The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-30 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

LIVERPOOL PIII4IARMONIC SOCIETY.—The fourth
subscription concert for the season took place on Tuesday
evening. The attendance was large and fashionable,
although scarcely so numerous as that which graced the
preceding subscription concert. The programme included
a variety of classical music, selected with much judgment
from the works of the meat celebrated musical composers,
and comprised scenas and arias from the operas of Mozart,
Beethoven, Meyerbeer, and Rossini ; from Spohr and
Proch ; besides a judicious sprinkling of the charming
madrigal. The novelty of the evening was the debut, in
Liverpool, of Madlle. Sedlatzek, a soprano singer, new to
the English public, who made her first appearance in
London during the present season, and who has met with
a very flattering reception by the London cognoscenti, and
has been favourably spoken of by the London press.
Madlle. Sedlatzek is o prepossessing appearance and
deportment, her action being at once gracefifi and lady-
like ; her voice is of excellent quality, although not equal
in power, range, or perfectness of organization to that
with which Madame Clara Novello,. the last soprano
singer of distinguished eminence we had here, has
been gifted, still it is a charming organ, and she
uses it with the skill of an accomplished artiste.
Her style is eminently dramatic, and she seemed
in many instances to feel the hampering influences
of constraint by which a concert singer is hese,
and appeared almost desirous of bursting the fetters of
etiquette and launching out with that abandon and fervour
which confer its principal charm upon operatic music, a
feeling in perfect 1111;3011 with most of the pieces she sang.
In the cavatina from " Robert le Diable," which served as
her introduction, she sang charmingly, and with such a
graceful ease as created a powerful feeling in her favour,
and at once put her and the audience on the best of terms
with each other. Her triumph, however, and it was the
. triumph of the evening, was her delightful musical and
dramatic rendering of the famous lore-letter scene with
Figaro in the Opera of "I 1 Barbicre di Seviglia." This
admirable duett was sustained by her and Signor Belletti
with much histrionic success ; the nairle with which
Madlle. Sedlatzek invested the part of Rosina was pleasing
and delicate, while her musical intonation was sweet and
expressive. The more equivocal and serio-comic part of
Figaro was rendered with a brtfo hilarity and unscrupulous
readiness by Signorßelleti in such a manner as to increase
. .

his already high claims upon public attention, and to
prove highly gratifying to his audience, as was well
testified in the unanimous and hearty encore which greeted
the piece at its termination, and which was again loudly
repeated at the conclusion of its second performance.—
Signor Belletti, who has before appeared in this hall, was
well received, and at his entrance was welcomed with the
greetin- due to an old friend. The first piece he sdng was
the beautiful recitative and air from Mozart's " Marriage
.

of Figaro," "yedrO mentre io sospiro," which he snng

with much taste and fine expression, characteristics which
he displayed in all his performances. His voice is one of
great power, very considerable compass, and in his use of
it he exhibits the graces and culture of a highly-trained
musician; the only drawback to his perfect success being
a deficiency of that liquid melody of tone which, when in
perfection, constitutes the charm and fascination of a
tenor voice. The style of vocalisation and the wide range
of dramatic power evinced by Signor Belletti give earnest
of how great an acquisition he would be in opera. One
word in his ear, however. Shakspeare advises, and wisely
advises, that no liberty shall be allowed to be taken with
the text of a play; would the Signor permit us to apply
the caution to his attentive consideration, substituting, in
his case, the word "programme" for " play ?" The au-
dience gets puzzled, and may perchance get displeased
when they find one piece promised and another performed.
A feature of this concert, which was at once new, interest-
ing, and satisfactory, was the introduction of a trio
Meditation on a Prelude by Bach, arranged for the violin,
piano-forte, and organ—Gounod—and on this occasion
performed, with much delicacy and finish, by Messrs.
