The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-14 00:00:00

NEILL'S REPORT ON DEAFNESS, WITH THE
MODERN MEANS OF CURE.

This well-timed report has reached a second edition,
which is on the eve of publication. The author deserves
great credit for the spirited and able manner in which be
addresses the body of his profession on the neglected de-
partment of ear-surgery. The expostulation seems to have
met with the heartiest approval of the members of the Me-
dical Association of Liverpool, to whom it was read, and by
whom it was distinguished by a special vote of thanks unani-
mously passed, and entered to Mr. Neill's credit in the re-
cords of their transactions.

The work is published at a price which places it within the
means of all but the impoverished of her Majesty's subjects;
arid as it is in an exceedingly readable form of expression,
and wonderfully free from technical slang, we recommend
every deaf or " deafish" individual to peruse it with the at-
tention which its energetic style is calculated to sustain.
What Mr. Neill designates " the modern means of cure,"
are exceedingly interesting. His mode of operating is de-
taied, and an ingenious commentary is made on the proba-
ble cause of a sudden death which occurred some months
since in London. The author's views strike us as infinitely
more just and pertinent than the " novel" and romance
" opinions" obtruded by the ex parte witnesses, who in-
dulged in a tissue of conjectures after the fact, when under
examination at the inquest. Oar own medical adviser, to
whom we showed the passage, is of the same opinion with
respect to the greater plausibility of Mr. Neill's surmises
over those of Surgeon Liston, the celebrated operator.
Operating surgeons have seldom been distinguished for their
knowledge and talent as physiologists ; at all events, so say
medical men themselves, if they are to be allowed to be
(what we greatly question that they are) either competent or
impartial judges of the endowments and shortcomings of
their rivals.

But our is with Mr. Neill individually, in con-
nexion with his Report on Deafness. It gives us pleasure to
bear testimony to the ease and adroitness with which he
passes a catheter (as the little silver instrument is called)
through the nostril and along the mysterious sort of a North
West Passage from the throat to the inner side of the drum
of the ear. What struck us as very odd was, that none of
the patients sneezed or complained of pain while the nosegay
was put up ! On this important and peculiar operation de-
pends the great and newly discovered chance 0f remedy or
cure in thousands of cases of deafness. One person's deaf-
ness or " dullness of hearing" is not necessarily the same,
either in kind or degree, as that of another. This inner pas-
sage that Mr. Neill explores, in the Institution, to which he
was appointed at the public meeting, and of which a report
appeared in this and all the local journals at the time—is
where the disease may be situated, and not in the outer pas-
sage. The operator has invited his professional brethren to
witness his handiwork. This is unusually liberal ; and it is,
we should think, one of the most convincing proofs to the
public that they are in safe hands with such a public manipu-
lator.

We had marked several passages from the exordium and
peroration of this brochure, as extracts for publication ; but,
on reconsideration, we withhold them. We can conscien-
tiously recommend the report to the public. Mr. Neill has
our best wishes for his success : enterprise and public spirit
are most praiseworthy.

TRADESMEN'S CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION

The quarterly meeting of the members of this association
was held on Wednesday evening, in the large room of the
Operative Conservative Association, Houghton-street. The
attendance was very large. In the absence of the worthy
president, Mr. S. Hohne, the chair was taken by Mr. Jos.
Cooper. In the course of the evening the meeting was ad-
dressed by the chairman, by Mr. Councilor Sands, Mr.
Glazebrook, and several other gentlemen. An address to
the Queen, congratulating her on her marriage with Prince
Albert, was unanimously adopted ; the address to be for-
warded to Lord Sandon (or, in his absence, to C. Cresswell,
Esq.,) for presentation to her Majesty. The meeting also
passed a vote of tllanks to the glorious minority of 287, who
so ably and zealously defended the best interests of the
country by their support of the motion of Sir J. Y. Buller.
The following is a copy of the address :
"TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. _

