The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-21 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL.

The engaging star of attraction at the Theatre-Royal is
Miss Romer, assisted by that finished musician, Mr. G.
Stansbury. The Love Spell and other popular operas will he
produced during Miss Romer's engagement, backed by
tragedy and pieces of serious interest, in which the acting
strength of the company have.an opportunity for practice.
We hope Charles Kemble will play to us here--,-before he
is knighted. The popularity of such an engagement would
not be confined to " Sir Charles" or the management : it
would be the note of preparation all through Lancashire for
parties to defer their summer rambles, and seaside. doing on
ship; and would benefit Liverpool and Manchester by the-
influx of visitors drawn br the occasion. As to the honour
of knighthood, we will- say this most conscientiously ; .that
whether or not the Queen confers the honour of knighthood
on the last of the Kembles—a wonderful .family—and to
defeat which "" gracious intention," hundreds would give
their ears and go upon their bare knees:--the honour has been
thrown away upon men in humbler and leSs significant walks
of the. Fine Arts. Charles Kemble has worked hard, and
had no easy fight for his professional reputation. Greathess
was not thrust upon him, and in a pursuit for marked suc-
cess in which the resources, not of one, but' of all • the
branches of the Fine Arts, are in necessary requisition. Let
the gentlemanly old gentleman be knighted by all means—
but not till we see him in Liverpool.

MAGNIFICENT HISTORICAL PICTURE OF THE
CORONATION.

•
We had yesterday the gratification of viewing the large and
beautiful picture of the coronation of Queen Victoria, by
Mr. George Hayter, historical and portrait painter to her
Majesty; and now on view at Mr. Burland's, in Church-street.
The picture is 'of a very large size,
.and most beautifully and
elaborately tini4hed. It coritains upwards of 70 portraits of
the most distinguished personages present at the august cere-
mony, all of them admitted to be admirable likenesses in
countenance; figure, and costume, from the Queen, to the
pages or trainbearers. The scene is in Westminster Abbey,,
and the precise time chosen by the painter, is that inunedi7
ately following the placing .of the crown upon the head•of. the
youthful Sovereign, by His Grace, the Archbishop of Canter:.:.
qury, when the latter has resumed his place at the altar, and
commenced the exhortation to his future monarch. The
cheering, and enthusiastic cries of " God save the Queen,'"
have scarcely subsided, and many. of the Royal Fancily
and nobility appear yet in the act Of resuming their coro-
nets. The first sight of this picture is calculated
to strike the beholder with wonder, but require's , smile
time, such are the number of persons grouped together
with admirable effect, to appreciate its merits in detail. .The•
The Gothic work over head, of the Royal box is a splendid
specimen of architectural minuteness of execution, as are
the other portions of the abbey. These, however, are but
secondary to the individual portraits, and their grouping:and
position in the perspective. The observed of all observers"
is, of course, the Queen, who is seated on the ancient throne
or chair of Edward the Confessor, in Dalmatic attire of
gold, lace, and jewellery, and holding a sceptre in either
hand—one of which is surmounted by the dove. Her Ma-
jesty is seen. on profile, and the likeness is admitted to be the
finest yet achieved. The robes and jewellery are splendidly
delineated, and excite surprise that the semblance of diamonds,
pearls, gold and silver of the richest hue can be conveyed by
the skilful application of paint. There is much of ease in the
numerous portraits, most of which are entire figures, but we
have not space to particularise more than a comparatively
few. On her Majesty's right stands the Duke of Norfolk,
Earl Marshal, his countenance only seen from the throne
intervening : a little in advance of him, is Lord Melbourne
holding the sword of state, and in the act of replacing the
coronet. Two beautiful pages, the-:-Marquis of Stafford, and
the page of Lord Melbourne, are near. In the Royal box
are seated her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. the
Princess Augusta, the Duchesses of Gloucester and Cam-
bridge, and behind them the Royal Dukes and several
foreign dignitaries. The Duke of Wellington (a yet un-
finished portrait in the group), the Dukes of Devonshire and
Sutherland, the Marquises of Westminster, Lansdowne, and
Stafford, and others. also prolong the group on her Majesty's
right. The most prominent figure on the lett is that of the
Marquis of Conyngham with his back turned, and dressed
in robes of velvet and ermine. The most interesting group,
however, is that immediately behind the throne, consisting of
a bevy of English beauties that may well give challenge to
the world. The Countess of Sutherland is in front. Behind
her are Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady
Macy Grimstone, Lady Barham, and many others. • These
portraits, beatitiful in themselves as likenesses, would seal
the triumph of the limner, were the other portions of the
picture obliterated. Each is thrown out, as it were, from
the canvas, like a veritable, rotund, and animated creature ;
and jhe drapery and ornaments are magnificent. The velvet
robes, with the long and richly-trimmed train of the Duchess
of Sutherland, are so admirably pourtrayed that one is led to
fancy that the folds might be drawn aside. The bust of
Lady Barham, and the countenance of Lady C. Lennox. if
viewed through a roll of paper appear like wax-work. But
we must conclude our notice with an announcement that a
splendid engraving is to be executed from this fine picture, in
the first style of the art, and that subscribers, who will have
an advantage in an early order, are now received by Mr.
Burland, at the exhibition room. The picture has been
seen and much admired by all the members of the Royal
Fatally. ,

PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION AT LANCASTER.—We are
glad to find that a Protestant Association is to be formed
this day at Lancaster, when Dr. Gilly, the Rev. H. M'Neile,
and the Rev. H. Stowell will advocate the cause, and aid in
the formation of the society.
We beg leave to refer our readers to an advertisement in
the first page of our paper, relAive to the opening of the
Egerton Dock, from which it will be seen that there is no
foundation whatever for the rumour that it is intended on
behalf of the Bridgewater Trustees to dispose of the Duke's
Dock.
___ • •

- -
BLUE COAT HOSPITAL.—It will be seen by an advertise-
ment in another part of this day's paper, that a sermon will
be preached in St. Nicholas' Church next Sunday morning,
by the Rev. Rector Brooks, and a collection made for this
excellent charity.

COMMITMENT TO THE SEssioNs.—Yesterday, at the Po-
lice Court, a young man named John Stowell was placed at
the bar, under the following charge :—Mary Fairbrother, the
wife of a roper in Caddell-place, New-Gore-street, said that
on Thursday she hung up two shirts and other things in the
court, and shortly afterwards missed the shirts, which were
wet. One of them was afterwards traced to a pawn-shop
kept by a person named Richards, and were claimed by the
woman. They were pledged in the name of the prisoner,
who was known to the witness. He was afterwards found,
and the other shirt was on his back. When apprehended he
had with him some aprons, which he took from under his
jacket and gave to a boy, who ran away with them, and
escaped ; but " stop thief" being called, he threw the aprons
away, and they were claimed by another woman named
Hatch. They had also been taken from the line on which
they were hung to dry. The prisoner said he never pledged
the shirt, but owned to the aprons. He was committed for
trial.

. DEAF AND DUMB IMPOSTURE !—A woman, calling her-
self Catherine Walters or Waters, and representing herself
to be a widow (whose late husband was a builder), having
several children, two or three of whom are deaf and dumb,
has by some means obtained a printed form of application for
candidates for 'admission into the Institution for the Deaf
and Dumb, and for some time past has been soliciting sub-
scriptions from benevolent individuals, in behalf of ' one of
her girls, whom she wishes to be admitted, stating that " the
Committee will not receive her until she has raised forty
pounds! and which must first be all laid down at •once.'
She has thus collected between £5O and £6O. Now, the
above institution has not, and never had stwil a law as the
above, and the terms for the admission of pupils may be seen
by consulting the report just printed : it is, therefore, much
to be feared and lamented that the above case is altogether a
gross imposition upon the benevolent, especially as the child
has not made her appearance at the above institution.

