The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-08 00:00:00

OLD ENGLISH SONG AND STORY.

Many thanks are due to those gentlemen under whom
the course of Friday evening lectures at the Collegiate
Institution are arranged, for the opportunity they have
afforded the public of learning much that is valuable
and interesting on the home subject of Old England's
songs and stories ; for the two are inseparably linked to-
gether in our native literature. Where the rising gene-
ration compose a large portion of the audience, it is espe-
cially necessary that themes so essentially national should
meet with due. attention ; if we desire to preserve in our
land that generous patriotism which has stamped its im-
press on the English mind, and the extinction of which, if
ever accomplished by the cold-blooded utilitarians who
have sprung up in our day, must bring sadness and sorrow
in its train.
On Friday evening last, Mr. George Barker, of London,
a composer of some note, delivered the first of two lec-
tures, at the Collegiate Institution, on " Our British
School of Song." In a pleasant exordium, he descanted
on the pleasures and advantages of music. As a healthy
exercise, of which the most eminent medical men had ex-
pressed their enthusiastic approval ; as an agreeable mode
of, at once, keeping the respiratory organs in order, and
providing a fertile source of amusement ; and as an enno-
bler of man, in all his relations,—to God, and his fellow
creatures. The lecturer enforced its practice and
cultivation as a necessity. The music of the coun-
try, he felt assured, gave a vivid and generally
correct reflection of the people. Thus, in Italian
music there was a warmth and earnestness which
we sought for in vain among the profound, but less
passionate Germans; Spain, in her romances, still retained
her attachment to fashion and beauty ; while England,
in the simplicity of her ballads and songs—and in her
rich glees and madrigals—presents a faithful type of her
frank and free-hearted people. Less fitted for moving
masses of people than the French or German, the songs
of England were more appropriate to the drawing-room
and the study. That music was worthy of study, was
evident from the fact that Frederick the Great, one of
the greatest statesmen, had composed one hundred and
thirteen pieces ; that Henry the Fourth, the first Pro-
testant King of France, was devoted to music; that
Luther ranked music next to the highest purpose of life ;
and that Alfred the Great excelled in music as well as in
knowledge, having founded the chair at Oxford now so
worthily held by Sir Henry Bishop, the distinguished
composer. Mr. Barker closed his exordium with quota-
tions from Addison and Shakspere, and then proceeded
to illustrate at length his brief and pithy observations
in a series of songs, embracing " The Dream," " The
Emigrant," and a quaint ditty from one of the most
fanciful poets who flourished in the brilliant age of the
Vestal Queen. As for one of the songs included in the
first part, " Stars ! stars ! beautiful stars," the com-
position appeared to us puerile and inappropriate. Indeed,
though well executed, it bore a marked resemblance to
the cry of a buy-a-broom gi I, or some such classic melody
borrowed from the streets. There is a lofty solemnity in
those denizens of the great

" Roof of the world,"

which both poet and composer have evidently never felt.
Worthier of the theme are the lines of a local bard,
unfortunately little known :

Glory fountains, ever flowingl—
Chalices of gorgeous light 1—
Crystal globes, with morning glowing,
Glittering round the dome of night I
Flames celestial !—fires eternal !
Blazing opals of the skies !
Flashing in the spheres supernal,
Lighted by your burning eyes.
Orbs the future years inurning—
Stalactites of Space's cave—
Lamps around the Eternal burning.
Warming worlds without a grave!
Myriad colour'd systems l—brightening
Heights whereto thought cannot rise,
Plumbing with yoar pauseless lightning
Depths where even distance dies !