" We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the
members of the ' Liverpool Tradesmen's Conservative Asso-
elation,' beg most respectfully to approach your Majesty,
praying that your Majesty will graciously accept our heart-
felt congratulations upon the auspicious occasion of your
Majesty s alliance in marriage with his Royal Highness Al-
bert, Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha.
" Inspired with feelings of the most devoted loyalty and
affection to your Majesty, we rejoice in an event destined,
under the blessing of Divine Providence, greatly to promote
your Majesty's happiness, and to yield to your Majesty,
amidst the cares and responsibilities of your exalted station,
the purest enjoyments of domestic felicity.
" As Englishmen, we rejoice in your Majesty's union with
an illustrious Prince whose talents, virtues, and religious
principles render him worthy of the affection of our Queen.
As Protestants fervently attached to our most ancient na-
tional church, we anticipate from that union additional
strength and firmness to our Protestant institutions, fully
convinced that your Majesty's Royal Consort is imbued with
those principles which inspired his ancestors, amidst the
opposition of surrounding monarchs, with courage to protect
the persecuted Luther ; and we see in this selection by your
Majesty of a Royal Consort, the most distinguished proof of
your Majesty's devotion to the highest and most sacred in-
terests of your country.
" Whilst offering to your Majesty this humble tribute of
our loyalty and attachment, we fervently pray the Almighty
Disposer of Events that your Majesty and your Royal Con-
sort may enjoy, through years of unclouded happiness, the
richest blessings of His goodness; and that your Majesty
may long reign the " Defender of the Faith," and the guar-
dian of the rights and liberties of a free and loyal people.
" Signed, on behalf of the members of the Liverpool
Tradesmen's Conservative Association,
" SAML. HOLME, President."

PREJUDICES.—Every country has particular prejudices
with regard to accelerating personal improvements ; but,
with a few barbarian exceptions, a set of fine Teeth is an
object of general solicitude. The present age abounds in
useful and elegant discoveries (says an eminent member of
the faculty) but all yield in beauty and utility to ROWLAND'S
ODONTO, which, as an embellisher and preserver of the
Teeth, and consequent promoter of comfort and attraction,
is certainly the first Dentrifice of the present age.—M. S.
Memoranda of Modern Science.
DEMONSTRATION OF LOYALTY AT SEAFORTII.—We are
glad to learn, that, whilst other places were rejoicing in an
event which has caused sensations of loyal delight in every
town and village throughout the kingdom—the marriage of
our beloved Sovereign—the village of Seaforth took its share
in the loyal expressions of the day. Through the kindness
of their highly-respected and much-beloved pastor, the Rev.a
W. Rawson, after an address suitable to the occasionhd
been delivered by him, upwards of 200 children were
w__eh
enter-
tained with tea and buns, in the new school-roan, which
was 'various
was beautifully decorated with evergreens,
i_in.sed with
of Miss Rawson
the correct taste and well-directed exertions
descriptions, and other devices, all prepared and arranged arranged by
'United,
interest in the Sun-
and the ladies of Seaforth
day-school. After tea the
`have three cheer fors
some beautiful fireworks ; they thent
aoi‘g‘i'aewrehoennit.esrltaie
heohitladkreen
the Queen and the illustrious Prince
delighted with the bounty
provided returned to their homes much
provided for them, and, as
we hope, long to remember
the marriage of Queen Victoria.- an
occasion of great pleasure
Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint Colonel Fitzge-
rald to the consulship of Carthagena. This gallant officer
bad been for some time previously British consul at Port
Mahon.

FOURTH SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT AT THE
THEATRE ROYAL, LIVERPOOL,
FEB. 11, 1840.

Our notice of this Concert shall be brief; for, in good
sooth, we are disinclined to dwell on a subject that impar-
tiality dictates an estimate of its pretensions which must be
the reverse of pleasant or flattering to the parties concerned
in its management. We say so at once and explicitly. Such
general reasons, of many that we have to offer in support of
the exceptions which we conceive it incumbent to advance,
shall appear on the face of this critique—one, the truth and
justice of which we confidently think will be allowed by the
best of all possible judges in the matter, namely, the public
who were present.

