The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-03 00:00:00

GRAND BAZAAR AT WOOLTON HALL.

The advantage of the institution of bazaars in this coun.
try of late years, for the promotion of spiritual and moral
benefits amongst the poor, and by which the benevolence of
the more fortunate classes in society, and, in particular, the
taste, ingenuity, and perseverance of our fair countrywomen
have been excited to a most praiseworthy degree—was never
more happily illustrated than by the grand Fancy Fair which
commenced at Woolton Hall on Wednesday last, with a
spirit which remained unabated throughout yesterday, and
which, we trust will mmtisius to manifest itself on this, the
closing day, when the whole, as well as the beautiful grounds
attached to the hall, will be accessible td the public at a very
moderate charge of admission.

The object of the bazaar, which originated in the warm
wishes of the wealthier individuals in the neighbourhood in
behalf of the poor in particular, is the building of schools
and a parsonage-houie, in connection with the new church
in Halewood, and the paying off of some outstanding claims.
The propriety and generosity of such a purpose was imme-
diately acknowledged throughout the vicinity of Halewood,
and a comparatively very brief public announcement has al-
ready produced results even more gratifying than were an-
ticipated by the most sanguine originators of the project.
The patronesses of the bazaar are her Majesty the queen
Dowager, the Right lion. the Countess of Sefton, Lady
Stanley, and Lady Frances Egerton and the Hon. Mrs. C.
Stanley and Mrs. Bootle Wilbraham.

The-Ashton family, of Woolton, on this as on all possible
occasions, evinced their good feeling and liberality, not only
by their contributions and individual exertions towards the
required funds, but by their freely giving for the holding of
the bazaar the use of the suite of rooms, and the serFices of
their domestics, at the hall, doubtless at considerable expense
and sacrifice of personal convenience ; and the central and
attractive situation of that fine building was itself a great and
welcome acquisition to the committee:of management. They
did even more. Mrs. Ashton, in order to afford an addi-
tional attraction, threw open the beautiful pleasure grounds
attached to her mansion for the recreation of the public who
might attend, and-the treat, hitherto gratefully acknowledged
by all, will, we trust, be this day enjoyed by many of our
townsmen and fair townswomen who have not had an oppor-
tunity of being present. We can assure them of meeting
with a treat, not only as regards the bazaar itself, but its
whole accompaniments, which, held at a fine old English re-
sidence, where every one is welcome who goes to contribute,
however small the gift, to the object in view, partakes of all
the pleasures of a fete champetre, combined with the grati-
fying reflection to the visitors, that, in the self gratification
of the moment, they are doing good to others.
The morning of Wednesday was exceedingly unfavourable
for the bazaar, particularly as regarded parties in this town,
or at a similar distance from the spot. The rain fell heavily
in almost continuous showers until nearly mid-day, and a
large number of persons were doubtless under the necessity
of relinquishing their intention to attend, their time for so
distant a journey being then too limited. Towards noon,
however, the day brightened up, and though the weather
continued to be occasionallly cloudy and threatening, no fur-
ther downfall took place, and the company, in numerous
carriages, on horseback, and on foot, continued to poor in
from all quarters. The rooms eventually became crowded,
even to inconvenience. The sole entrance was by the lodge
gate, in the village of Woolton, and the fine drive thence
through the fields to the ball, on several occasions during
the day, presented an almost constant line of carriages.
Ashton Hall, it will be known to many of our readers, is a
fine English mansion, of red free-stone, built in the Grecian
style. The principal front is to the east, overlooking a de-
lightful expanse of country in that direction. The wings are
surmounted by pediments, and the porch is semicircular,
with a colonnade. Between the upper and lower windows of
the wings are inserted classical medallion representations in
alto, circular in form, and white. Similar ornaments are
inserted in the entablature of the centre portion of the build-
ing. The north front, facing a lawn, is of greater extent.
The centre is slightly in projection, with a pediment, which
is surmounted by three statues, continuous with which are
decorative urns. These being white, contrast well with thu
dark hue of the stone of which the building is constructed.
The drawing-room forms a handsome one story wing or con-
tinuation of this front to the westward, in which direction it
has two large pedimented windows, with two three-quarter
tinted composite columns at each end, surmounted by a hand-
handsome cornice with trygiits. The west front of this
drawing-room, which looks out upon a beautiful lawn, backed
by noble and varied forest trees, is the most ornamental por-
tion of the building. A marquee was on this occasion pitched
opposite to it for the accommodation of the visitors.
The rooms became thronged soon after one o'clock, and
presented an array of beauty and fashion rarely witnessed on
such an occasion. We need scarcely say that all the gentry
of the neighbourhood, or portions of their families, were pre-
sent, for all took a warm interest in the bazaar, and slight
differences of opinion were merged in the generous object of
this " gathering of the clans."
Amongst many others whom we did not recognize, or
could not distinguish in the gay and joyful throng, were
(and we note them promiscuously) :
. . . _

