The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-09 00:00:00

THE ORATORIO AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

On Tuesday evening last, the LiverpoelChoral SoCiety perk
funned Ilandel's sublime Oratorio, the "Messiah," with ac-. 1
companiments by Mozart, at the Theatre Royal. The oratorio
was aunuttoceti to be under the patronage of the Mayor, and
fUr the benefit of the distressed poor. Such being its meritorious
obiect we were glad to see so excellent a house, the theatre
being well filled in every part. The orchestra was very strong,
containing upwards of 30 fetnale and about 100 male choristers,
besides a very good toned organ, which was erected in the cen-
tre of the orchestra; with the usual compliment of other instru-
ments, to make the instrumental dOparttnent complete. Mr.
George Hoiden acted as conductor, Mr., M. Maybrick pre-
sided at the organ, and Mr. G._ Eyton led the orchestra. 'Per-
haps as a society of choristers, strictly so speaking, there is not
a more efficient one in, the kingdom than the Liverpool Choral
Society; but when we go beyond the choral singing, we know
not from what cause, but a prevailing tainebess aml flatness
characterises the instrumental department. The overture to
this sublime oratorio, which is a mellifluous movement, partook
precisely of this character, with just a sufficiency of excellence
to save it froth being damned, but not enough to excite
applause. Mr. France was put forward to sing the first
recitative, "Comfort ye," and was no saving clause to the
overture. The chorus which followed, "And the glory of
the Lord shall be revealed," was splendidly effective. The
finished effect was, however, somewhat destroyed by the
leader's violin being heard a full minim before the rest
in the middle of the chorus was completed. The simulta-
neous crash of the chains ceasing at once into complete silence
was magnificent, conjoined with the words, " For the mouth of
the Lord hath spoken it;" but this splendid effect was greatly
marred by the anti-climax of a single squeaking violin destroy-
ing the emphatic silence by a tone sufficiently long to draw at-
tention before the chorus again rose. The recitative accompa-
nitnent which followed by Mr. Wearing, "Thus, saith the Lord
of Hosts," was a comcilete lullaby. The following chorus,
"'And he shall purify the sons of Levi," was again spirited,
and a redeeming trait in the oratorio. Mr. Dutton sang. the
next recitative, " Behold, a virgin shall conceive." He posses-
ses a counter tenor voice of a very singular quality of tone,
which is sometimes almost puerile. It, however, told well in
some passages. The next recitative, " For, behold ! darkness
shall cover the earth," was sung with much power and sweet-
ness by Mr. Davies, who really possesses a fine bass voice, and
a voice capable of filling the house. The following chorus,
" For unto us a child is born," was exquisitely sung. The
charming undulating melody was done full justice to. We
.think this decidedly the most strikingly beautiful passage in the
wfiole oratorio. The pastoral symphony which followed is a
besitytiful flowing melody, and was played with good taste. The
next recitative was sung by Mrs. Hiles, " There were shepherds
abiding in the field." Mrs. Hiles possesses a voice of consider-
able power and' sweetness, though not sufficiently tutored to
''be capable of much ornament. She sang the recitative very
Chastely. The next chorus, "Glory to God irkhe highest," was
again a marked feature in the oratorio. Mrs. Hiles sang the
following air, "Rejoice greatly," very sweetly and :introduced a
neat ornamental cadence. She avas loudly applauded. Miss
Swain sang the next recitative and air, very creditably. The
music of the air is a most beautiful melody, which accords
finely with the words. The verse is taken from Isaiah, and is
one of those examples of fine metaphor and of the harmony of
language with Which Isaiah abounds. For instance, can there
be a more fitting metaphor, more perfectly carried out, or the
arrangement and choice of the words of which can be more
liquid, and musical, and appropriate, than the following : " He
shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the
lambs With his arm, and-carry them in his bosom, and gently
ledd those that are with young." The verse is one of exquisite
'beauty, as a piece of composition, and nothing could be better
adapted to it than the,bea.utiful passage of his oratorio to which
Handel has set it. jfkie music and the words seemed to pos-
sess but one meaning—one soul, which breathed upon the
audience with the softness and• sweetness of a gentle zephyr.
Mr. Brand sang the next recitative, "Come unto him," but
her voice was greatly deficient in power. In the second part
part Mr. Lunt sang well in a counter alto, " He was despised
and rejected of men." The fallowing chorus was very fine ;

