The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-21 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL

We cannot but admit that a change has come over the
taste of the public of Liverpool. It is become essentially
anti-theatrical. The theatre, that years ago night after
'night used to be crowded with fashionable audiences, is now
only half filled, when a company is engaged that will defy
comparison with any other in the provinces, and, in point of
individual merit and general utility, might compete with
even a " major" in the metropolis. The outcry has been,
" Give us the legitimate drama!" It was provided. James
Wallack, the best Shaksperian actor of the day, and the last
of the Kemble school, was engaged. Nobody went to see
him. " Give us opera!" Miss Delcy—the cynosure of all
eyes—the morning star in the musical world—appeared,
with Templeton and others to support her. Comparatively
speaking, few attended. Charles Kean and Mrs. Warner—
clever Mrs. Warner—next were engaged : they were equally
unsuccessful in drawing good houses. And now Yates and
the leading members of his company are playing to very
meagre houses indeed, with all the novelties from the me-
tropolis. It cannot be said that it is " novelty" that is
wanting.—On Monday night the Boleno family made their
first appearance, representing classical groups of statues;
and on Wednesday a new ballet was brought out, in which
a Miss and Master Webster made their debut before a Li-
verpool audience. The classical groups are exceedingly
beautiful : that representing " Beneficence" was particularly

dmired. In the ballet the Boleno family exhibited the most
.inarkable agility we ever saw, in leaping and tumbling.
'he ballet is extremely laughable. Miss Webster is a

harming dancer—very light, graceful, and modest. She

as a first-rate manilre, and can " snatch a grace beyond
he reach of art." We have not seen such excellent dancing
)r some time in Liverpool. Master Webster shows great
Victorine," on Wednesday evening, was very
Mrs. Yates's Victorine is one of her best

romise

capitally played

The last scene, in which she awakes from
er dream, we have always looked upon as the most natural,
Duching, and true picture of life on the stage. Yates as Alex-
ndre, Wright as Blaise, Baker as Manassas, and Bedford as
Mantaloupe, were all extremely droll. Madame Simon did
rather too boisterously, but it was neverthe-

npersonations

In. Bona*

less clever. Miss Herbert, the new aspirant to fame, played
_Elise with a great deal of humour. This lady, " for a second
appearance on any stage," exhibits a knowledge of the art
which induces us to believe she has either been extremely
well taught, or come from a good stock. She has evidently
much talent. The " Beggars' Opera" reversed introduced
Mr. Paul Bedford as Polly, Mr. Geo. Horncastle as Lucy,
and Mr. Wright as Mrs. Peackem. Three such fascinating
monsters never yet were seen on " any stage." Mr. Bed-
ford sang Polly's songs capitally, especially " Cease your
funning." Madame Simon's Peachenz was very fairly

played ; but Miss Honner looked the wickedest little Capt.
Macheath since the days of Vestris. She sang her songs
very sweetly, with excellent spirit, and in dashing style.
The melodrama of " Valsha" has been well got up. To-
night the ballet will be repeated, with " Sir Roger de Co-

verley," and " Half an Hour from Master Humphrey's
Clock,"—being for the benefit of Mr. Wright, an actor of
much humour originality and eccentricity.—A pantomime
%via be produced on Monday ; report speaks highly of it.

LIVERPOOL SESSIONS.

FORGERY

George Farrell was indicted for having, in March last,
feloniously forged and uttered a request note for the delivery
of goods, with intent to defraud Mr. William Wainwright,
sugar-refiner, of Batchelor-street.
Mr. Cottingham conducted the prosecution.
Mr. Richard Maberley stated, that he was a bookkeeper
in Mr. Wainwright's service. Mr. Wilson Morgan, a gro-
cer, in Dale-street, was a customer at times. On the 31st
of March last, a man called and presented an order for teu
lumps of sugar, purporting to have come from Mr. Morgan.
This order witness indorsed to the warehouseman, on the
faith of the order being genuine.
Joseph Southern states, that he was Mr. Wainwright's
warehouseman. On the 31st of March last, the prisoner
presented him the order indorsed by the bookkeeper. Wit-
ness delivered to the prisoner the ten lumps of fine sugar.
The sugar was placed in a hand-cart, and taken away by the
prisoner.

William Morgan deposed, that he was a grocer in Dale-
street. About three years ago the prisoner was in his ser-
vice as a porter. The prisoner had formerly had orders
under his hand at that time to receive goods. The order
produced was not in his handwriting, nor had he authorised
ony one to give such an order. lie had never received the
lumps of sugar specified. When the prisoner was in his
service he dealt with Mr. Wainwright.

The prisoner addressed the jury.- He said lie was not in
the town on the 31st of March. He received a letter at the
latter end of March, to say that his uncle was dead. He
then lodged with Mr. Leonard, in Eldon-place. The letter
arrived on Saturday, the 27th of March, and he went away
to Dublin on Monday, the 29th. He called
Elizabeth Farrell, his sister. She stated that the prisoner
left her at the Clarence Dock on the 29th of March, to go to
Dublin. He went on board the packet, and she left him
there. He returned on the 4th of April.
Cross-examined by Mr. COTTIN GH AM.—I live in Chaucer-
street with my mother. I get my living by sewing. I some-
times take it in, and sometimes I go out. I go to service
sometimes. I lived in service at West Derby, and also at
Leonard's, in Eldon-place. Nothing was elicited against
the character of the witness.

Catharine Farrell, the prisoner's mother, stated, that on
the 29th of March, she got him ready to go to Dublin, and
accompanied him to the vessel. She did not see him again
for seven or eight days afterwards.