Thomas, Toms, and Hirst. The instrumentation was

true and telling, the audience testifying their appreciation
of the piece and the performance by a warm and general
encore. In the course of the evening Mr. Streather per-
formed a fantasia on airs from " Mose in Egitto" as a solo
on the harp, in which he displayed rapid and goOd execu-
tion. The choral members of the society had not a great
deal to do, but the little set down for them was well gone
through. In the delightful madrigal, "When all alone
my pretty love was playing," they sung with charming
effect, and were rewarded by a unanimous and hearty en-
core. The concert was conducted by Mr. J. Z. Herrmann
with his usual good taste and skill, and his efforts were
well seconded by Messrs. Hirst and Toms, who presided
respectively at the organ and piano-forte.
THE MBA TIM ROYAL, OS noticed in our last publica-
tion, opened for a brief season on Monday last, and
bus continued open during the week ; the attraction being '
the admirable performances of Mr. IVright, who has ap-
peared several times, in ono or two of his favourite cha-
racters, conspicuous among which has been his repeated
and capital representation of " Paul Pry." As Billy
Lackaday, he has also convulsed the audiences assembled
in considerable numbers to witness the display of his
peculiar talents. He has likewise afforded great delight
by his racy and spirited performances of Mr. Bobtail,
John Grumley, and some other minor characters. In
this brief enumeration of his performances, it would be
wrong to omit his excellent delineation of the character of
Mr. Simmons, in the drama of " The Spitalfields
Weaver." In this he was earnest and effective. The
character is that of a tibia, but honest tradesman, who,
secure in the rectitude of his purpose, scorns the tricks
and arts by which conventional propriety is made to con-
taminate the workings of genuine and unsuspecting
virtue. The piece was well put upon the stage, and Mr.
Wright's performance elicited well-merited approbation.
As a comedian, Mr. Wright is entitled to occupy high
ground ; . his histrionic humour is natural, rich, and flow-
._

rug. Completely at home upon the stage and master of
its effects, there is an ease and freedom about his imper-
sonations which render them charming in a high degree,
his comedy never descending to buffoonery, although many
of his characters touch so nearly ou its borders that his
avoiding such degradation shows him to be possessed of
taste and judgment, leagued with tact and nice discrimi-
nation. Hifi engagement terminated on Saturday evening.
SOCIETA ArtMONICA.—The eighteenth dress-concert of
the Societa Armenia% took place on Saturday. evening, at
the Mechanics' Institution, and was attended by a highly.
respectable audience. The performance commenced with
Haydn's Symphony in D, No. 9, which was given very
effectively, as were all the instrumental portions of the
concert. The solo vocalist was Mrs. George Holden, who
acquitted herself most creditably : she was unanimously
encored in Lee's beautiful song, " Away, away to the
mountain's brow." The trio Zitti Zitti was very effec-
tively rendered by Mrs. George Holden and Messrs. David
Jones and Armstrong. The concert concluded with
Rossini's overture to the Barber of Seville. Ain Chas. B.
Herrmann conducted.

Ro.
nßrichmameLETT:sAND-sQ • —On Friday after-
noon rIrE. druggXCEleveland-square, saw
the shadow of some person in his shop during his tempo-
rary absence in a room behind; and going quickly in
found an old woman making off with a glass shade, some
China ornaments, and other fancy articles. He gave her
into custody, and she was brought up at the Police-court,
on Saturday, when she stated her name to be Mary
Mnrphy. She could not deny having possession of the
articles, but said she waited some time without any person
appearing, and was taking the things next door to inquire
the price of them She was sent to prison for a month,

THE SARAH SA Da, Captain ley, sailed on Thurs Cay
for Quebec and Montreal, with a full cargo, 100 first and
second class and 2.50 third class passengers, and the mails
for Canada.
ST. Seveorn's CHURCH, FALKNER-SQUARE.--We are
gli..-1 to hear that the collections at the consecration and
on Sunday last, amounted to upwards of £l5O. The
Church has been licensed by the Bishop of Chester for the
celebration of marriages.
ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY. —A small detachment, coin-
nosed of fifteen horses, eight men, and two non-com-
missioned officers, underthe command of Captain Mackay,
arrived in Liverpool on Saturday morning, from Dublin,
en route for Woolwich. They left Liverpool for London
on Sunday morning : and on their arrival in the me-
tropolis they would at once proceed to Woolwich.
THE COLOGNE UNION', of whose appearance in the me-
tronolis The Times spoke so flatteringly, will give two
of their surprisingtl
concerts,
huay,
net the
and hilthbaer ms
second
on Philharmonic-hall,
this week ;ie first ton Thursday,
Friday.
CHILD BURNT TO DEATH. Oa Sunday morning,
Andrew Quin, aced five years, residing with his parents
at No. 3, Fair-view' Park-road, Toxteth-park, was left by
his mether for a few minutes, being partially dressed,
when his clothes caught fire, and he was so severely burnt
that he died yesterday morning. An inquest will be
held on the body this day.
A RUSSIAN PRIZE IN LIVERPOOL.--The Russian prize,
which arrived in the Mersey on Monday week last, and
now lies in the Brunswick-dock, is the barque Argo, 406
toes register, Captain Stenuian, belonging to Meaborg, in
Finland. She was captured on the 6th instant, off the
Old Head of Kinsale, by the revenue cutter Eliza. Twelve
of the seamen of the Argo were dispatched from Liverpool
for London on Thursday night, to be placed on board the
Crocodile, off the Tower. The captain and two mates
remain to give evidence before the Prize Commissioners.
GAISBLING IN THE STREETS ON SUNDAY.—SeTeraI
boys and young men were brought before Mr. Mansfield
yesterday, charged with playing at " pitch and toss" in
the streets, on Sunday, particularly in the neighbourhood
of churches and other places of worship, where they had
been in the habit of congregating on Sundays, and pur-
suing the practice complained of, to the great annoyance
of the public. They were all fined in small sums.--LThis
is a nuisance which calls loudly for abatement ; and we
are glad to see the matter taken up by the authorities.]:
TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.—The committee appointed at a
town's meeting, held on the 15th of June last, to consider
the most desirable plans for the improvement of Liverpool,
and the financial measures necessary to accomplish the
same, held a meeting at the Town-hall, on Tuesday, fur
the purpose of receiving the report of a sub-committee of
their body, consisting of Messrs. W. Earle, J. R. Jeffery,
Robertson Gladstone, C. R. Verelst, Thomas Haigh, King,
H. C. Beloe, and Joseph Boult, to whom the first branch
of the subject had been referred. There were present,
Messrs. William Earle, (in the chair) Alderman Bennett,
J. A. Picton, J. R. Jeffery, C. R. Verelst, H. C. Beloe,
Joseph Boult, J. Sunmers, J. G. Morris, and Thomas
Haigh. Resolutions adopting the report, and ordering
that Mr. Sumner's request, that his lithographed view of
the proposed St. George's-place should be published with
the report were passed. In the course of some conversa-
tion which ensued, Mr. Jeffery said that before they issued
the report to the public at all, the committee must come
to a conclusion upon the entire subject which they were
appointed to consider ; they must not only show what they
de§ired, but how they proposed to carry it out. The report
which had been adopted was the report of that section of
the General Committee called the Improvement Sub-com-
mittee. It would now be for the Finance Sub-committee
to meet immediately, to see what they would recommend
to carry out the suggestions contained in this report ; and
when that was done a public meeting would be called.
Mr. J. G. Morris moved, and Mr. Picton seconded, a reso-
lution of thanks to the sub-committee, for the time and
labour they had bestowed in the preparation of the valuable
report which they had brought up. The resolution was
carried unanimously, and the meeting broke up.