the concluding cadetice especially, " And the Lord hall► laid
on him the iniquity or ud all," Was splendid. The recitative by
Mrs. Hiles, "He was cut out of the land of the living," was
also well sung. The full chorus before the interval, "he is
the King of Glory," was gloriously sung. The oratorio was
resumed after the interval, with, " by particular desire," the
grand march and chorus, "Crown ye the altar," from
BeethoVen's Waits of Athens. We never beard a piece of
music More wretchedly played or in worse time than was this.
In vain did the conductor endeavotir to get the orchestra
into something • like time; for while one half was con-
ducted by him, the leader was most perseveringly leadi►►y
the other half half a bar before him, and the result was what
might be expected, a musical jumble—a diScord in concert.
After this, the new instrument, the ophicleide, was introduced,
played by a soldier of the band of the 82d regiment, stationed
in this town. The instrument is an unwieldy brass instrument,
intended as a substitute for the serpent. Its principle supe-
riority consists in its scale of notes being complete, and thereby
allowing a solo to be performed upon it. As an instrument, how-
ever, it will never come into general use but as an accompani-
ment. The tone has a disa.reeable smothered flatness of quality
wkich makes its solo per7formance aavthing but agreeable.
The player, however, exhibited much execution on the iuitru-
ment, and for that and the apparent difficulty of playing it he
was encored, though, really, ►t was infliction. The following
air, "Thou art gone up on nigh," was sung, or, rather, attempted
to be sung; by Mr. Hadley. We wonder tbat men will put
themselves in such positions without even a shadow of qualifi-
Cation. Mr Hadley has neither voice nor the knowledge of the
use of one. The concluding chorus, " Blessing and hnnou►,
glory and power be to Him that sitteth upon the throne," was
magnificent. M a whole, the concert passed off very well, but
tediously, and rather tamely. The foolish suggestion of the
committee to the audience to abstain " ft oca any mark of appro-
bation, or otherwise," to avoid delay, perhaps contributed to
the character of spiritless tameness wh►ch pervaded it. We
think it would have been more judicious to have shortened the
oratorio and have given a little "breathing time" for the public,
to applaud if they thought fit.

BUILDING SOCIETIES.
PUBLIC MEETING, ON SIR TIA.RRY VERNEY'S BILL.

On Tuesday evening last at seven o'clock, a public meeting
of the members and supporters of the building associations of
this town was-held at the Crown Inn, in Lawton-street. The
meeting was convened by printed papers, in which were very
concisely set forth the reasons that urged the interference of the
building societies with the measure in question. It was stated
.• I.—That the great bulk of property which is purchased by
members of building societies out of the funds which their con-
nexion with the building societies enables them to command
is of that description which will be affected by this bill.
"2—That as the rates and taxes will be laid ou the owner, he
mast either add them to the rent, and collect them along with
it, or he must sustain the loss out of his own pocket.
"3.—That as those persons mainly rely on the income they
derive from the property purchased out of the funds of building
Societies to enable them to pay their subscriptions, and thereby
to repay the money advanced by the societies, any measure
calculated to reduce their income must materially tend to em-
barrass and inconvenience them, if not, in many instances to
deprive them of that which otherwise might become a perma-
nent provision for old age, or other casualties to which all per-
sons are necessarily exposed.
"4
—That as the interests of all the members are so intimately
connected together, whatever has a tendency to injure one de-
scription of members, consisting as all such societies do, of
lenders and borrowers of money must necessarily injure the
other, and under such circumstances the members of building
societies should unite in opposing a measure which would pro-
duce such an effect."
The address proceeded to urge to immediate action, as a com-
mittee of the House of Commons is now inquiring into the ef-
fect which Sir H. Verne3s bill is likely to produce, which com-
mittee might close its business before the association could
state their reasons for objecting to the measure. The address
concluded as follows :
" As to the propriety of sending a deputation to oppose the
bill, there are two difficulties in the way, viz.—To fix upon a
proper person, and to provide the expenses attendant upon the
sending of such a deputation. When there are so many persons
in the tdwn who have been connected with building societies for
so many years, it would appear strange if some person could not
be found capable of giving evidence before a committee, and
when it is considered that there is now so much property invested
in building societies, a trifling contribution voluntarily sub-
scribed by each, would be sufficient for such a purpose. If, there-
fore, a committee could be formed, composed of two 'or more
members from each society in the town, and a small sum of mo-
ney supplied by each society, leaving to that committee either
to select a person or not, at their discretion, and to adopt any
other measure which that committee might think proper to sug-
gest, a body competent to meet the necessity of the case would
be called inldexistence to be dissolved only when the immediate
causes of such combination shall cease.
" It is extremely gratifying to state that since the above was
written, a letter has been forwarded to this town from tbe secre-
tart of a committee elected by the members of building societies,
in MancheSth, to oppose Sir H. Verney's bill—with that letter
the form of a petition to parliament adopted by them in opposi-
tion to the bill, has been sent; the following is an extract from
the leiter :
• " "rhe committee are confidently of opinion, that if the bill
in question should ever become a law, (which, unless great and
uncommon efforts be made to prevent it, is by no means im-
probable,) the property of members of building societies will be
confiscated. The committee have, however, done their duty ;
they
.have succeeded in making all the landlords of all the neigh-
bouring towns for thirty miles round Manchester, sensible of
the danger threatened to their property, and have induced them
to petition against the measure.'