The second part of Mr. Barker's " Evening" consisted of
a glowing description of the scenes and character of Sher-
wood Forest. Hundreds had passed along the highway
which led through that forest without dreaming for a
moment of the charmed world which lay at such a little
distance from them—with all its wealth of scenic beauty
and endearing association. Sherwood, in his opinion,
was worth travelling a hundred miles to see, and when
once seen could never be forgotten. He alluded, en
passant, to its connexion with the bards of modern as
well as ancient days, recognising in it the birthplace and
home of such sweet singers as the Howitts, Hall, Bailey
the author of " Festus," and many more whose names
will live endeared to time. He then, in a succession of
songs, neatly interwoven with anecdote and commentary,
brought out in hold relief the various noted actors who,
once on a time, created no ordinary sensation on the stage
of Sherwood Forest, including, of course, Robin Hood,
Little John, and Friar Tuck. He expressed his adhe-
rence to the idea that the bold outlaw was a "yeoman."
according to the expression of the old poem, and not the
Earl of Huntingdon, as was now so commonly believed.
Several encores were given in the course of the evening,
and to the bill of fare Mr. Barker kindly added a really ex.
cellent song, borrowed almost literally from the lips of
Topsy, the quaint little heathen introduced to public
notice by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. The audience
separated at the conclusion of this clever little melody,
which we do not hesitate to pronounce one of Mr. Barker's
happiest hits, evidently well pleased with the truly English
entertainment.

THE RECENT GALES.--FEARFUL LOSS

OF LIFE
-

In the Standard of last week, we gave an account of the
disastrous loss of the barque Irene, on Saturday night,
opposite the Coburg-dock, when ten persons out of the
twenty one on board were drowned. The bodies of
Richard Whitburn and William Reece, seamen belonging
to the Irene, were found on Sunday morning, and the in-
quest was opened on Tuesday lasr, before P. F. Curry,
Esq., the borough coroner. In consequence of rumours
being afloat tending to implicate the crew of the steam-
tug Uncle Sam (which had the Irene in tow) for not
rendering efficient assistance to the persons who clung to
the wreck, a special jury was summoned. Mr. Watkins,
the owner of the Uncle Sam, attended to watch the case on
behalf of the crew of that vessel, who had gone to sea on
Monday morning. The witnesses called were Hugh Reed,
master mariner; Griffiths Hughes, the pilot in charge of
the Irene ; William Madren, carpenter ; W. Jones, second
mate ; and Jas. Williams, one of the crew. These
witnesses deposed that the Uncle Sam made some efforts
to get near the Irene after she s+ ruck, and she also sent a
small boat towards them ; but they conceived that the ex-
ertions of the crew of the steamer were not well directed,
and that they were much to blame for their negligence.
Mr. Reed particularly stated that there would have
been no danger of the steamer running under the stern
of the Irene, and thereby saving all hands. The inquest
was adjourned until Thursday. when Sir George Stephen
appeared to conduct the case for the parties alleged to
have been culpable in the matter. The following wit-
nesses were called—Captain Melville, of the Uncle Sam ;
John Wewton, the captain of the steamer Queen ; and
one of the persons rescued from the wreck by the boat of
the Powerful ; John Lancaster Dowd, the mate of the
steamer Queen ; Charles Melville, engineer of the Uncle
Sam ; and William Shore and Thomas Kelly, seamen on
board the Uncle Ssm. These witnesses testified that
every possible exertion had been rendered by the Uncle
Sam and the Queen after the accident took place. Capt.
Newton, who had gone on board the Irene immediately
previous to her upsetting, was very explicit. The captain
of the Uncle Sam, he said, had done everything in his
power, under the circumstances, to approach the wreck,
and save those that were clinging to it. The case was
adjourned to yesterday (Monday).
The adjourned inquest was resumed yesterday morning,
at half-past 11 o'clock. Mark Melville, the master of the
Uncle Sam, was the first witness called. He deposed
that there was a necessity to break the hawser connecting
the vessel with the tug, and he gave orders to break it.
They were at the extreme length of the hawser, and the
reason of necessity was, that he saw there was great dan-
ger when the vessel was going dog n. It would have
caused a great deal of damage, supposing that they had
not cast off the hawser. He did not think it ectlld have
been used as a means of saving the crew. They Juld not
with safety to their own ship have increased their power.
Robert Anderson, assistant-engineer of the Uncle Sam,
recapitulated the evidence of previous witnesses, corrobo-
rating the statement that a line was thrown by William
Shaw, a sailor on board the tug. By a jury-
man.—He did not see the line leave his hand,
but took it for granted that he did so. Everything was
done, he affirmed, by the crew of the Uncle Sam to save
the lives of the people on the wreck that could have beer!
done.—William Baldock, mate on board the tug, dlposed
to the strain on the hawser having been such that it
_was
necessary to cast it off, as they were placed in great dan-
ger. -
ger. They did their utmost to save the crew of the Irene,
and they could do no more.--William Edwards, captain
of the Powerful, steam-tug, deposed that when lie came to
•iv
make
or
s
I
the windward of the wreck, he ordered a boat to be
lowered. He ordered three boys into it, but he believed
four went. They were
t mighth e
theymeans
be
doidf attendedrnesoet witheuihngs ittlai et riessk to ;
nu
from the wreck.but,
tide scream,
that time was very strong : it
thehe araitntgemthpet. peoTphlee
might have slackened a little during the previous two hours.
After they had got the survivors on board they perceived
the Uncle Sam. She might have been alongside of them,
and they not see her ; because their attention was exclu-
sively occupied with rescuing the drowning people. When
they had rescued the survivors, and had time to look
round, they saw the Uncle Sam. He heard no hail from
on board the Uncle Sam previously to their saving the
people. She might have made a hail, without those on
board the Powerful perceiving it, The coroner inquired
the names of the four men who went in the small boat,
with which witness, however, said he was unacquainted.
. The sercuct 4ititzetcd that be witlicd 0 be farniehed