Miss Hornby, fiom Knowsley, who arrived in the family
carriage ; _ _

Mr:Sandbach and family,
Mrs. Earle, of Spekelands ;
Mr. and Mrs. Langton,

Mrs. Ashton,
Mrs. H. Ashton,
Mrs. Jones,
Mrs. Leicester,
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rathbone,
The Misses Lace, of Throstic-Nest;
Mr. and Mrs. Win. Fletcher,
Mr. Walter Fletcher,
Mr. and Miss Maxwell and Miss Boyd,
Miss Formby,
Miss Fanny Williams,
Mr. James Bonnie,
Mr. James Rigby,
Mr. and Mrs. Phipps,
Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence,
Miss Fanny Willis,
Mrs. Edward Willis,
Mr. and Mrs. Bright,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Booth,
Mr. Robert Neilson,
The Rev. Mr. Lister,
The Rev. Jabez Jones, the minister of Halewood Church ;
Mr. Joseph Need Walker,
Mr. Alderman Earle,
Mr. Henry Lawrence,
Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Barclay,
Mr. Heyes, of Prescot, coroner, and family ;
Mr. Pemberton, of Prercot ;
Mr. Pattisor. Ellames, of Allerton Hall;
Mr. George Fleetwood, of Tarbuck ;
Mr. Moss, of Halewood ;
Misses Willis, of Halsnead ;
Mr. Lamb, surgeon, of Walton ;
Mr. Pearson, surgeon ; and many others.

The suite of rooms appropriated to the bazaar were—the
dining room, a fine lofty apartment, panelled in oak, and
hung with oil paintings belonging to the family ; the tapestry
room, adjoining ; and the drawing room, in which the re-
freshments were served. The carriages, on setting down,
drove on past the house, by a continuation of the avenue,
into the high road below, so that they did not require to
drive in contrary directions on the ground.
On entering, the visitors were ushered into the hall—a
spacious apartment, flagged with blue-veined marble, in
which there were sofas and chairs for the accommodation of
the guests when fatigued. Immediately opposite the door
there was a.beautiful collection of flowers in pots, consisting
of fine geraniums, myrtles, moss-roses, fuchsias, and a great
variety of rarer greenhouse plants, amongst which we ob-
served two fine specimens of the egg-plant in full bearing.
These were on sale, and were ticketed at very moderate
prices. There were also beautiful bouquets of flowers in
water. Here, for want of room in the larger apartments,
were also several articles of handiwork, amongst which was
a well-made " bazaar" in miniature, held under a tent, with
stalls plenished with numerous minute articles, and a goodly
company making their purchases or conversing in groups.
This, being a large article, it was purposed to dispose of it by
lottery. Near it were a variety of useful utensils turned in
white wood—plates, spoons, bowls, rolling-pins, &c., which
met a fair demand in the market. The hall was throughout
the day the happy scene of meeting of numerous parties who
had not seen each other for some time, and the introduction
to each other of many who, no doubt, from that day and
occasion, may date the commencement of a friendship to be
prolonged with mutual ardour for years yet to come.

It were beyond both our limits Sand our power to describe
minutely the company congregated at the bazaar, or the vast
variety of articles exposed for sale at the hour of " high
change." The scene was at once beautiful and interesting.
The ladies, at all times charming, looked doubly beautiful,
when, with sparkling eyes, and kind (we may add irresistible)
invitations to purchasers, they were busily engaged in the
work of benevolence which they had undertaken. Each
seemed to exert herself as if the whole success of the fair
depended upon her alone ; yet, unlike mercantile competi-
tors in the ordinary walks of like, no jealousy was manifested
amongst them ; on the contrary, they all assisted each other,
and if one faied to effect a sale to a passer-by, she was as
much delighted at the success of a more fortunate sister
vendor as if it were her own. The stalls or tables were very
large, and were arranged so as to leave a space in the centre
for the company. They were assiduously attended to by the
following ladies and their assistants :
Mrs. Ashton,
Mrs. \\Talker,
Mrs. Foster,
Mrs. Ambrose Lace,
Mrs. W. Earle,
Mrs. R. Earle,
Mrs. Jones, and
Mrs. Leicester.