THE MA YNOOTH COLLEGE PETITION.—This petition, which
is now lying for signature at various places in the town, has
already received a large number of signatures. Our readers
are aware that its object is to petition Parliament to refuse the
annual grant for the support of Maynooth College out of the
National funds; on the ground that it is inconsistent in a
Protestant, government to support an establishment for the
nurture and encouragement of dogmas, against which it pro-
tests; as well as on the ground of the mischievous tendency of
the college on the education of the population of Ireland.
THE CHURCH LEASES PETITION.—A petition to both douses
of Parliament is now lying in this town for signature, praying
the legislature not to apply any excess of revenue which may
be derived from the church leases to other than church pur-
poses, for the spiritual instruction of the people in the doctrines
and principles of the established church.
The City of Durham is in a. state of great excitement on the
subject of-the petition which has' been presented by Mr. Gran-
ger against Mr. Harland. The ballot for the committee took
place on Thursday, and every-preparation for a hard fight ap-
pears to have been made by the contending parties. Upwards
of seventy witnesses have been sent off by coach to London
within these three days from Durham. There is little doubt
that both whig and whig-radical will be foiled. The conserva-
tives are ready fur action, and will put in their man in gallant
style.
CAUTION.—An unusual number of fatal accidents have lately
occurred to labourers while attending to thiashing maChinss
when at work, at which times the utmost caution is requisite.
WEST LENT,—Sir Edmund Earner has beeti returned for the
western division of the county of Kent, in lieu of Sir Williutn
Geary, who retires on account of ill health. They are both
conservatives, so that the change mikes no difference in the
strength of parties.
In illustration of the *rating tif the Ballot system, it may
be mentioned, that the Common Council of London; a few
years ago, this famous nostrum was found to be such a cover
for fraud and deception, that it was abolfShed, the proposition
for that purpose having come from the" Liberal" party, bitterly
disappointed at the result of an elietion wherein they had the
majority of the promises, bitt the minority of the votes
FniG "mut. ACCIDENT.—The 12th ult., as some labouring
men at St. Juliet, near Roscastle, were coursing a hare on the
cliffs, William Orchard tell on the snow, which being very slip-
pery and sloping groUnd, he rolled several times till he fell over
a precipice on the cliff above 100 feet high. When his compa-
nions got to hint, he was sensible, hut his limbs were paralysed
though no bones appeared broken. He lingered till next even-
ing, when death put a period to his sufferings. He was a single
maw; about A:living With hit In-other.—West Britini.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

StromtrrlNG.—On Tuesday, Mary Hunt was charged at
Alepolice-court with having entered the snip of Messrs. Dyke

and. Co. tailors and drapes, Ca-tie-street, and stolen there-
from three silk handkerchiefs, valued at 15s Mr- Dykestated
that betwixt eleven and twelve that day he was passing through
the- lobby Which led from the yard at the back to his shop.
There was a glass door at the end of the lobby looking into the
shop: Oh getting close to the glaii door tie saw the prisoner
and another girl in the shop, While his'sbilsman'was serving
them With handkerchiefs. The shopman bavirrg' turned his
head front' the prisoner, Mr. DYke obsarved her put het hand
into the window, and take up a piece containing three silk
handkerchiefs, which she pat into'ber apron. Mr. Dyke then
walked through. the shop into the street, and gave mitice to one
of the police.offivers, who took the prisoner into custody after
she had left the shop with her companion. She was committed
for trial.—Atid Kirby was charged with entering the shop of
Mr. David Nelson, draper, Old Haymarket. and stealing a
piece containing five silk handkerchiefs, valued at ats.
_On

Saturday night eight or ten handkerchiefs had been stolen rrons
Mr. Nelson's shop, which naturally led the shopman to keeli'
watch, and on Monday night the prisoner, who bad come into
the shop, accompanied by a confederate, was detected in
stealing the piece'before-mentioned. She was an old offender,
and bad been tried and convicted under another name. She
was sent to the sessions. Her companion was discharged with

a caution to take care how she acted in future.

