The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-03 00:00:00

" A LEGEND OF FLORENCE."

The last new play was
,produced at the Theatre-royal on
Wednesday night, and, of course, according to the pecu-
liarly correct notions of certain contemporaries, the manage-
ment deserves censure for it. The author, our literary read-
ers are by this time aware, is Mr. Leigh Hunt, a gentleman
who for many years has added grace and beauty to our
periodical literature, who. has contributed to improve the
taste, and to extend the observation of the reading class,
more, we venture to say, than any writer of the present day.
This, however, was his first experiment as a dramatist, and
as in London so in Liverpool, it was completely successful
not alone with the judicious few.
The plot is founded on a Florentine legend, as the title ex-
presses, and may be described in a few words. Genevra
(Miss Tree) is the wife of Francesco Agolanti (Mr. Stuart),
whose peevish tyranny bows her patient spirit to the dust ;
and at length, outraged beyond her physical endurance, she
expires. This event apparently changes the entire character,
or rather disposition, of Agolanti; for, from being imperi-
ously obstinate, he becomes all penitence and self-reproach.
Suffering from remorse whilst in his widowed chamber, he
hears the voice of Genevra calling upon his name, and he
sees, as he imagines, her ghost in the street. He is seized
with a paroxysm of terror, and rushes from the window, bid-
ding defiance to the spectre. Genevra, the auditory then, '
find, has been buried whilst in a trance. Her husband s
door being closed against her, she seeks her mother's, where
she meets with a reception no better, and at length she ar-
rives at the house of her former lover, Antonio Rondinelli
(Mr. W. Howard), where she is received and most honour-
ably treated. She is about to return to her penitent hus-
band; but before Agolanti takes her home, the vindictive-
ness of his nature again appears, whereupon Genevra indig-
nantly declares she will not return, but enter a convent.
Agolanti becomes furious ; Cesare Colonna (W. H. Bland)
interposes, a fight between them follows, which terminates
in the death of Agolanti, and the curtain drops.
In delineating the various characters in this gay, there is
much delicate skill and infinite grace displayed. The con-

trast between the characters of Agolaiiii and Genetn.a is
highly dramatic, and we doubt not its truthfulness is often
recognised by English experience. Miss Tree played ad-
mirably. Her resignation was exquisitely reproachful of the
cruelty of her husband ; and the exclamation, before she
faints—" Good God ! what have I done ?" completely thrilled
the house. We shall not enter now into an analysis of the
character—we shall only characterize it as showing what
woman endowed with the best qualities actually is. Of Mr.
Stuart's performance we cannot say much. The defects in
his elocution, which we have already noticed, yet remain,
and there is a certain affected utterance observable in him
that spoils his reading of the part. 'We should like him to
give his voice a fair chance, as it were. Ile will readily com-
prehend our meaning. Mr. Howard was respectable in
Rondinelli, and the other performers were good.
We find that the play is to be repeated to-night and on
Monday ; and it is possible that we may further notice it in
our next number.

Last evening As You Like 11 was, performed—Rosalind by
Miss Tree. We cannot sufficiently expresi an admiration of
her performance.
We trust that before Miss Tree's engagement terminates,
the management will afford the public an opportunity of
witnessing Mr. Hayne's new play Marl Start, than which
there are few dramatic productions in that style of superior
merit.

MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF THE
TOWNSHIP OF WEST DERBY.

Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, an unusually numer-
ous meeting of the ratepayers of West Derby took place at
the Commissioners'-room, Harper-street, Low-hill. for the
purpose of passing the accounts of the surveyor of the high-
ways, and the accounts of the overseers of the poor, and of
electing a surveyor for the ensuing year. There were present
about 500 individuals, including the most respectable inha-
bitants of the township.
Previously to the general business of the meeting, and
immediately after the CHAIRMAN had read the notice
calling it,
HARDMAN EARLR, Esq., addressed himself to the meeting
R in
stance
the behalf of his brother,
R. Earle, Esq., at whose
the township had been indicted, for neglecting the repair of
Lord-street, Edge-bill,between Duke-street and Sinithdow n-
lane. He read a letter from his brother, authorising hint to
represent him, and requested the favour of having a prior
hearing, as he was about to depart by the railway, on urgent
business, to Manchester. The Chairman having assented,
he proceeded to justify the indictment, on the ground that
the street in question was Lona-fide a public highway, which
the inhabitants were bound in law to repair. He disclaimed
being actuated by private motives, his sole object being to
obtain an advantage to the public.
It was then put to the meeting whether the ratepayers
should agree to repair the street, as required by Mr. Earle,
or should oppose the indictment at the quarter sessions. The.
show of hands was greatly in favour of the latter proposition;
but this was set aside by an amendment, to the effect, that
in order to save the expense of an appeal, they should have
a case drawn up by Mr. Saunders, under the inspection of
Mr. Falkener, so that the opinion of counsel might be taken
on the subject. The amendment was carried almost unani-
mously ; and Mr. Earle bowed to the meeting, thanked
them for their courtesy in hearing him, and retired, remark-
ing that he supposed the matter must be settled elsewhere.
The CHAIRMAN said that the question was settled so far
as the meeting could proceed with it.
The meeting then proceeded to the passing of the surveyor's
accounts, upon which a good deal of discussion ensued, in
which Mr. Wilson showed himself in his usual way—ever
anxious to economise. Finally the accounts were passed
without a division.

The appointment of a surveyor for the ensuing year was
next considered.

Mr. WILSON moved that Mr. Sherwood be appointed the
surveyor, at a salary of £BO a year.
The motion was but feebly supported.
Mr. GEORGE HOLT moved that Mr. Pennell be re-ap-
pointed as surveyor, with a salary of 200 guineas.
The motion was seconded by Mr. E. HALL, and was
carried by a majority of about 5 to 1 of the whole meeting.
A few gentlemen called for a poll ; but Mr. Wilson de-
clined joining them, expressing himself satisfied with the
choice being in accordance with the general feeling of the
meeting. Mr. Holt's motion was supported by the most re-
spectable part of the inhabitants of the township. At first
the proposition for so large a salary staggered the meeting ;
but they soon fl into the views of Mr. Holt.
The accounts of the Overseers were then presented, but
ware not gone into, as it was thought unnecessary, they being
scrutinized by the auditor appointed by the Poor Law
Guardians.

Mr. Moththwaite of Low-hill, and Mr. Roundthwaite of
Edge-lane, were appointed Overseers of the Poor for the en-
suing year.
The business being concluded, the thanks of the meeting
were unanimously voted to the Chairman for his impartial
conduct in the chair, and also for the warm interest which
he ever takes in the affairs and welfare of the township.