The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-08-14 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

The morning was fine—as, indeed, was the whole day
—and the park was much more numerously attended than
on either of the preceding days. The shops in the town
were all closed at four o'clock, and the remainder of the
day was devoted to a general holyday. On the Thursday
all places of business were abandoned at noon, and the
town wore the quiet appearance of a sabbath day.
On this day the inner park with its picturesque little
lake was an approved popular resort. Lilliputian sailing-
matches, the small model sloops to which we have re-
ferred, took place at intervals. The boathouse, which
overhung the lake, was graced by the plentiful presence of
many well-dressed ladies, who added their charms to the
great natural beauty of the scene. A man dressed in a
newly-patented life-apparatus spent several hours in the
lake each day. He swam about in every direction, show-
ing the sustaining power of the material in which he was
cased by various gyrations. The apparatus was a species
of black clothing, with some bulky air-tubes fitting in the
breast. His appearance was more like that of a marine
monster than a human being, and there were many won-
dering inquiries from ladies who did not see him enter,
"Oh ! what is that ?" This life-preserver is the inven-
tion of Mr. Ryder, of New York, and the apparatus was
brought to Liverpool by Captain Samuel Yeaton, of the
Fidelia, one of whose men, Charles Anderson, was the
operator within it. It is capable of floating five men, and
carrying provisions for one man for six days. Previous to
the Fidelia sailing, a man descended from Abini to New
York in it.

Numerous old English sports and pastimes took place
on this day. The " events," which had been arranged to
" come off" hourly, were six in number. The first was a
grand foot hurdle race, the while length of the course, a
distance probably of 200 yards, midway of which crossed
a rope, raised to a height of between four and five feet.
For this event a " good field" was brought to the " post,"
there being no less than seven competitors, several of
whom were " professional" runners, and appeared in
racing garbs, adorned with ribbons. The preliminaries
being arranged, the word "go" was given, and away went
the men, each sanguine of success. The rope, constituting
the leap, appeared to be no little drawback to some who
would otherwise perhaps have " shown well up at the
finish ;" and thus those who excelled in leaping were
placed upon an equality with others " more swift of foot."
The struggle was brilliant, and the race throughout well
contested by those who had the good luck to clear the
hempen barrier. Between the two first men there was
but a short distance at the coming in ; but the prize was
awarded to a non-professional.—A sack-race created
boisterous fun and roars of laughing. Each man, attired
in his sack, was taken to the starting point, and, upon
order being given, left to his own way of reaching the
other end of the course as best he could. The qualifi-
cations most necessary in this undertaking were jumping
and wariness; for those who manifested the greatest dis-
play of the latter quality, like the generality of those who
advance themselves in the race of life, although their
progress might be slower than that of their competitors,
gained, by precaution, of a fall upon their rivals, although
but few escaped a tumble in their course. The " accidents
by the way" constituted the chief fun, each fall, and the
attempts to rise again, creating much merriment amongst
the spectators.—A race blindfold proved not less attractive
and amusing. The competitors at the " starting post"
were duly bandaged, and excluded the light of day, and,
like doctor's physic, after being well shaken and turned,
wore told to " go," The principal point upon which suc-
cess depended here, was, keeping on a straight line within
the centre of the course, for on each side ropes were
crossed, so that all who ran awry fell over them ; and
several had the ill luck to do so, as well as others who fell
upon the flat, but, unlike the gentlemen in sackcloth they
were no sooner down than up again ; but each fall tended
to render them more confused as to the quarter in which
to steer, and many of them totally confounded the point
of the compass, and instead of going forwards, went direct
across the course, to their no small surprise, when told
that the race was closed. A number of races similar to
the previous ones followed, to the great amusement of the
numerous spectators.—Near to the ground had been
planted two well greased tall poles, the top of one being
adorned with a splendid fat leg of mutton, and from the
other was suspended a real waterproof chapeau, of the
very newest style and make; and the position in which
they were placed said, as plainly as it was possible to make
a hat or a leg of mutton say—" We are here for the fetch-
ing." It was not long before the tempting invitation was
accepted ; and a young man from the crowd, of a more
"lean and hungry look" than the majority present, stimu-
lated, doubtless, with the desire to luxuriate once in his life-
time upon boiled mutton and capers, essayed to bring down
the prize, amidst the suppressed laughter of the bystand-
ers, who fully expected that, when he reached the slippery
ground, he would slide down again. But he was an " old
hand " at the game, and on arriving at the touchous point
fastened slings to his feet, and so readily obtained the top,
bringing with him the reward of his labour. Another
youth, prompted by pride, or a desire to appear respect-
able among his fellow artizans, adopted similar means to
reach the hat, and did so quite as expeditiously as had the
other, but on getting the object of his desire within his
grasp, he incautiously divested himself of the slings, hav-
ing the hat between his teeth, and commenced a rapid, and,
as be supposed, triumphant course downwards : but alack
the mishap ! the hat was held by a long string, which
proved stronger than the teeth, the prize remained sus-
pended in mid-air, and the experimentalist reached the
ground amid the roars of the bystanders. The hat was
drawn to the original place, and the same youth again as-
cended, and returned with- his efforts crowned with per-
fect success. Not any amusements contributed more to
the,enjeyment and jollity of the afternoon than the rural
sports.