Amongst the various articles exposed, were numerous
beautiful specimens of needle-work in silk and worsted, ex-
hibited in embroidery and tapestry, cushions, footstools,
chairs, reticules and bags, slippers, caps, pictorial represen-
tations of flowers and figures ; silk patchwork, fire-screens and
hand-screens, ottomans, stools, baskets, figures in correct
foreign costume, &c., &c. ; also, beautiful oil paintings, and
water colour and pencil drawings, chimney ornaments in great
variety, card and other baskets, articles of furniture, toys,
trinkets, beads, dolls, doll's bedsteads, (a large and fine
assortment,) children's dresses, artificial flowers, penknives,
and other cutlery, handsome wood snuff-bores and cigar

cases; a variety of fancy basket and card work, fine veneered
and other tables, &c., &c. One piece of embroidery within
a gilt frame—a central bouquet of flowers, on a black ground,
with a floriated border, was much admired, and was valued
at £lO 10s. Od. There was a handsome fire-screen, the
needle-work of which was the patient and beautiful work of
Lady Stanley. We noticed also a splendid square cushion
with embroidered corners, and a central flower piece, on a
rich lavender-coloured silk. There was also a scagliola round
table, divided on the top into compartments, containing five
brightly-coloured landscapes. Many of the shawls, both em-
broidered and wrought, were deservedly admired. The toys
were numerous and well made, and the young folks who at-
tended were quite delighted, and walked about with arms full
of highly-prized novelties in this line. But we could not ob-
tain a glimpse, during our hasty review of the rooms, of one-
half of the articles prod-aced. Suffice to say that all was
beautiful, and that the exhibition, as a whole, reflected the
greatest credit on the taste, ingenuity, and industry of the
fair artists, and on the liberality of the other donors.
Amongst the articles on sale was a well-executed litho-
graphic drawing of Halewood Church (in connection with
which will be the intended schools). This was the produc-
tion of our townsman, Mr. M`Gahey, lithographer, Lord-
street, and was much admired. There was also a beautiful
view of Ashton Hall, equally appropriate on the occasion,
etched and lithographed by Mr. Lamb, surgeon, of Woolton,
and a most creditable specimen of that gentleman's taste and
talents as an amateur artist. Another most interesting arti-
cle were copies, neatly printed, of the following verses on the
occasion, written by a young lady, and honourable alike to
her head and her heart :