SKETCHES OF LIVERPOOL AND ITS VICINITY.
No. 2.
(Written for the Standard)

THE CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY.
One of the largest and most interesting works now in pro-
gress (and. drawing towards completion) in this neighbour-
hood, is the railway from Birkenhead to Chester. As this
line will add a new and important feature to the country
through which it passes, and as, by its joining at its southern
terminus, the Chester and Crewe railway, now amalgamated
with the Grand Junction, it will bring railway traffic and
communication from the south of England by a continuous
route, to within a mile of our port on the opposite shore.
Its completion is looked forward to with considerable interest
and anxiety, not only by the commercial community, but by
those who anticipate an occasional rapid trip "on the wings
of steam" to the ancient and unique city of Chester. Hav-
ing recently visited a great portion of the line and the works
upon it, a brief sketch of the progress made, of the views
that will be obtained by the " flying" traveller, blended with
(for the satisfaction of your more scientific readers) a few
statistics derived chiefly from the recently printed half-yearly
report of Messrs. Stephenson and Dixon, the engineers, may
be acceptable, particularly as it is hoped that should the in-
termediate weather be favourable for the operatioits yet to be
performed, the opening will take place in a few months—pro-
bably in August. The line, moreover, passes through an
interesting and in some parts a romantic country. Premis-
ing that the work has been considerably retarded by-tke tains
of the past winter, which, however, have done no material
injury to the cuttings or embankments, by causing the sides
to slip or otherwise,—l shall for the sake of arrangement,
notice the respective portions of the line separately contracted
for under separate heads :
THE FIRST OR BEBBINGTON CONTRACT.
This length commences at Grange-lane, in Birkenhead,
and extends a short distance beyond the turnpike-road lead-
ing from New Ferry to Neston, which it crosses, being an
extent of 2 miles and 32 chains. The total amount of earth-
work in this division was computed at 263,000 cubic yards of
excavation, the whole of which was required for the formation
of the embankments, the principal and longest of which is
the Trantncre embankment, commencing near the north side
of Tranmere Pool. The greater part of the earthwork is
completed. A wooden bridge, the height of the embank-
ment, of six divisions or arches, raised on piles, crosses the
pool, and has a very neat appearance. From the embanking
against it having commenced at the south end or abutment,
the piles or pillars lean a little to the northward; but this is
a matter of no importance. The object of this bridge, in
place of a simple culvert, as at first intended, is to permit
the passage of a barge or boat when the title fills the pool, a
proviso required by the owners of the land, and the Liverpool
Town-Council, now the proprietors of the Birkenhead estate.
There are several substantial bridges under and over this part
of the line. They are chiefly of rusticated ashler.. That
under which passes the road from Tranmere Ferry-house to
Holt' Hill, a single span, has rusticated piers and abut-
ments, with an arched passage for pedestrians on each side.
It is topped by horizontal massy iron beams, on which rests
the railway, which is here about sixteen feet above the level
of the road crossed by the bridge. Several of the bridges
have skew or oblique arches of well-constructed masonry or
brickwork. A neat fence wall of stone runs along the bottom
of the slopes of this first or Tranrnere embankment. The
permanent rails arc laid for about two miles to the south,
and a few Weeks will complete the masonry in the deep
cutting on Derby Hill, which is about two miles from the
terminus. Here, at the close of last summer, about 300 men
and 17 horses were employed, but, as in the other divisions,
this number was necessarily reduced during the winter
months. The road rises gently to the southward in this
length ; but this is not perceptible to the eye, the rise com-
mencing with only 1 in 330, and terminating with 1 in 600.
The Tranmere embankment forms the principal feature of
this northern part of the work. It runs about south by east,
and being of. considerable average height, and, moreover,
on the face of the rising ground the traveller will obtain from
it a delightful and extensive view, particularly to the east-
ward. Immediately below; and seen to great advantage from
the southward, is the township of Birkenhead, with its neat
gothic church, its dilapidated and ivy-covered priory ; its
ferries, its handsome streets extending towards the east, its
detached villas, chapels, &c. The estuary of the Mersey is
seen to its full extent. Liverpool, with her long extent of
sea-walls, crowded docks, and lofty buildings, forms a con-
spicuous and interesting portion of the picture, and the great
basin of the river, extending far‘to the south, studded with
numerous sailing and steam' vessels, in continual motion and
mutation, and surrounded by the wooded shores of Lanca-
shire and Cheshire, comprises a combination of marine and
rural scenery, not perhaps to be surpassed in richness or ex-
tent in any country in Europe. As the traveller proceeds
southward, the Rock Ferry and the New Ferry, thick with
villas on the left, and the village of Higher Tranmere, and
further to the south Bebbington, with its ancient church and
spire, on the right, claim attention, while the general aspect
of the country is cheerful and inviting. To a stranger coming
by the railway from Chester, the first view of this great and
busy part, and the scenery around it, in land and water, can-
not fail to impart a feeling of wonder and delight.
THE SECOND, OR BROMBOROUGH AND EASTHAM
CONTRACT.