with the names of the brave fellows, and he should be
happy to see them. Witness did not see anything at all
to prevent them saving the people. Any of the ordinary
tug-boats could have done the same that the Powerful
did. All that was necessary to be done was to get to the
windward of her, and drop a boat down. Supposing that
he had lost his boat, he must have run the risk of killing
them or saving them by running the tug between the masts.
Supposing that he had been in tow of the vessel, it would
have depended upon circumstances whether he might con-
sider it dangerous, and necessary to cut the hawser. With
a strong tide running, it might have been attended with
great damage, sweeping away the funnel, &c., and of course
when her funnel went she would be disabled. The
steamer might have eased the hawser a little, but it ern -
cipally depended upon the position she was in.—By a
juror : He thought the nearer the ship the stronger the
tide would be. Could he have known the position of
the vessel when he first heard the screams, he should have
been on the spot five minutes sooner, and might probably
have saved four or five more lives than he was enabled to do.
—By Sir George Stephen : As long as he had a line at-
tached to the boat, he thought it was safe enough for
three.—Benjamin Felkin, watchman on the Coburg pier-
head, who was on duty at the time of the wreck, said he
heard a voice in the ship sing out that they were too near
the shore : at the same time a man on the steamer made
answer that there was plenty of water. A man then
cried from the ship that they were getting aground, and
the man from the steamer replied that they were "making
a terrible noise for nothing." His attention was called
away for a little, and when he came back to the
pierhead, he could neither see the steamer nor the ship.
—Another watchman on the pierhead was next called,
and also a dockgate.keeper, the latter of whom proved
that the Uncle Sam had entered the dock for a
boat, but could not find one ; that he and the other
two gatemen, with her captain, at once manned a boat, and
proceeded to the wreck, but too late to save any of the un-
fortunate crew. They were detained at least a quarter of
an hour in the basin, looking for the " thouls," which
were not at hand. The pier-head master proved that, in
consequence of the north-west gale, the tide was at least
six or seven feet above the proper height. The sound-
ings did not vary much, exceat when a strong north-west
gale carried the bank further southward. The Irene
was the third or fourth vessel a hick had capsized
upon the bank. Captain Murphy, formerly captain
of the Liverpool life-boat, for a period of eleven years,
was called on behalf of the crew of the Uncle Sam.
Captain Cook, superintendent of the pilots, was likewise
called, and gave some evidence as to the nature of the
bank on which the Irene struck. .

The jury. after consulting for a quarter of an hour,
found a verdict to the following effect :—" That the Irene
went accidentally on the bank, by means of which the
two deceased persons lost their lives ; and the jury made
the presentment that very much more assistance might
have been rendered by the Uncle Sam and the Queen
steam-tugs than was done to save the lives of those on
board the Irene." _ _

The Irene belonged to Messrs. Ironsides and Co., of
Liverpool, and was bound to Valparaiso, with a cargo of
coals, when compelled to return by the severe N.N.W.
gale of the 'Wednesday previous. During the storm of
Saturday she lost her best anchor and chain cables, and
the pilot got the assistance of a steamer to prevent the
vessel driving ashore. A reward of £lO has been offered
by her owners for the recovery of the body of Captain
M`Donald.