" Ye rich and gay approach to Wootton Hall,
Attend its owner's charitable call;
'Tis not for luxury or fashion's sake,
'Tis not to court the homage of the great;
But piety and love invite to-day,
0 ! then with cheerfulness the call obey.
Ye, who 'mid wealth and plenty dwell secure,
Remember now the ignorant and poor;
0 ! if the word of life hath bid you live,
' Freely ye have received, freely give."
By now exchanging money for a toy,
You may impart that word of life and joy,
May bid immortal souls the blessings share,
Of Bible knowledge, and a Pastor's care ;
Erect a Temple to Jehovah's name,
And Gospel tidings to the poor proclaim ;
Who can in such a cause refuse their mite?
Rather let all in Christian love unite,
And only seek each other to out-vie,
In aiding most this cause of charity.
Each stall doth elegance and use combine,
Here, humble clothing—there embroidery fine;
For rich or poor, for youth or feeble age,
To suit each taste, each station, we engage
Some pleasing trifle to present to view,
May we not then your kind attention sue?
Refuse it not—bid feeling warmly glow,
And let your hearts with love and joy o'ertlow ;
. Remember every shilling you expend,
To spread the knowledge of our God shall tend ;
Forgotten be each wish for self-applause,
Let Christ's example be the moving cause,
From whence the action and the gift cloth spring,
And give the praise and glory all to Him;
So may He from His Father's throne above,
Be pleased to smile upon our work of love I"
These lines were so much admired that the whole of the
first impression printed was sold off on Wednesday.
The gentlemen, and particularly those of the committee,
were also active agents for the principal venders, and nume-
rous articles were successfully put up by lottery, to the no
small amusement of all and the especial delight of the winners.
Amongst those who were peculiarly active, and to whom
much of the success of the fair is to be attributed, were the
Rev. Ellis Ashton and the Rev. Robert Lister. Mrs. Ash-
ton, the worthy owner of the domain, commanded by her
politeness and assiduity a large sale ; and her competitors,
animated by the same spirit, were scarcely less fortunate.
The refreshment-room was replete with every delicacy that
could be desired, in addition to a plentiful supply of such
substantials as beef, chickens, ham, tongues, &c. There
were also ices, jellies, pies, tarts, and other confectionery,
together with wines of every description, the whole provided
for the occasion by ladies and gentlemen of the neighbour-
hood, and served in true old English abundance.
While the bazaar was going on, the pleasure-grounds were
a great attraction to those not actually engaged in the rooms,
and a source of intermediate relaxation to many from con-
tinuous attendance at the hall. The grounds are beautiful)
and laid out in an admirable manner for the enjoymont of
the retirement and solace ever afforded to contemplative
minds in wandering amidst scenes of sylvan beauty and re-
pose,—but we have not room for a particular notice. On
the west and north sides of the mansion extends a beau-
tiful lawn, as smooth as velvet, bounded on the west
by forest trees of large growth, around the margin of
which are others of a less towering height, together with
decorative shrubs harmoniously blending the lower and
loftier verdu're of the landscape. The feathering larch,
the silver fir, and the brown beech tree, are here min-
gled with the tall sycamore, the lime tree, the birch, and
the oak. The visitor may penetrate the wood from each
side of the lawn, and make a winding, and somewhat
tortuous circuit of the whole by a dry walk covered with
red free-stone sand. Delightful glades, or openings, are
formed here and there, with a considerable breadth of grass
on each side, beyond which are flowering shrubs, evergreens,
and occasionally flowers. From the skirts of the wood on
the west side, beautiful views are obtained of Allerton,
Cheshire, and the Welsh mountains ; and from the south
west angle, where a tine mansion is erected, may be seen
the whole semi-circular expanse of country from beyond
Warrington and Prescot to Easthain and Mod Femme, in-
cluding Runcorn, Halton Castle, and the hills behind them,
—the Mersey forming in appearance from this point a semi-
circle of silver through the wooded country below. In these
walks there are pleasing little embayments bounded by rocks,
little passes made by rockeries, rustic alcoves covered with
ivy and honeysuckle, and numerous other attractions for the
lovers of rural scenery. Groups of ladies and gentlemen and
children, or solitary strollers, continued to perambulate the
walks until long after the closing of the bazaar, yet so ex-
tensive are the grounds that each party was, as it were,
isolated from the rest.
At five o'clock the bazaar closed for the day, and the num-
ber of private carriages in attendanee from all parts of the
neighbourhoood was great. The ladies who Ltd kept the
stands, delighted with their success, seemed, but little affected
by the truly fatiguing operations of the day,—for no toll is
so easily; sustained as that which is done con unnore. The
gentlemen to were as sprightly and persevering to the last
as in the first hour of their labours, and all seemed to anti -
cipate with delight the renewal of the fair on the morrow.
Two or three of the rural police were in attendance, merely
for the purpose of instructing the several coachmen in the
regulations to be observed, and not the slightest confusion
or inconvenience took place throughout the day.
Soon after the close, we learned with great satisfaction that
not less than £5O was taken for admission (at 2s 6d each) ;
and that in the whole, time amount received exceeded the
handsome sum of five hundred pounds.

SECOND DAY, (YESTERDAY.)
The attendance this day was remarkably good, considering
the state of the weather. The receipts as far as could be as-
certained last night amounted to £3OO. or thereabouts.

This day Friday (the concluding day of the bazaar), the
public will be admitted to the Hall and grounds for the
reduced su►n of one shilling each. We doubt not, should
the day be fine, but many of our townmen and fair towns-
women will visit the fancy fair and the grounds, from which,
we feel assured they will return with feelings of the utmost
satisfaction.

We cannot conclude without expressing our sincere ac-
knowledgments to the Rev. Mr. Lister, to Mr. Walter
Fletcher, to Mr. Baker (clerk of Woolton Church), and
other gentlemen whose names we did not obtain, for their
politeness and attention during a period of arduous ea ertion
and anxiety on their part.

We shall notice the result of the three days at Woolton in
our next.

We understand that Professor Birtinchamp intends de.
livering a series of Lectures in this town, on the science of
teaching modern languages.