The scene on Friday was, throughout, the most gratify-
ing that can be conceived, and completely defies descrip-
tion. One of its most pleasing features was the complete
fusion of classes in the multitudes which thronged every

part of the Park. Here might be seen mingled together
in the unrestrained enjoyment of the drolleries of Punch
and his Dog Toby, the wealthy merchant, the tradesman,
the artizan, and their fair wives or buxom daughters.
There were to be seen the same cordial amalgamations to
watch the antics of the Fantocinni or to listen to the
strains of the Lancashire Bellringers. The refreshment
tents resounded with harmless merriment during the whole
of the day; what dozens of porter, what rounds and hams
must have been consumed, we dare not attempt to guess
at, but when we state that at the close of the day, lavish
though the preparations had been, and continual as had
been the additions arriving from hour to hour, the supply
of porter was exhausted in many of the tents ; nearly the
whole of the bread in the neighbourhood had been con-
sumed; and one messenger, sent out for a supply, ineffec-
tually went down the whole of the Park-road, arid came
back with a stock of buns from Fisk's shop in Berry-
street. It was amusing too, at the close of the day, when
appetites began to be whetted, how completely in the
Champetre or Pic-nic style refreshments were partaken of
by all classes. An empty barrel head served many a gay
party for table. Alas ! table-cloths were out of the ques-
tion, and tent-pegs, railings, &c. &c. formed seats
to correspond. Pint and quart pots were the prevailing
drinking vessels, and fingers the forks of many a party,
more familiar with the chrystal flask and the four-pronged
silver article. Yet with all this consumption of eatables
and drinkables, this mixture of ranks, and what the fas-
tidious would call the accompanying disagreeable*, we
witnessed nothing partaking of the character of excess,
and no real and offensive forgetfulness, on the part of the
humbler classes, of their proper position, and no pre-
sumption upon the immunity created by the occasion.
Towards the slightest suggestion, and towards every
regulation of the Committee, the greatest deference, ac-
companied by personal respect, was manifested. His
Worship the Alayor, especially, was received, in whatever
part of the grounds be presented himself, with the greatest
enthusiasm, not the less cheering to, him, after and in the
midst of his arduous labours, that it was expressed by
looks from glad eyes,lrather than in words and uproarious

approbation. As president of the rural sports, this day,
his Worship's judicious regulations, with the exertions of
his colleagues, were most conducive to the great success
and attractiveness of this-part of the performance.
We may mention here an incident which occurred
during the evening, most. expressive of the wish of the fre-
quenters of the fair to abstain from anything which could
do injury to the property of its generous owner, Mr.
Yates. The little bowling-green, with its sloping grassy
banks, forming a kind of amphitheatre, was a favourite
resort; and many a gamesome prank was performed there
by the young folk, both lads- and lasses. At one period,
however, some three or four thoughtless boys, feeling,
doubtless, the excellence of th'e sod for the purpose, com-
menced a leaping match. At the simple remonstrance of
a gentleman present,—" shame, boys ! remember this is
Mr. Yates's private bowling-green,"—the game was given
up, and no doubt the little injury done by heel-marks
heartily repented of.
One of the finest scenes, presented to-day, was that to
be observed immediately on. entering from the Windsor
gate, a little before you approached the Ladies' Tents.