This division extends from the termination of the last,. to
Plimyard Brook,—a length of- three miles and thirty-seven
chains. The cuttings and excavations were computed at
288,000 cubic yards, and a small portion only of earthwoik
and dressing remains to be accomplished.. The masonry
and brickwork is also nearly completed. Here a large length
of permanent way, about two miles, has been laid, with the
exception of a piece of cutting near Greenfield House, which
is daily reduced from both ends. The sleepers here-employed
on the new formaticins, as well as on other parts of;the line,
are of English or Welsh fir, Of a large size, a durable timbee
in earth or sandwork, on which stone sleepers-cannot be laid
down, until the made ground becomes sufficiently settled and
compacted. These sleepers are all subject to the process of
" kyanizing" to preserve them from decay. The post-and-
rail fences are all erected, and a great portion of the road is
in a beautifully level and finished state. The ballast is chiefly
a light coloured broken free-stone, approximating to sand,
and the drainage is excellent. Towards the close of last
autumn, upwards of 400. men and 45 horses were here em-

. -...-
ployed, and active operations are still going forward to com-
plete the contract.'
The principal work in this portion of the line is the culvert,
or bridge, and embankment, across Brombro' valley, and a
brook running to the eastward. This valley is about three
miles. from the .northern terminus of the road, and is well
worthy of a visit by those who delight in romantic scenery.
The distance spanned.is not 'great ; But the depth of the dell
or ravine is Considerable;--the embankment,' though with a
cutting at either end, having ta.be
.raised over the meadows
below to a height of apparently 50 or 60 feet. At the bottom
a greater depth of alluvial deposit or " silt" was met with
than was anticipated, so ' that the base of the embankment
sunk about fifteen feet, and a greater quantity of earth was
required to:,fill it up.- 'The unequal settlement and partial
slipping of the embankment, also retarded the operations,
and rendered it necessary;,.tn.a certain extent„to strengthen
the bridge from its fotindatitin upwards. It is now, however,
the opinion of this engineers, that the embankthent has sunk
to the solid substratum,, and that consequently no farther
difficulty . will be .experiejided in completing it, the. whole
being now within a few, feet of its required height.
The-views from this portion of the line are not so extensive
as on the former, a great part of it being, from the extent of
the cuttings; under. the general surface of the contiguous -
country. The BrombroW valley is, however, a beautiful and
interesting spot; and the 'feathered inhabitants of the before
secluded woods and coverts skirting it, though they will
finally remain unmolested, have doubtless been surprised-and
alarmed at the invasion of their beautiful haunts, by the en-
crolchments of the noisy workmen, and the echoing din of their
waggons. The valley is spanned at the point of confluence
of a brook running from the westward down a deep dingle or
ravine, and an inconsiderable rill from the northward. Here
is exemplyfied that " sweet variety of hill and dale," which,
according to Milton,". earth derives from heaven ! The
valley is winding ; and is so " walled" in by steep heights,
covered with trees of luxurient growth, that it is not traceable

to any great extent by the eye of the passenger on the em-
bankment. The bottom is composed of rich and nearly level
meadow ground, extending into little bays and curvatures
formed by the irregular bases of the enclosing high ground
on each side. Brombrow Pool, in which this valley termi-
nates some distance to the eastward, is accessible when the

tide is up by small boats to a considerable distance inland,
and is exceedingly romantic, being diversified by precipieces,
rocks, fantastic oaks, &c. From the southern extremity of
Brombrow embankment, the line of railway penetrates the
fine wooded country towards Sutton. The rise of the line
in this length is from 1 in 600 to 1 in 7566 at its termination
at Plimyard Brook.