THEATRE-RoYAL.— Mr. Power takes his benefit this
evening (Friday), and we cannot doubt that the attendance
will be crowded. On Monday, Madame Vestris, Mr. Charles
Mathews, and Mr. James Vining will commence an engage-
ment.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—A shocking accident occurred at
noon on Wednesday, near the slip at Seacombe. A lady,
named Mitchell, residing with her brothers in the village
there, had the imprudence to bathe while the sea was running
high, though cautioned of the danger. She was washed off
the slip and carried away by the current, and though one or
two persons swam to her assistance, and she rose to the sur-
face several times, she could not be saved. Her body was
recovered at low water, having been left on the sands by the
retiring tide. Her age was about thirty.
THE LIVER THEATRE.—Mr. Raymond has purchased the
entire of Mr. Hammond's share and interest in the Liver
Theatre, under assignment from the sheriff of Lancashire.
who has had an execution in, at the suit of Mr. Fisher, of
Doncaster, for some months past. Mr. Raymond is now
sole proprietor and lessee of this popular establishment.

An impressive sermon was preached by the Rev. F. Ould,
on Sunday last, at Christ Church, in aid of the funds of the
Liverpool Infirmary, and a collection made of £52 15s. Gd.
We trust this example will be followed by the other ministers
of the Establishment, as we learn, with deep regret, that
this old and useful establishment is deeply in debt, and, un-
less relieved by contributions and additional subscriptions,
will be obliged to lessen very considerably the assistance
hitherto afforded to the suffering poor.

His Grace the Archbishop of York has been pleased to
appoint John Simpson, proctor in the Consistory Court of
Chester, to 'be a proctor in the Ecclesiastical Courts of
York, in the room of Joshua Mills, Esq., deceased.
BIRKENHEAD FAlR.—This fair, hitherto most for cattle,
horses, cheese, &c., will take place this day. We shall furnish
an account of it in our second edition.

ENORMOUS FISII.--A sturgeon was recently caught in
Finn-on-water, county Donegal, of the following extraordi-
nary dimensions : Length, 9 feet 8 inches ; girth, 5 feet ;
weight, 341 lbs. It is now to be seen at Mr. Porter's salmon-
vaults, St. John's Market, where it will remain for a day or
two. So large a sturgeon has never before, we believe, been
imported into this country. The only one approaching to it
was brought to Liverpool last year, and was within 60 lbs. of
the same,weight. This was also the property of Mr. Porter.
—Courier.

BnicK-MAKERS' TunN-our.—The misunderstanding be-
tween the brick-makers and some of their employers, we re-
gret to find, has not yet been adjusted. Several men are,
therefore, still out of work, and a few strangers have been
employed in their place. Some damage havinc, been done to
the bricks made by these, Police were placed' to watch the
fields, and on Sunday morning last a policeman, on duty in
Vauxhall-road, saw three men about two o'clock on the
Canal bank, north of the Cotton mill. They were armed
with an axe and two pokers, but on being challenged they
fled : he pursued, but they being better acquainted with the
nature of the ground, effected their escape. On the alarm
being given, it was found that they had walked over and de-
stroyed several thousand bricks belonging to Mr. Johnson.
One of them is known, and the police are on the look out for
him.

LINE ENGRWING.—VIEW OF LIVERPOOL.—WO have
been much pleased with the etching of an engraving which
has been exhibited to us and some of our contemporaries,
and which will, we believe, when completed, be one of the
best productions of modern art that has yet appeared to can-
vass public patronage. It is an engraving by one of the first-
rate artists, from a painting by Chambers. The view is taken
from the Seacombe Shore, and comprises the whole extent of
the river, from the north to the south docks; an infinite
numberof objects along the shore ; and, lastly, presents a
complete view of the principal buildings of which Liverpool
can boast.

TRADESMEN'S INSTITUTION,—We are very much grati-
fied in being able to state, that notwithstanding the late hour
at which the shops are closed at this season of the year, the
rooms of the above excellent institution are well attended,
and that classes on various improving subjects are in full
operation. That on elocution, under the direction of Pro-
fessor Duncan, is highly interesting. A discussion class
meets on Tuesday evenings, and Friday evenings are set apart
for a conversazione, at which vocal and instrumental music,
recitations, reading of original and select essays, on moral
and scientific subjects, chymical experiments, exhibitions of
machinery, &c., form the entertainments of the evening.
The institution is well entitled to the support of the public.