The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-09-04 00:00:00

THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AND THE PRESS.

We are certainly not at all disposed to acquit the com-
mittee of the Philharmonic Society of a little shabbiness
in their treatment of the press generally, du.ing the past
week. So far as we are individually concerned, however,
we should probably have let the grievance remain a private
one between us and the society. If its leading spirits
think that they are independent of the journals of their
own town, be it so. We can still attend their meetings ;
and perhaps derive all the greater satisfaction from the

absence of any necessity to notice professionally the per-
formances. On personal grounds, therefore, we repeat
that we should not have adverted to the subject but we
are impelled to do so on public grounds, and for the
honour of the body to which we belong. We must pro-
tect ourselves from the supposition that any such trum-
pery matter as the limitation of the usual free admission
to any performance, can in the slightest degree disturb
our equanimity • or that wejeel any of that unworthy
bitterness, the ebullition of which on the part of a con-
temporary, has, we know, lowered the members of the
press of Liverpool in the eyes of their contemporaries in
the metropolis, and throughout the country. We must
protest against being ranked amongst those who would
cry " fire," because we are not invited to a feast ; or who
would prophecy the fall of every roof beneath which we
are not permitted to enter gratis. We can hear of
mayor's dinners without insinuating anything derogatory
to the excellence of his worship's champagne ; and write
critiques of performances, if we feel satisfied that our
readers desire us to write them, without snivelling, like
sulky boys, over the loss of a complimentary admission.
There is something, we conceive, derogatory to a respect-
able press in the fuss which has been made about this
paltry affair ; and we wash our hands of it altogether.
We protest too, most indignantly, against the suspicion
of any, the slightest, sympathy with that feeling which has
led the contemporary referred to in his publication of Sa-
turday last, almost to glory in having injuriously affected
the success of the society's meeting ; and to regard the
fact as a proof of the influence which he exercises over
the public mind.
" The further talk has been," he says, " that the report
which prevailed, as to the insecurity of the building and
the non-acceptance of the Mail's challenge to the com-
mittee to publish a certificate of its safety from a competent
architect, constituted the great reason of the failure of
the meeting."
We can assure our contemporary that there has been
no such " further talk ;" but that " the talk has been"
anything but such talk as would have gratified him to hear.
The talk, in fact, has been that if the Mail had been pre-
sented with two tickets for each performance at the Phil-
harmonic Festival instead of only one, we should have
heard not a word from him about the insecure roof of the
hall, nor a syllable of censure of any portion of the per-
formances.

COURT AND FASHION.

BALMORAL.—Sunday being the birthday of Prince Al-
bert, it was celebrated on Monday. At three o'clock the
Highland games commenced, at which her Majesty gave
prizes to the most successful competitors in throwing the
" hammer," the " stone," the " caber," and in " run-
ning." Afterwards the " Wizard of the North" had the
honour of performing before her Majesty. Lady Port-
man, the Hon. Miss Portman, Viscount Jocelyn, and Dr.
Robertson had the honour of joining the royal dinner
party. In the evening her Majesty gave a ball to the te-
nantry and servants of the estate of Balmoral.
Viscountess Jocelyn has left Balmoral, and has been
succeeded as Lady in Waiting by the Marchioness of
Douro.

INTENDED MARINE TRIP OF THE COURT TO THE
MEDITERRANEAN.—The Weekly Chronicle says that her
Majesty, accompanied by Prince Albert, the Prince of
Wales, and the leading members of the Court, intends
taking a trip up the Mediterranean next year, and hon-
ouring with a visit, during her marine excursion, some of
the southern isles. An intimation of the Sovereign's
determination has been thus early communicated to the
authorities, both in England and abroad, whose services
are indispensable to a royal tour.
The Commissioners of National Literature in Ireland
have forwarded to Buckingham Palace a beautifully-bound
set of the elementary works in use in their schools for the
Prince of Wales.

Viscount Hardinge arrived on Tuesday on a visit to the
Marquis of Londonderry, at their marine residence in the
county Antrim, where a select party is assembled.
THE BOTTLE TRICK PERFORMED BEFORE THE QUEEN.
—On Monday, (Prince Albert's birthday,) during the
festivities at Balmoral, the Wizard of the North (Profes-
sor Anderson) was present, and was asked if he would
perform the feat they had heard so much of his having
done successfully—" The Inexhaustible Bottle." On
receiving the royal command to perform it, he called for
a champagne bottle, and handed a large number of glasses
round, and asked Lord Portman what he would drink.
His lordship replied whisky. Whisky was poured out.
Mr. Anson preferred brandy, which he got. Several de-
manded wine, which passed freely ; and one of the pro-
prietors of the Royal Distillery, Mr. Begg, thinking to
baffle the Professor, asked him if he could give him a
glass of his best Lochnagar whisky. No sooner said than
done ; and the Lochnagar whisky became in great demand.
A large number of additional glasses were distributed,
and some called for Irish whisky, numbers brandy—the
Highlanders patronised Mr. Begg ; when Lord J. Russell,
perhaps, like Mr. Begg, wishing to try the Wizard's skill,
asked for a glass of rum, which was immediately supplied,
and his lordship pronounced it excellent. The London
portion of the domestics and police called loudly for their
native gin, which was freely poured out of this extraordi-
nary bottle; and the Wizard was returning to his state,
when his Royal Highness, anxious to test the bottle—
presuming, as he was returning, that it was exhausted—
asked if more could be poured out. Glasses were brought
for her Majesty and Prince Albert, and, on being asked
what they preferred, requested Begg's best Lochnagar,
which immediately ran forth, and her Majesty and the
it, lt. the 'WI- •
zard gave the bottle to the Prince, and asked him to look
if it was empty ; it was, Mr. Anderson brought some
water, and, in the Prince's hand, filled it, ordered glasses.
and asked the Prince what wine he preferred. Port was
selected. The Prince poured port, and then sherry, then
milk, then champagne, then broke the bottle, and in it
was discovered a beautiful turtle dove.