Mr. COTTEN7GIIAIII said the defence which was set up was
either the very best or the very worst that could be brought
forward. If the prisoner was in Dublin on the day when
this offence was alleged to have been committed, it was plain
that he could not be the guilty person. There was one very
extraordinary feature in the case which would induce the
jury to doubt the accuracy of the statements made by the
mother and sister. When he was accused and brought before
the magistrates, if it were as had been alleged, he would
naturally have said, " Why you say I have got this sugar in
the name of Mr. Morgan, on the 31st March, I was at that
very time in Dublin, and if you will send for my mother and
sister, they will prove it." He, however, said no such thing.
The prisoner said it had been alleged, that he did not bring
the fact before Mr. Rushton. He wished to do so, but he
was hurried out of the dock, and missed the opportunity. He
had another witness in the court who was not present when
his mother and sister were heard.

James Lynch having been sworn, said bluntly, he was with
me on the 21st March, in Dublin. He left me on the:4th
April.
Cross-examined by Mr. COTTINGHAM.—I am a labourer,
I have not known the prisoner long. I became acquainted
with him last winter. It was before Christmas.

Mr. COTTINGHAM.—What day of the month is Christmas
day on ?

Witnesi (looking puzzled).—Yon have put me to a stand
now, sir. I met him in Dublin, however.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—DO you know when Easter was ?
Witness.—Yes.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—When was it ?
Witness.—lt was this year. (Laughter.) Oh, if you in-
tend to come that you know—l have not much learning.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—When did you go to Ireland ?
Witness.—Some time after Christmas.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—Was it after Easter ?
Witness.—l can't tell—l am a man of no learning.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—Where did you go to when you went
to Ireland ?

Witness.—l went to Dublin.
Mr. COTTINGHAM.—HOW long did you stay there ?
Witness.—l have not learning enough to tell that. The
witness said he met the prisoner first at a public house in
Vauxhall-ruad, and had known him ever since.
Mr. COTTINGHAM made a few remarks on the testimony
of the witness.

The prisoner said it was very hard to be accused of what
he was not guilty of. The last witness swore that he was in
Dublin with him on the 31st of March, and that he left him
on the 4th of April.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty.
LARCENY.

John Ray; aged 34, was charged with having stolen a
copper measuring-can, the property of John Sixsmith.
It appeared that on the 21st of March last, police-officer
Hitchmough met the prisoner in Victoria-road, carrying a
copper measuring-can. The prisoner was stupidly drunk.
The officer stopped him, and soon after discovered that the
can had been stolen from Mr. Norman, a publican.
The prisoner pleaded that he was so drunk, that he did
not know anything of the matter.

As the prisoner-had been in gaol since the 22d March, he
was sentenced to one week's imprisonment.

STEALING A COAT.

Mary M`Nalty, aged 48, was charged with having, in
March last, stolen a coat, the property of Thomas Higgiuson,
a pawnbroker.

It appeared that, on the day in question, the prisoner
went into Mr. lligginson's shop, and, after having finished
the business which took her there, she walked off with a new
coat. The assistant followed her and took her into custody.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
The Recorder passed sentence of three months' imprison-
ment.

SHADES mu THE EYES.—Although it is improper to
exclude the light and air from the eye to so great an extent
as is often done, care must be taken not to fall into the oppo-
site error of leaving the eyes exposed to the full glare of the
sun, or the action of the wind. Bonnets with small fronts
and narrow-brimmed hats are therefore unfit for those whos.e.
sight is weak, and indeed for any one. I have myself
remarked the effect produced on my own eyes by'wearir„a
hat with a narrower brim than usual. Children especially
should have a broad front to their caps, and yet it is i
fashion for them to wear caps turned up in front.. Curtis
ag
on
the Preservation of Sight.

I PUBLIC MEETING OF THE OWNERS OF HOUSE
AND COTTAGE PROPERTY.

Last evening, a public meeting of the members of the
Cottage Owners' Association, and of persons interested in
was held at the Swan Inn, London-road.

for the purpose of adopting measures to secure the exemi
tion of this borough from the operation of two bills n
before the House of Commons, and which have

reading in the House of Lords, the one ent
for regulating Buildings in large Towns
Act for the better Drainage of 1

The notice convening the meeting added—" As eit-(':

these measures must, If they should 1

affect both the owners and occupiers

erected, or hereafter to be built

land will be materially deteriorated, it is

that efficient means, to prevent the thre

immediately adopted."

meeting

was numerousl

attended

Mr. EDWARD FORD was called to the cl
stated the objects of the meeting, and expressed some regre
that the bills referred to had originated in the House G.
Lords, whereby they went into the Commons robed and
sanctioned by the authority of the upper house, he observed
that it had become the duty of owners, now that the legis-
lature was about to inflict restrictions upon and interfere
with their property, to represent their case to the House of
Commous. The chairman then proceeded to describe the
operation and effect of each bill, should they become the law.
The drainage bill, in the first clause, compelled the draining
of land upon which any house should be erected, previous to
the commencement of building, and even authorized the
razing of houses built without such drainage. Then the drains
were to be of such a depth and width, and of such a size, as
the commissioners under the act might require—a provision
which he considered both arbitrary and unnecessary. For
instance, in case of houses whose foundations were suffici-
ently dry, instead of being a convenience and an improve-
ment, it would be a nuisance, and the buildings would become
the haunts of rats and vermin. The second clause gave a
discretionary power to the commissioners to order and direct
that every house now built, or hereafter to be built, should
be drained in the same manner as required by the last clause.

Haviu

This was a very great discretionary power. The
they thought proper, enforce the drainage of eve

y might, if
y street in

the town