The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-06-24 00:00:00

T~ .a.: _

FASHIONABLE MUSIC.-NEW SONGS.

Oh give me new partners," by Miss Louisa H. Sher;dan.
" My very particular friend," words and music by Ditto.
"The charming woman," words and music by Mrs. Price
Blackwood. " The younger son," by Mrs. Smith. "The
good natured friend,' by C. J. D. Butler Danvers, Esq.

To attempt any criticism pf the above-named songs would be
about as absurd as to notice the effusions of Pitt-street Seven
Dials; nor should we have deemed them worthy of any, the
slightest comment, except as instances of the depraved taste of
their authors, and more especially of those (if any there be) who
will condescend to sing such vile substitutes for music. Much
has been said of late of the improving musical taste of the Eng-
lish public, but from the samples of composition now offered to
our notice it is evident that there is a class of composers (if in-
deed the compilers of such rubbish deserve the name) whose
object is, as much as possible, to corrupt musical taste. We do
not remember to have ever met with such trivial and insipid
stuff as these songs are made of, and this remark extends not
only to the music, but to the poetry, which affects to be of a
comic cast, but contains not one grain of fun or humour from
beginning to end. We know that there are men who will do
any thing for money, but that ladies should openly avow them-
selves the authoresses of words which would disgrace a half-
penny ballad, and music equally contemptible, is indeed as
astonishing as it is lamentable. We cannot reconcile our no
tions of feminine delicacy and refinement with the production of
such vulgar trash. What on earth can be the motive for bring-
ing these songs before the public we are unable to divine, for it
can hardly be expected that the most devoted admirers or re-
solute singers of comic songs can be satisfied with such abortive
attempts at drollery. Would that it were possible for musical
composition, like hand-writing, to be taught in six lessons; for
it strikes us that these perverters of the public taste stand in as
much need of rapid improvement as those whose cramped hand-
writing induces them to avail themselves of the instructions of
Mr. Lewis, the celebrated professor of caligraphy. But the
worst of it is, that genius cannot be taught in any number of
lessons ; it is a gift from above, which cannot be communicated.
That really good compositions are encouraged by the English
public, we utterly deny; for look into the windows of any music
shop, and you will seldom see anything of a much higher order
than the compositions we are now deprecating. The first evi-
dence of an improvement in our national taste must be the con-
signment of such rubbish to eternal oblivion. If such composi-
tions as these are even to be tolerated, we ought certainly to
wonder at nothing, although we were somewhat astounded that
the editor of the "Musical World" should recommend Balfe
(our rising composer) to forget Donnizetti, Vaccaj, and Meyer-
beer, and to take for his model, Mr. Barnet ! evidently imply-
ing that that gentleman is the most talented dramatic composer
we possess. Now Mr. Barnet has brought out a few rather good
things, but surely it can never be asserted that he has written
such music as his distinguished contemporary Bishop, who has
decidedly produced finer songs, and incomparably better con-
certed music, than any English composer who has ever yet ap-
peared before the public. We are quite ready to concede to
Mr. Barnet his due share of praise, as a second-rate composer,
but let him not, whilst we have amongst us such a writer as
Bishop, be proposed as a model to other candidates for musical
renown.

We cannot dismiss this subject without earnestly recommend-
ing the perpetrators of the songs whose titles head this article
to abandon altogether the work of composition ; or if they will
not do so, we conjure them at all events not to obtrude their
absurdities upon the public.

RAILWAY TUNNEL.—It is expected that the railway tunnel
in Lime-street, will be opened for the conveyance of passen-
gers about the 20th of next month; and we understand, that
notwithstanding the great expense of making the tunnel, the di-
rectors do not intend to make any additional charge in the fares.
NEW CHURCH AT AIGBURTH.—The building of the new
church at Aigburth proceeds rapidly, and it will, to all appear-
ance, be finished during the present summer. The architecture
is very neat, but from the softness of the stone (red sandstone,)
the ornaments will not resist the action of the elements for
many years.

