-Chapelle, and was by trade a watchmaker and vents him by assuming in succession five different die-
jeweller. He remains in the hospital under the surveil- i guises, and at length wins the pretty Rosina from he
lance of the police, churlish uncle, by proving that hie termagant wife (Slap'