IRELAND.

The Limerick Examiner prints the names of 750 per-
sons evicted, in Clare, from the properties of four land-
lords.

Amongst the deaths announced in the Cork journals is
that of Lieutenant Morgan, R.N., who died at Ballinco-
lig, on Thursday, after receiving from the Admiralty, the
evening before, a medal and clasps for his services.
LORD STANLEY.—Lord Stanley has visited his estates
in the county of Tipperary, and expresses approval at
the improvements on his lane. The noble lord, who is
known as the best of landlords, is entertaining a large
circle at his hospitable mansion, Ballykisteen.
A COFFIN-MAKER'S BILL. James Meara, coffin-
maker for the Nenagh Union Workhouses, on Thursday
sent in a bill to the Nenagh Board of Guardians for eleven
hundred and thirty coffins, furnished by him from the
25th of last March to the 25th of July l—just four months.
On Monday, the bailiffs in custody of the property of a
farm at Lahorna, Tipperary, were fired at from behind a
quick set hedge, and one of them was severely wounded,
receiving the whole discharge of slugs in his knee and
thigh.
A young boy, named Thady Connell, in service near
Limerick, hanged himself, on Thursday week, with a dog
chain. Ho had witnessed the execution of three criminals
in Limerick on the previous Saturday, and was frequently
heard to say, " I would like to know how people feel
when they are hanging."
On Sunday several hundred men and women assembled
at Mrs. Wolsley's farm, in the county of Carlow, and cut
down the oats, wheat, &c., and removed it from the
farm. The cattle and other property were under seizure
for two years rent, but the late act prevents the growing
crop from being seized, and when the crop is cut down
on Sunday no seizure can be made.—On the same day,
400 persons, with sixty horses and carts, assembled on
another estate, near Nenagh, and cut and carried away
the grain crops. Several other similar occurrences have
taken place in other districts. So proceeds the crusade
against the payment of rent.
PROGRESS OF THE " SOCIAL REVOLUTION."—An en-
tire change seems to be coming over the spirit of the Irish
press. It is but a few days since that an earnest and able
advocate of Young Irelandism flung " revolution" to the
winds, and resolved henceforward to confide in English
justice for the concession of such measures as would tend
to the practical amelioration of the condition of that
country. And now an organ of high Toryism and
Orangeism (the Fermanagh Recorder) enters the arena,
and, casting off the old leaven, calls upon the Protestants
of Ulster to be no longer ashamed of being classed among
the "mere Irish,"—to forget their Saxon descent, and
feel a just pride, in common with their Celtic brethren, in
being natives of one soil. Political priests, of both creeds,
are denounced with an impartiality which is positively
marvellous, considering the source whence the strictures
emanate.

SERIOUS CONFLICT.—A serious conflict took place at
Leghorna, on Thursday se'nnight, between some tenants
who had been ejected from Mr. Scott's property in that
locality, and whose houses had been pulled down, and a
party of caretakers who were engaged to mind the crops.
Two of the caretakers or bailiffs, whose names are
Roughan and Hogan, both from Nenagh, were so fright-
fully wounded that no hopes are entertained of their re-
covery. It appears that about eleven o'clock at night a
strong party came on the lands with horses and carts, and
attempted to carry off the corn : in this they were resisted
by the caretakers and by the workmen and sons of some
of the families who were left unevicted. A fearful scene
ensued. Reaping hooks and spades, scythes and guns,
were used by the combatants, who in the darkness dealt
their blows indiscriminately, wounding alike friends and
foes. Several gunshots were fired during the conflict.
Ultimately the party who were in care of the corn suc-
ceeded in beating off the others. Hogan got a slug in his
knee ; Roughan also received a gun-shot wound ; and both
now lie in the greatest danger. Of the assailants seven
have been arrested by the police, and a great many have
fled through fear of arrest.

IRELAND AND CONCILIATION.

(Extract from the Dublin Evening Mail.)

There is a certain "Archdeacon Fitzgerald," parish
priest of Ballingarry, who lives at a place called Knockard,
from whence he administers some hard knocks to land-
lords and gentlemen of all Protestant denominations.
This priest thought it right the other day, in conjunc-
tion with some half-dozen others of the same cloth, to get
up an address to the Queen, from the well-instructed
flock of the archdeaconry of Upper Connelloe, to the
effect annexed.

The enormous lying of the following statement is not
more conspicuous than the rancorous malevolence which
gives them utterance .—" The Church of the thousands is
at this moment rioting in the spoils of the Church of the
millions. The sacred edifices and endowments founded
by the piety of our Catholic ancestors are now in Protes-
tant hands, and whilst the clergy of what is emphatically
the national religion are left to subsist on the alms of our
impoverished people, there is maintained in the empty or
half-empty churches of a Protestant fraction of the people
the most gorgeous and wealthy establishment in the world.
The great bulk of that overgrown wealth is extorted in