THE IRISH MAIL—A petition has been lying. for signature
in the Exchange Newsroom for some days, praying that the ex-
periment of carrying the mail across the Irish channel from
Liverpool by contract, suggested in the Post-office report, may
not be made, and that the Dublin Post-office packets may be
continued upon their present footing.
LIVERPOOL Music-HALL.--We are much pleased to find,
that there is a probability of establishing a musical institution
worthy the character of the town. It seems evident, from the
prospectus, that the committee has not announced anything
which may be considered as a money-making affair. There cer-
tainly appears to a wish tending towards the encouragement
and promotion of one of the most intellectual and delightful
recreations. From information which we have gathered, it is
proposed (hut of course left to the shareholders) that a holder
of two shares will be entitled to an admission ticket for per-
manent concerts. We wish every success to the undertaking.
—Courier.

We learn with extreme satisfaction, that the cause of scrip-
tural education in our local schools has been warmly taken up
by the clergy of the established church. A public 'movement
is intended to be made in a few days, preparatory to founding
schools independently of the corporation, is which the whole
Bible shall be taught.

We recommend our pleasure taking readers to enjoy the treat
offered them by the Rhyl Steam-packet Company, who intend
sailing their new and beautiful steamer (Snowden) to that lively
little watering-place Rhyl. The scenery along the coast is
highly romantic, and the voyage seldom, if ever out of smooth
water.—See advertisement.

At the examination of the pupils of Messrs. Sorley, Great
George-street, on Wednesday last, prizes were awarded to the
following young gentlemen, for their proficiency in the various
departments of science and literature taught at the academy,
viz.:—Messrs. James Reppard, William Lenox, William
Austin, Frazer Sinclair, John Darby, Henry Walthew, George
Gardner, and Charles Bolton, Liverpool; Francis Sarsfield
and Michael Sarsfield, Woodside; Thomas F. Browne, Dublin;
Lawson Annesley, Belfast; and George Reeve Grant, Bar-
bados.—Correspondent.

NEW LINE OF RAILWAY FROM LIVERPOOL TO MANCHES-
TER.—We hear that a company is about to be formed for the
purpose of constructing a new railway between this town and
Jklanchester, and that a prospectus, setting, forth the advantages
of the line to the public, will be immediately issued. We un-
derstand several gentlemen of wealth and influence in Manches-
ter and the neighbourhood are concerned in the undertaking.
THE LIVERPOOL ANNUITANT SOCIETY.—This society held
its 37th anniversary on Friday last, at the Derby Arms Hotel,
Bootle, under the new and efficient management of the liberal
and spirited host, Mr. Heywood, who provided a inost excellent
dinner, which would have done credit to any establishment in
the town, while every possible care and attention was paid to
the comfort of the guests. When the festivities of the day were
ended the society proceeded to the nomination of officers.—Mr.
John Crowther, Church-street, being appointed president; Mr.
Thos. Kave, Castle-street, treasurer; Mr. C. Smith, Lord street,
and Mr. J. Robinson, Tarleton-street, stewards; and Mr. R.
Holden, Church-street, secretary. The object of the society is
to make a provision for the widows of its members, which, though
not very great, is sufficient to preserve the most destitute of
them from absolute want, and to add materially to the comforts
of those who, when bereft of their partners in life, had some
means of support still remaining to them. But beyond this, the
society contributes seasonably to the comfort of its aged mem-
bers also. The annuity it allows to widows is £2O per annum,
payable quarterly, and to members when sixty-five years of age,
£lO per annum. Of the former class (the widows) there are
now thirty-nine receiving its benefit, and of the latter (the aged
members) seventeen. The basis on which it rests is firm, having
a capital of little less than £lO,OOO, and its rules requiring from
its members subscriptions adequate to meet its annual demands,
so as to secure its advantages to those who may hereafter have
claims apon it. Any of the officers will be glad. to communicate
whatever information may be desired relative to the itstitu-
tion.

