The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-02-04 00:00:00

THE NEW MUSIC HALL.

The Philharmonic Soci ty, it is generally known, some
fine ago announced their inte2,tion to build, by subscrip-
tion, a new Music Hall, for their own use, and for other
public entertainments—a step to which they were urged by
finding the Concert Room to be included in the building
known as the " New Assize Courts" would be too small
for their numerously attended meetings, and that St.
George's Hall, the " monster" room within the same
building. would, on the other hand, be greatly too liege.
The project has so far been liberally patronised, and
though a number of shares yet remain to be disposed of,
(the expendi!ure involved for a superior structure being
considerable,):such are the prospects of the spirited origi-
nators of obtaining ere long the requisite funds, that a de-
sign has, after mature deliberation, been fixed upon, and
the eDmmittee are on the look-out for the most eligible
site. As the building will be handsome and commodious,
and will, we think, form an additional ornament to the
town, a brief description—which we are enabled to fur-
nish through the kindness of the architect, Mr. John Cun-
ningham, who has favoured us with a sight of the plans
and drawings—will, we trust, be acceptable. For conve-
nience we adopt the present tense, in place of the future :
The building is oblong in form, and in the Italian,
or rather Romanesque style of architecture—the two
principal facades of stone, forming the corner of two
streets. There are two colonnades—one in the primcipal
facade at one end, and the other extending along one of the
sides. In extreme length exteriorly the Hall is 202 feet,
and in breadth 102 feet. The external elevation of the
walls is 65 feet from the datum level, and the height of the
concert ball interiorly from the lower floor to the ceiling
is about the same. The windows are large, and embol-
dened with archi.raves, trusses, and moulded caps. The
cornice is enriched with centalivers and trusses, or
brackets, and the frieze is an ornamental one, or running
galoche. _ _

The body of the hall (or what may be termed the " pit"
portion of the house) is about 120 feet in length, within
the boxes, including a portion of the orchestra, which
projects into it about 16 feet in the middle, and approaches
to a segmental or elyptic form, with a centre-piece a little
more in projection ; and the width within the galleries, or
of the body only, is 76 feet. A tier of boxes runs along
each side, and the floors of these are 9 feet above the floor
of the pit. The fronts of the boxes are of open or perfo-
rated work, light and chaste in design, and combining no-
velty, airiness, and adornment. Over the boxes, (behind
which is a spacious corridor), and leaving them a height of
about 8 feet, runs, along each side, a gallery, the front
seats of which are to be fitted as stalls. There is also a
gallery at the end, opposite the orchestra, the three front
rows of which are also stalls. The main entrance is at
the colonnaded end, and there are here three doors, one
or more of which may be opened as required, so that eight
or ten carriages may drive up in a line, and set down their
company without delay or confusion. At this end (beyond
the vestibule) there is a lower saloon, crossing the build-
ing, and level with the pit, with lobbies at each end, lead-
ing on one side to dressing-rooms, &c. for ladies, and on
the other to similar apartments for gentlemen. From
these rooms a private door gives access to the saloon ;
and there are lateral lobbies, or corridors, extending the
whole length of the hall on each side, with four entrances
each, which, with the two doors from the saloon, make
ten in all into the pit. At each extremity of the lower
saloon there is a wide flight of stairs, leading to the boxes,
and another above it leading to the gallery. When the
company is about to depart, three other doors (which may
also be used as entrances, if required) leading into the
lateral colonnade, or piazza, may be thrown open, making,
with the three doors in the end frontage, six easy modes
of exit—a great desideratum where there are crowded as-
semblies. There are aho private entrances for profes-
sionals. The seats in the body of the hall will be hand-
some moveable benches, so that the room may be variously
adapted for concerts, dinners, bal's, &Lc., and intersected
by passages. By means of the latter, and the lobbies and
doors enumerated, parties can at any time, even during
the performance, pass out of or into any part of the build-
ing without incommoding their friends.
On a level with the boxes, and partly over the end co-
lonnade, there is an upper retiring GRAND SALOON lir the
promenade or the lounges,—a splendid room of 102 feet
in length, 20 in width, and 35 in height. There is also a
large refreshment room for the company to luxuriate in
between the acts, and, at the orchestra end, two green-
rooms and a refreshment room for the corps de musique.
Under the orchestra (which is elevated in front about 41
feet over the floor of the pit, and rises backwards) there
is a Tuning-room, 40 feet long by 20 in breadth.
There are 54 proprietary boxes, each with a screen, or
curtain, so contrived as to render them, at will, either
open, or strictly private. There are also two elegant pro-
jecting Committee boxes, resembling stage-boxes, on each
side of the orchestra, slightly in projection, and with rich
hangings and decorations. The orchestra itself, (of which,
with the front of the organ, we have seen the drawing) is,
as well as the Hall throughout, in the light and elegant
Italian style, and is highly pleasing in form and effect.
The ceiling of the hall, which is partly coved, is divided
into a number of compartments in the central part, by
perforated tracery, in the coves, and enriched by chaste
and elegant ornaments. The Hall will be lighted by day
by eight large windows with semicircular lops on each
side, and, all elevated considerably above the gallery, a
great height of the walls being left free and uninterrupted,
giving the whole a lively and airy appearance, and at the
same time promoting the full volume of sound, without
(it is supposed) that reverberation which in some rooms
is so annoying to musical ears.