First of all, we take exception at the "arrangement," and
also with three-fourths of the vocal music which composed
the " selections." We ask, was the one, or were the other,
in keeping with the occasion ? Why throw the onus of bet-
ter taste upon the public as was done by " arranging" as
last what—in honour of her Majesty's marriage, celebrated
the very day before—should have taken precedence of every-
thing else ? The public most becomingly, and with one
voice, demanded that the proposed " Finale" should be the
Overture, and accordingly the national and glorious anthem
of " God save the Queen" was performed. With the only
imperfection of being a little too sharp, it was finely
given : the drawback just instanced applied exclusively to the
vocalists. The instrumentation and tone of the accompani-
ment were better than faultless ; they were inspit ing as they were
perfect. While on this part of our animadversions, we may
observe that the instrumental was vastly superior to the
vocal department of the entertainments. Herrmann, add
every one of his instrumental assistants, without exception,
deserve the highest meed of praise. There was talent, but
little strength, as regards the band of vocalists. Individually,
they are doubtless able, and of unquestioned ability ; but
that is not the question. As a group, and as they stood in
relation to the point of " effect" and to each other, they
were decidedly meagre and inefficient. If these remarks be
unpalatable, they are, unfortunately, additionally offensive,
because of their truth. In a word, the concerts of next
season must be stronger and more concerted, in respect of
vocal performers of varied excellence and distinction, or
they cannot, and ought not, to be supported by the
public. Never were concerts more liberally patronized
than those which have come so tamely off. The audience
overflowed with their patronage to all parts of the house.
The scena " Mad Tom" was splendidly sung by Mr.
Machin, who has a fine, full-toned voice, which he works
from the proper place. Madame Stockhausen warbled a
German ballad with bird-like purity and finish, and Miss
Birch gave proofs of progressive and marked improvement.
She excels in Sacred Music, but can delight by her mode of
executing sweet sounds of a different class and character. As
pianist, the younger of the Miss Wellers has immense pro-
mise. Her fingering, and the decision and precision of her
style, attracted general attention. Both ladies were de-
servedly applauded.
We shall say no more in detail, as we agree with nine-
tenths of what fell from a contemporary, who has treated the
concert of Tuesday with marked forbearance. But in one
point we differ from him. It is with reference to the ungra-
cious and disgraceful reception which a flutist of established
reputation—we mean poor Monsieur Schneider—met with.
We blame the " arrangement" that placed him and his ab-
struse hyper-scientific composition so late in the bill of fare,
when the patience of the house was all but exhausted ; and
though we cannot excuse the rudeness of part of the audience,
which reflected on them rather than on the unpopular per-
former or peVormance ; yet Mons. Schneider may depend
upon it, that the " arrangement," rather than the house, was
to blame for the intolerance and hasty temper, &c.
In conclusion—be it repeated, the vocal entertainments
must he very much raised in their character next season, or
we unhesitatingly say the disposition to encourage concerts,
evinced by the liberal and patronising portion of the music-
lovers of Liverpool, is not met as handsomely as it ought to
be. What we have set down has been reluctantly forced
from us ; and as the Liverpool Standard has on every past
occasion, and as it desires on all future occasions to take
the more difficult side of praise rather than the easy and
ungracious one of censure, we appeal to our readers, and to
those who attended at the Theatre-Royal on Tuesday, to
bear concurrent testiniony to the justice and necessity which
characterise the exceptions thus unwillingly but truthfully
made.

CELEBRATION OF HER MAJ ESTY'S MARRIAGE AT CHOR-
LEY.—The inhabitants of Chorley were enlivened at an early
hour by a merry peal from the tower of the parish church,
which was repeated at various intervals during the day. At
five o'clock in the afternoon, about forty or fifty gentlemen
met at the Royal Oak Inn, to commemorate this most
auspicious event, R. Smethurst, Esq. in the chair. The
toast, " Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, and
his Royal Highness Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg," was
drunk with most enthusiastic cheers; -then followed those of
the Queen Dowager—the Duchess of Kent and the rest of
the Royal Family—the Duke of Wellington and the Army—
the Navy, the wooden walls of old England—her Majesty's
Ministers—the Clergy of the Town and Neighbourhood—and
the Magistrates of the County—which were all received with
due honours.

We understand that the splendid new steam-ship intended
for the transatlantic station, and now building by Messrs.
Wilson, of this town, is intended to be launched on the 6th
otlnext month. She is to be called the United States, and
will sail alternately with the Liverpool.

MARINERS' CHURCH READING ROOM.—We have been
favoured by the Committee of the Mariners' Church with a
report of the Seamens' Reading Room, which is situated at
the south end of George's Dock, and has been fitted up for
the benefit of the seamen, to afford them a comfortable shel-
ter whilst they read the publications which are provided for
them in the room. The value of such an institution must
be apparent to all who consider the condition of the seamen
while on shore, and we cordially recommend it to the notice
of the public.

THE PUBLIC CHARITIES OF LIVERPOOL.—We beg to
recommend the public charities of this town to the conside-
ration of the wealthy and the charitable. Onr readers are in
possession of the conditions on which the council has pro-
mised a gift of £lOOO to them, and we sincerely trust those
conditions on the part of the charities may he fulfilled. At
the council meeting on Wednesday the Mayor stated that a
tradesman had forwarded to him a donation of £lO for the
purpose, and that Mr. Ducrow, the spirited proprietor of
the Royal Amphitheatre, had undertaken to give the pro-
ceeds of one night's performance towards the same object.
We feel assured that these instances of generosity and public
spirit need only be known to be extensively imitated.

CONCERT AT THE TFMLARS' HAl.l..—Miss
concert, we beg to remind our readers, takes place on Monda)
evening next. We trust her friends will crowd the place
not only from the merits of the lady herself, but from the ex•
cellence of the music to be performed.