In the far distance were seen the Welsh Hills, towering
above the Cheshire shores, Frodshatn, and its neighbour-
hood,
and the Woods of Eastham, and Brornboroagh
Pack; with, nearer, the broad river, placid as a lake, and
glittering in the sunbeams, seen in glimpses through
openings in the luxuriant shrubberies, and the church
and spire of St. Paul's adding a devotional feature to the
picture. Immediately below was a moving panorama of
human beings, of every class, from the gaily dressed
ladies of our wealthy mercantile aristocracy, to the
humbler, yet well-clad artizans. The flags flying from
the numerous tents, booths, and marquees, the music of
a dozen bands, resounding- from every quarter of the park,
streams of people continually emerging from every avenue,
and encircling all, the lanes, the walls, every available
height, every house-top and acclivity which could com-
mand a view, crowded with figures, assembled to witness
the ascent of the noble balloon, looming over the crowded
park, gave a life and contrast to the whole scene, which
must have enraptured every lover of the picturesque and
beautiful.
The FIREWORKS, which closed the spectacles of the
evening, and which were looked forward to with great
interest, were fixed to go off in a picturesque valley, lying
to the southward of the Park, and overlooked by one of
the gravelled drives. These were under the able super-
intendence of the talented pyrotechnic artist, Mr. John
Atkins, of the Zoological Gardens, whose name alone
would have been a guarantee of their excellence. The
valley in question is of some extent, reaching from near
the railing at the Windsor end of the Park to the Aigburth
gate; and in about a central portion of it, a neat wooden
cottage, in a mixture of the old English and Gothic style,
had been erected, partly to hold the various fireworks,
and partly to serve for their display. The programme of
the exhibition is far too long, and the supply was far too
profuse for us to give it here. We shall therefore only
say that it was excellent throughout, and enumerate a few
of the displays which pleased us most.
The first striking effect was produced by a display of
Bengal lights, illuminating the whole of the valley, first
with white, next with green and finally with scarlet
fire. The effect was magnificent. The shells were beau-
tiful throughout, their falling showers of various coloured
fires eliciting by their grace and brilliancy the loudest
applause. The rockets, with coloured fires, were likewise
very beautiful. A mechanical piece,—the chase of the
butterflies by the fiery serpents,—was one of the finest
things we have seen. A temple with decorated scrolls,
containing the words " Charity : thanks to all friends'„
elicited unqualified admiration. The grand concluding
tableau, the great temple of fire, however, was the chef
d'oeuvre. It was fifty feet high, and of elegant design,
surrounding the words " God save the Queen," in letters
of white fire, the supports being wreaths of laurel leaves
in green fire, with centre surmounted by a crown in
coloured fires, concluding with boquets of Roman candles,
throwing coloured stars in every direction, and a bom-
bardment of shells, saucissons, and mines of serpents.
This was truly splendid, and closed the festivities, leaving
gratification at its highest point. We ought not to omit
that the juvenile band of the Industrial School were
stationed on the ground, and played beautifully during the
display.
The company at the close moved out of the various
gates in solid columns, which continued pouring along the
lanes and streets, and gradually filing off until each party
arrived at their separate homes. We have not heard of a
single accident occurring during the whole week's festivi-
ties, though at a very moderate calculation considerably
more than 100,000 persons must have visited the exciting
scene.
Amongst the parties whom we observed on one or other
of the days, were Lord and Lady Cathcart, Lady Adelaide,
General Sir William Warre, William Brown, Esq., M.P.,
Mrs. Graham (the lady of the bishop), and Chancellor
Raikes. J. S. Entwistle, Esq., high-sheriff of the county,
was also, we believe, present on Friday.
It is only right to mention that Mr. Lynn's contri-
butions consisted of 150Ibs. of cakes, of various kinds;
1201bs. of lobsters and 141bs. of anchovies, for lobster
sandwiches; 2 tons of ice; stock for the jellies ; and fruit
for the ice creams. He also furnished the knives and
forks, table-cloths, glass-cloths, and the tea and table
spoons ; and made, during the week, using the sugar and
currants that were required which had been given by
various tradesmen, 160 quarts of ice creams ; 150 quarts
of jellies; 60 gallons of punch ; 3400 buns; 10 large bun-
loaves; 200 gallons of lemonade; 100 sponge-cakes; and
501bs. of cakes, of various kinds. In addition to the ser-
vices of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, and the greater part of their
establishment, they were assisted by several kind friends,
who had offered their assistance for the occasion.