PRAISEWORTHY VIGILANCE.—About six weeks ago Batch-
eldor, the Liverpool Bridewell keeper, who has frequently dis-
tinguished himself by his vigilance and care in the execution
of his duty, saw, in the Weekly Dispatch, a description of two
young men named Henry Addison and William Harvey, who
had been committing a number of robberies in the neighbour-
hood of London under pretence of looking for genteel lodgings.
Their plan was—where they saw a card in the windows of a re-
spectable looking house—to request to look at the apartments,
and then one of them by pretending to be lame, or under pre-
tence of writing a note, &c., managed to get left down stairs
alone while the other went up to look at the bed-room, and dur-
ing the absence of the panies, by means of false keys, &c., to
plunder the room of any valuable property he could lay hands
on. Batcheldor conceiving, from the description given in the
paper, that they were two men who had lately been discharged
from Lancaster Castle, having been convicted along with their
father at our sessions in Jule, 1834, communicated his suspi-
cions to Waddington, the gaoler at Hatton-garden office, who
handed his letter to Mr. Laing, the magistrate, before whom
they were brought when apprehended. Upon their being ques-
tioned as to their previous conviction they denied the whole of
it. Mr. Laing, however, remanded them till Monday, the 13th
instant, to give time for Batcheldor to appear, and directed him
to go over to Hatton-garden to produce certificates of their
previous conviction, and identify their persons. On the prison-
ers being placed before the magistrates they denied all the rob-
beries with which they stood charged, or that they were ever
previously convicted. Batcheldor was then called forward, and
they appeared althost petrified with astonishment. After a few
minutes had elapsed they admitted the whole, and were com-
mitted to take their trial at Newgate. There were 23 cases
against them, 12 of which were sent to the grand jury, to which
the prisoners pleaded guilty on Saturday last, and it was inti-
mated they would be sent out of the country for life. Their fa-
ther, who was transported, is now in the penitentiary.

CASE OF SINGULAR DISTRESS.—On Tuesday Mr. Dowling,
the superintendent of the dpck police, received intelligence
from one of his men that he had met with six foreigners, all in a
state of exhaustion, and one of them suffering from sickness.
Mr. Dowling immediately had them sent for to his office, when
from his knowledge of languages, which have proved of eminent
service in his peculiar situation, he learned that they were Spa-
niards from Porto Cabello, and were all military officers. They
had joined with a great number of others under the command
of General Murillo, in an attempt to reform the state; their
forces, however, were defeated and dispersed : many were
shipped on hoard vessels then in the harbour fur various parts ;
the poor fellows whose hardships we are relating were put on
board the Tweed, bound for Liverpool, and which now lies in
the Queen's Dock. On their arrival here, on the 13th instant,
they were immediately sent on shore, and have wandered about
ever since without any means of subsistence except what they
derived from the casual charity of passengers. Mr. Dowling,
with a very humane and proper feeling, gave them a trifle for
present relief, and sent them with an officer to procure lodg-
ings, until he could lay their case before the Mayor. On Wed-
nesday, at the Police-office, at the conclusion of the dock busi-
ness, AIL Dowling addressed the bench on behalf of the six per-
sons, who were present, whom he stated were found upon the dock
quays on Tuesday afternoon in a state of exhausti. n from want
of food. Mr. Hall sent for the overseer, who on his arrival un-
dertook to take care of them for the present until he (Mr. Hall)
could see the consul for Venezuella. Their names are Louis
Ochoz, Blis Aspino, Diego (Mercado, Francisco Misc.', Fran-
cisco Carto, Francisco Cereso. One or two of them are almost
as dark as Africans, and the appearance of the majority not at
all prepossessing. Four of them, at least, carried atar y thing but
" the stamp of true nobility" on their countenances; and,
though we cannot but pity their destitute condition, physiogno-
mically speaking, they appeared four as genuine rapscallions
as we ever witnessed. The two others had the superiority of
mien of a better station, which once possessed no disguise and
no depression can eradicate. From the statement of the men,
it appeared that they, along with a number of others, had re-
volted against the government of Venezuela, and were made
prisoners. The government, as a punishment, dispersed them
to various countries by paying their passage out, with the cer-
tainty of death if they returned. Mr Hall strongly deprecated
the making England a Botany Bay for Spanish convicts.
a ,Alu. oLFF.-716 tnglish missionay Wlff eft Caro
set out on hit to'd! id the interior ofr Africo hasa. Hel meansi to
travel through AP:VEIN to Timbuctoo, and thence to the Cape
of food Hope: If be does not succeed in the latter part of his
plan, be vvill pl'oc6.ed from Tithbuctoo northwards, to Tunis or
-
6an paper,