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 be
produced during Miss Romer's engagement, backed by
tragedy and piedes 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 au 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 by 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. Greatness
was riot 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 ii very large size, and most beautifully and
elaborately finished. It contains 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 immedi-
ately following the placing of the crown upon the head of the
youthful Sovereign, by His Grace, the 4rchbishop 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 Family
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 requires some
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 left 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
Mary Grimstone, Lady Barham, and many others. These
portraits, beautiful 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 the 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
Family.

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, relative 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 SESSlONS.—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 such 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. ----
(Writtenfor 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, ruzy
be acceptable, particularly as it is hoped that should the in-
termediate weather be favourable for the operations 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 t!te rains
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 Tranmcre 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 tide 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 arc 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 Tranmere embankment. The
permanent rails are 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
terries, 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 earthwork
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 formations, as well as on other parts of the line,
are of English or Welsh fir of a large size, a durable timber
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 to 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, to a ceatain extent, to strengthen
the bridge from its foundation upwards. it is now, however,
the opinion of the engineers, that the embankment has sunk
to the solid substratum, and that consequently no fnrther
difficulty will be experienced 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.