STRIKE OF THE BIRKENHEAD FERRYNEN.—On Sun-
day the whole of the crews, with one exception, of the
steamboats owned by Messrs. Willoughby, the leesees of
the Birkenhead and Tranmere ferries, turned out "on
strike" for an advance of wages. Messrs. Willoughby
own seven boats, the Birkenhead, Britannia' Vernon,
Cato, Fanny, Mersey, and William Fancett. Each boat
has a crew of six or seven men, namely, captain, engineer,
fireman, and the remainder common hands. They were
paid on the following scale engineers, 355. per week;
captains, 305.; men, 215.; and firemen from 16s. to 19s.
per week. On Saturday night, after the boats had done
plying, the men went in-a body to Messrs. Willoughby,
and demanded to be paid at an advanced rate, threatening
to "turn out" next morning if their request was not
granted. The terms they dictated were, engineers, £2
per week ; captains, 355.; mates, 305.; men, 285.; and
firemen. 245. Not one of the men had previously spoken
to their employers on the subject, and the only previous •
intimation the Letter had of the movement was a docu-
ment received by post four days before, but bearing no
signature, and merely asking to be paid at the advanced
rates named. Messrs. Willoughby refused to be coerced
into acquiescence, and requested a day or two for time to
consider upon the matter before them, but without effect.
During the night, at high water, the men went off in
small boats to the steamers lying moored in the stream
and brought them ashore, so that early on Sunday they
were high and dry, and their owners thus prevented from
plying them if they had hands to work them with. The
only steamer plying on Sunday was the Birkenhead, Capt.
Henry Harrison, one of Messrs. Willoughby's oldest
hands, and who had sufficient influence over his crew to
Induce them to remain at their work. In consequence of
l'ais the ferry could not be worked efficiently, and Messrs.
Willoughby were great losers.
DOCK Commirrsn.—The weekly meeting was held on
Thursday, Mr. Charles Turner in the chair. The Sub-
committee of Works submitted a draft of regulations for
the traffic along the dock line of railways, which they re-
commended to be adopted. The following are the regula-
tions:-Ist. No wagon is to he left standing on the lines
of railway, either loaded or empty, north of Hill-street,
under a penalty not exceeding M. 2d. No-train or wagon
to consist of more than four wagons when loaded with
balk timber, or six wagons when loaded with deals or
other materials, or when empty, under a penalty not ex-
ceeding
£5 for each wagon. 3d. No two trains shall be
permitted to travel along the line of railway nearer to-
gether than 500 yards as regards distance, or five minutes
in point of time, nailer a penalty not exceeding £5. 4th.
No wagon shall be allowed to load or discharge on the
lines of railway, north of Hill-street, except under special
circumstances, or leave being obtained from the chairman
ito,wetioltalelltye-agijio:contskaCremtonieittat
!eel
50a.rnldeanidnieastuleitililileecasseaoefinsie.natoiiltmwmaey,o,ureewdthheerarnae
crossing the public exceedingreet from the dock railway to the
tliVieaprpaiiiling,a3.s,tactoimonp,aitoly. be
Akepetbrai,ngere,pwaililr
beet
nithud.,e eexpeonnseeaeobf
tlohaedreadtewaofiro
.pilsserintogn,ovteor
btehepaliidneboyf
tclhaeckrair.laiii/a7yeo,
mat.
fantidestriabjileßc.taytotha rbe
evisdiuornhoigf
tpialenypleleirlyrenoi ofnttblie ;
cot emiiitsteeeo,
rates from time to time.—A long conversation ensued, in
the (nurse of which it transpired that the railway cost
£12,0(0 or £13,000, and that the return would be about
1300 a year. A letter was read from Mr. B. Poole, sug-
gesting that the committee should run two lines of rail-
way from their stations at Wapping and Waterloo-road,
of about 100 yards in length—the one into the Victoria-
dock, and the other into the Queen's —to enable the
company to ship goods with the same facility as in London.