ROYAL Am P HITHEATRE.—Success continues to follow the
efforts of Mr. Ducrow, and we congratulate him on having
used the means and appliances for securing public support'
In every department the same finish and completeness is
visible as at the first, and in the grand spectacle which has
been represented this week, these attributes are eminently
conspicuous. By the way we ought to recommend our friends
to pay an early visit to the spectacle. They will be highly
gratified with its splendour, its grouping, and with its gene-
ral effect.

LIVER THEAERE.—Mr. T. D. Rice takes his benefit this
evening, and concludes his engagement to-morrow evening.
The house has been filled every night, tolerably substantial
proof of the popular taste for the_entertainments provided in
this little theatre.
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DIIMD.—The annual meet-
ing of the subscribers to the school, for the education of the.
deaf and dumb, will be held in the Royal Institution, on
Tuesday next. A public examination of the pupils will
afterwards take place, and one of them will speak an ad-
dress, in order to show the progress made by some of the
children in articulation. There are few things more interest-
ing than exhibitions of this nature, and we hope to see a
crowded attendance.

PORTRAIT OF PRINCE ALBERT.—We were yesterday fa-
voured with a view of the magnificent portrait of Prince
Albert, painted by express command by Mr. George Patten,
A.R.A., now exhibiting at Mr. Burland's Rooms, in Church-
street. It is the most successful of Mr. Patten's efforts, in
our opinion, as well as in the opinions of several of the
visitors with whom we have conversed. This is no mean
praise, considering the high reputation which Mr. Patten
enjoys as a portrait painter. It is considered an admirable
likeness : iudeea, the Morning Herald says " it is consi-
dered an excellent one by the illustrious personage who is
most interested in pronouncing an opinion." The picture,
independently of its fidelity, possess very high claims as a
work of art. We understand that between three and four
thousand ladies and gentlemen visited Mr. Burland's rooms
yesterday to inspect this splendid painting. It will only re-
main on view to-day and tomorrow.

A Common Hall was held in London on Friday last, and
a petition to the House of Commons to release the sheriffs,
and amend the law of libel, carried unanimously. Between
700 and 800 persons were present.

Government has resolved that the Mediterranean armed
steam-packets are in future to be stationed on the line for a
period of five years, instead of three, as heretofore.—Hamp-
shire Telegraph.

The banking institutions now in France are 15 in number,
viz., the Bank of France, with its four branches, and ten
provincial banks. The discounts effected by the whole of
these in 1839 amount to 1,633,000,000 f. £65,320,000, and
their circulation has been about 261,500,600 f., £10,160,000.
A NEW SCIENCE.—A. philosopher, who has travelled
much, and is a man of great experience, has discovered that
no bow-legged individual has ever been distinguished for
any extraordinary evidence of mental superiority.—American
paper.
The mansion house taken by her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, for a temporary residence, is No. 36, Bel-
grave-square, adjoining the. Duchess of Gordon's and Sir
John Shelley's. The mansion belongs to Lord Ingestrie,
who let the house last season to the rince of Capua. The
duchess will remove, it is understotohdr,eefrwo
einekßs.lcilkfinof.,ll.nmy
Palace to her new abode in about
Herald.
LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT.--TIMES LIVES, LOST.—On
the sth instant, Mr. Benjamin Kirkby, shoemaker, with his
Henry,
a youth about 19 years of age, a daughter named
Eliza, a little older, and a Mrs. Parker, wife of the son of
Colonel Parker, of Lancaster, who married about three years
ago, went on a shooting excursion on Ulverston Sands ; and,
being on a Scar named Ellwood, a little below the Chapel
Island, they were surrounded before they were aware by the
tide, which was about half past eleven o'clock, A.M. Their
perilous situation was •
first observed by Mr. Kirkby, who
called to the
Mr. K,,
rest of the party to ran for their lives, and fol-
low him.who had two large guns on his shoulders,
and to which he attributes his preservation, by keeping him
from being swept away, and acting as ballast,) with much
difficultyreached the Chapel Island ; but the others were
lost in the flood. Mrs. Parker, it was observed, clung to a
net stake, at which place she was found, when the tide re-
ceded, standing by, and grasping the stake. Mr. K.'s daugh-
ter was found the same afternoon, but the body of her bro-
ther has not yet been discovered. Mrs. Parker, who was
one of the unfortunate females, both in life and death was an
interesting looking young woman, about 22 years of age. She
is a native of Ulverston, and since her marriage has resided
with Mr. Kirkby's family. Her husband, who is much at-
tached to her, is at present living at Manchester, having,
since his marriage, lived only occasionally with his wife, but
supplied her with every .ripousite for her domestic comfort.
, —Kendal Mercury.