THE THIRD OR SUTTON CONTRACT.
This contract extends from the termination of the preced-
mg, at Plimyard brook, three miles and seventeen chains, to

.
near the southern boundary of the township of Ledsham.
The excavation was computed to be 200,500 cubic yards, of
which upwards of one-half had to be cast upon the adjoining
land in spoil banks, and the remainder to be carried to the
Plimyard embankment. Here a continuous road is carried

to Sutton-Hall-lane, an extent of two miles ; the bridges are
all built, and a considerable portion of permanent way laid
down. A short length of cutting only remains. Beyond
Sutton-lane there is about a quarter of a mile of utting done
last year, but full of water for want of drainage, the country
being here very flat. An arrangement has, however, recently
been made with a landowner, for the accomplishment of a
drain to a brook, so that this obstacle will be overcome.
The masonry and brick-work, computed at 4,340 cubic yards
is nearly finished. Until latterly 'there were heavy cuttings
to accomplish, and 400 men and 50 horses were for some
time employed. In this division the road still continues to

rise slightly (1 in 686), and attains its maximum height at its
crossing of the Capenhurst road, in the parish of Shotwick,
in the next contract. Beyond Plimyard brook, the remainder
of the length is below the surface of the fields, so that there
is little to remark upon in the way of prospect, though the

country on each side is occasionally interesting.
[We are compelled, from the length of our report of. the
meeting yesterday, to postpone the remainder of our corres-
pondent's sketch, including the Mostyn contract, until
Fiiday.]

FlRE.—About two o'clock on• Sunday morning, flames
were seen issuing from the roof of Mr. Thomas Gregory,
grocer, Ormskirk. The inmates were in a state of the great-
est alarm, and a female was. on the point of precipitating
herself from the window had she not been prevented by Mr.
George Hancott, who with a few others was promptly on the
spot, and by dint of the greatest exertions, at length suc-
ceeded in getting the fire under. Had it not been for this
gentleman's activity, it is impossible to foresee what ravages
the flames might have committed, breaking out at an hou
when all the respectable inhabitants had retired to rest. .

THE TEA PLANT IN BRAZIL.—The tea plant was im-
ported from China into the Brazils about twenty years ago,
and is cultivated very extensively in some parts, particularly
near St. Paul, about eighty leagues from the capital. One
proprietor possesses 60,000 feet of tea plants, some of which
are six or eight years old. The tea is commonly gathered in
October, November, December, January, and February : a
good workman can collect nearly sixteen pounds a day. The
leaf is afterwards dressed and dried. The youngest leaves
form the " imperial tea," while the less tender constitute
the " hyson" and other varieties. 1,500 feet of tea plants
have been recently placed in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris;
and M. Guillemin, who imported them, is of opinion, that
certain parts of France, from their analogy to the Brazils in
climate and soil, are well fitted for the cultivation of the
plant.

ROMANCE IN HUMBLE LlFE.—About five years ago, when
the weaving trade of Paisley suffered considerable stagnation,
a middle-aged female, who had been thrown out of employ-
ment, left Paisley with a small stock of coarse towelling, to
hawk the same through some of the towns in England; and
her brother, should she succeed, was to furnish fresh supplies.
Time went on, but no accounts reached Paisley of the sub-
ject of this notice till her friends gave up every hope, think-
ing her dead, unknown and unnoticed in a strange land. The
week before last a native of Paisley happening to be journey-
ing through one of the northern towns of England, at the
house where he put up heard a story of a countrywoman of
his, who, about five years ago, had been struck with a para-
lytic stroke, depriving her at once of the use of her limbs and
the power of speech ; in this affecting state she had been con-
veyed to the county hospital, where she still remained. The
mind of the individual who listened to this story.immediately
recurred to the singular disappearante of his townswoman,
and lost no time in visiting the place, where, to his astonish-
ment, he found her enjoying apparent good health, but men-
tally quite hors de combat. A letter was instantly de-
spatched to her brother, who, a few days agO, went up and
claimed her, and both arrived at Leith on Friday afternoon
in one of the steamers from Hull, and left the same evening
by the canal boat for Glasgow.—Caledonian Mercury.