The Chairman said the object in view was, that there
should be permanent berths allotted to the railway
company at the Victoria and Queen's docks, with lines
alongside joining the lines of the railway. At those per-
manent berths they would have barges, so that they might
run any quantity of goods to the dock side, put them into •
the barges, and send the barges to any vessel the goods
were intended for, in any part of the docks. After a few
observations the letter was referred to the harbour-
masters' committee. The Chairman said that Mr. Hornby
and Mr. Earle came before the special committee for dock
arrangements last Saturday, to propose a plan of commu-
nication between the docks and the Southport Railway, by
means of R. high-les-41 railway along the walls of the north
docks to the end of the Prince's-dock. Their plan was
that the high-level railway should start from their railway
at Marsh-lane, join the dock estate at the most convenient
point at the north end, and traverse the top of the dock
walls to the end of the Prince's-dock, where they would
have a station. They had a model of their plan at the
committee-room, and their plan proposed that their rail-
way should be fifteen feet wide at the top, one line of
rails in the centre, with places for passengers on both
sides; that the railway should extend on an average
about two or three feet over the inside -of the
dock walls, the dock walls being about a foot
and a half in thickness. The remainder they
could take out of the street, with the permission of
the Health Committee ; and they wished to know how
far this estate would agree to anything of the kind. The
matter was discussed by the committee, and an answer
was postponed until next Saturday. He (the chairman)
thought he was not wrong in stating the general feeling
of the committee to be,that at present they could scarcely
agree to recommend anything of this kind, inasmuch as
the arrangements at the north end were not decided upon,
and of course running a railway along the walls might
interfere with those arrangements, without at all going
into the question whether it would be desirable on other
points to consent to a matter of this kind. After some
conversation the subject dropped. The finance sub-com-
mittee reported on the proposed Merchant Shipping Bill,
that it appeared to them that the effect of that bill, with
regard to the measurement of ships, would be to give
their actual carrying capacity. It would reduce sailing
ships 7-1- per cent., whilst it would increase steamers from
10 to 15 per cent, The deck houses of sailing vessels
would probably average 33 tons, and by this average the.
decrease of 71 per cent. would be reduced to 3 per cent.
With regard to the deck houses in steamers it was difficult
to estimate the amount of average, but it was probable,
including deck houses, the measurement woned.shewf,rths .n
increased 5 per cent.—The Chairman said ttalte,
and of
important matter for the rates of the dockbe decreased,es course to this extent their revenue
un-
less they increased their rates in therwcoru
regard to steamers,if the bill passed xiffrwroporstoodtio,nit.
wWouitlhd
inclined to think there woulde
h r ratee. and that were so
d ecOrena ese i
nwthboel etehnenwagase
upon
orwthhiechaitrhaelylt.ro,:oirfetdhist
eeco,stat:.
mmittee to rane the rates.
it would be necessary
committee to take action in
and suggested that a fAalsre; iSirmoiftbtriee4lOnet-ee're-sinienldlednttttonLbeiolilidon to assist then de-
putationGovern-
should b
gown their hands in endeavoring to
system. A long discussion followed, after
adopt such a
vets agreed to, Mr. Rounthwait,e and
which the motion •
be forwarded tl c directed to the
ard of
Mr noyden being the only dissentients. A copy of th
resolution was
meat, and to stn.?)
Trade, and ader. puitabitniokni,,i,cownesreistianlrpooifnle
tochairman,proceea
Shand, and i to
London
to eupport, as far as practicable, the Government
bill. A communication was read from Mr. Nlver, stating
that the new mail steam-ship Persia would be more than
09 feet over all, and intimating, that it would be impossible
to get her into any of the graving docks in Liverpool.
The letter stated unless accommodation for this class of
vessels was provided within a short time by the committee,
the company would be driven to provide a graving doek of
their own. The chairman remarked there was no doubt
graving docks were required for large vessels of this class.
Perhaps the letter would be referred to the Dock Improve-
ment Committee, This terminated the general business.