CHARGE 01, HOUSE ROBBERV.—On Tuesday Wm. Hewitt,
H.enry Flynn, Robert Hunter, and ,Thomas Gardiner, were
brought before Mr. Hall, charged with having broken into a
house in Gloucester.street, and stolen therefrom various articles.
The first witness, a fernule, depbled that on Saturday night,
about seven o'clock, she heard the cry of " StOp thief," and
saw tvto of the prisoners, whom she pointed out, running, down
the street. They dropped a bundle, which she OCked up and
carried to Bridewell. A second witness stated that she saw one

of the prisoners, whom she identified, go to a spout, and put
someth►ng into it, which proved to be a chisel In consequence
of the bundle having been taken to Bridevvell, some of the
police went to Gloucester-street, and found that the bhuse, No.
38, had been broken into in the absence of the owner, and a
great quantity of articles removed. ft appeared that he had
left the house betwixt six and seven- o'clock, and did not return
till twelve. The officers found that the latch of the Windog

had been broken, and an entrance effected into the house,
Where every thing was in disorder. Besides• the bundle pro-
duced, another bundle had been thrown in Skelhorne,street, of
which a Mr. Hughes, who was not present, could give an act
count. Mr. Hall remanded the case ►o bring forward Mr.
Hughes. There was some hesitation, on the part of the wit-
nesses, to identify the prisoners, one of whom, on being re-
manded, said with great emphasis, " I am as innocent as the
child unborn." From the several bundles mentioned, the rob-
bery must have been to a considerable extent.
ATROCrOtS ASSAUT.T.—On Tuesday, a man named James
Lightburn, was brought before the magistrates, charged with a
violent and unprovoked assault on the • complainant, John
Abram. On Tuesday morning the prisoner met the complain-
, ant in the street, and, in the true style of blackguardism, de-
manded to know "who the h- he was r' Abram, naturally
enough, rejoined, " what is that to you ?" On which the pri-
soner immediately took out a knife, and made several stabs at
the complainant in the breast and shoulder. The complain-
ant opened his coat and waistcoat, and showed that they were
cut through, and that the knife had entered his breast. Several
large cuts appeared in different parts of the coat, which did not
pierce far enough to enter the flesh, except at the shoulder,

where a very severe wound was inflicted; hut altogether the
complainant had got two wounds awl seven cuts. This took
place at two o'clock in the morning, and the reason which the
complainant gave for being out in the streets at such an un-
seasonable hour was that he was a stranger m town, and did
not know the name of the street where he lodged,. A double-
bladed penknife, one of which was hooked, wits here produced,
covered with blood. Mr. Hall said that the case appeared so
serious that no punishment the magistrates could award would
be commensurate with the injuries the complainant had sus-
tained; and for the sake of convincing individuals that they
had no right to use knives in their quarrels, he should send the
prisoner to take his trial. If convicted, his punishment would
no doubt be very severe.
CAUTION TO PAWNBROKERS.—On Tuesday. a pawnbroker,
named Critchley, appeared before the magistrates to answer to
a summons charging him with not having delivered up a shawl
which had been pledged with him, but substituting another in
its place. Mrs. Ann 'lrving, the complainant, stated that she
consented, about two years ago, to allow her sister. who was in
difficulties, to pledge a shawl worth 40s. belonging to her, with
Mr. Critchley, on which she raised 10s. On Thursday she sent
for the shawl, and paid up both principal and interest. She
then received from Mr. Critchley's assistant what was said to
be her shawl, tied up in the same handkerchief in which it had
been pledged. But she found that instead of a Thibet shawl
with " a black border three inches deep" she had g►ot a shawl
which proved to be only Canton crape. Mr. Critchley's assist-
ant insisted that no mistake could have occurred; it must have
been the same shawl as well as the same handkerchief. Mr.
Hall said, that by the act of parliament he was empowered to
order the article pledged to be returned, and if it could not be
found he was obliged to order the value of it to be paid. He
therefore ordered 20s. and costs to be paid in the present case.
A SEAMAN'S STOCK.—On Tuesday, a man named M'Kenna'
who keeps a cellar for carrying on the old clothes trade in
Prussia-street, was placed. along with his wife, at the bar of
' the Police-court, charged with having in their possession the
entire " kit" of a young sailor, which had been stolen from
him three weeks ago. - John Cummin, the complainant, stated
that about the time mentioned, his chest, containing his clothes
and bed were stolen out of a public-house where they had been
been placed, and no discovery was made of them till Saturday.
when a cook, who had been purchasing a pair of trowsers at
the prisraiers' house, saw the chest. M'Kenna, in defence,
said he had bought the chest and its contents from two young
men, and had paid 12s. for the 'whole lot. Previous to doing
so, he had "consulted" the policeman of the district, and that
great legal authority had " advised" him that he was perfectly
• safe in purchasing, the chest, This was on the Bth of February.
'A sort of note of sale was produced, which seemed to confirm
the prisoner's statement, and the entire stock of the complain-
ant did not appear to be worth more than 12s. • Mr. Hall re-
manded M'Kenna till the policeman who had advised with him