The Hall ;ill accommodate 2000 auditors; and pro-
vision is also made for 300 performers in addition.
In the basement story there are Kitchens for preparing
tea, coffee. &c.. during entertainments. The manner in
which the whole building will be ventilated and warm-
ed (or cooled) is at once ingenious, simple, and effi-
cient—the invention of the architect. Air flues per-
forate the walls, pillars, &c., in various directions, and
a steam-engine will be employed to throw in air, purified
through water, by a fanner, on the plan successfully
adopted at the Wellington-rooms. By means of this ap-
paratus, not only is impure air ejected, and a pleasing and
wholesome atmosphere introduced of any required tem-
perature, by steam-pipes, &c., but it may at pleasure be in-
stantly impregnated with the odour of Cologne, or rose
water, or anv other scent; and in the heat of summer
even " iced" air may be thrown in, through perforated
panels, so placed as not to subject the sitters to a current
or draught.
The estimated cost of this fine building, with its inte-
rior fittings, is about £lB,OOO, exclusive of the ground.
The only sites yet spoken of as suitable, and yet attain-
able, are—one in Upper Myrtle-street, near Hope-street,
and one in Shaw-street, opposite the Collegiate Institu-
tion. As, however, the hall will be available for lectures
and genteel entertainments of various kinds, and will, if a
more centr4l site can be obtained, no doubt supersede
several of the present rooms in requisition for such pur-
poses, it would, we think, be desirable that the commit-
tee should not be too precipitate in their choice, or exer-
cise too stringent an economy in the purchase of the land,
land, for a commanding situation in such cases goes half
the way to insure the success of the undertaking.

REPORTED COALITION OF POLITICAL LEADERS.—
The Morning Post, on Friday, seriously mentioned a
rumour as being prevalent that Lord John Russell is
about to join the Ministry and to take the leadership of
the house of Commons, whilst Sir Robert Peel makes
way for him by going to the [louse of Lords. The repert
is too ridiculous to be credited.

—CHURCH LECTURES.—ST. ANDREWS.—The subject
of the lecture for this evening is—" The Christian in his
Social Relatons as Master and Servant, Principal and
Agent, and Et»ployer and Employed."—ST. Jun E's—
. Rev. El. M'Neile continues the deeply interesting
series of lectures, announced a few week's ago to be de-
livered on each Thursday evenings. The subjects so far
have been the " Unity," the " Sanctity," and the
" Apostolicity" of " the Church of God in Christ."
NORWICH AND YARMOUTH RAILWAY.—The half-
yearly meeting of this company was held on Saturday.
Ths half-year's traffic, ending December, 1844, showed a
gross receipt of £8,859 7s. 3d., which, a‘lcled to the ba-
lance up to the 30th June, left a net income, after de-
ducting expenditure and interest upon the mortgage loan,
of £4,822 16s. 9d, This sum admitted of a dividend of
10s. per share, clear of income tax, on the old shares, and
21. 3d. on the new shares upon which £8 had been paid,
and leaving a surplus to be carried forward of £746 7s.
9d. The report was passed, and the dividend declared.
The directors were authorised, in conjunction with the
Norwich and Brandon Company, to take a lease of the
Lowestoft railway and hat hour, and to extend the Nor-
wich and Yarmouth line into the city of Norwich.

SHAREBROKERS' ASSOCIATION.—MeetiMIS of this as-
sociation were held last week for the purpose of regulating
the mode in which the business shall be carried on for the
future. We understand that it has been resolved that for
the future a fee of 100 guineas be paid by every new mem-
ber ; that no parson be admitted who is engaged in any
other business, except as agent; that the admissions be
made only once a quarter, and in no case more than
twenty at one time : the applications to be considered in
the order in which they had been sent in. The funds
arising from the fees on admission are intended to be ap-
plied to the erection of a stock exchange, upon an enlarged
scale. A necessity for the introduction of the changes
just adopted is said to Lave arisen from the fact of an un-
usually large number of parties having very recently en-
tered into business as sharebrokers.

DISASTERS TO LIVERPOOL SFllPS.—Accounts have
been received by the Stephen Whitney, from New York,
of various disasters to ships trading from this port. The
packet-ship liochester, Britton. master, which arrived at
that city on the 11111 ultimo, reported the loss of the ship
Dorchester, Caldwell, (from Liverpool to Boston,) whose
captain, passengers. and crew she had conveyed from the
wreck. It appeared that on the afternoon of Sunday, the
15th of December, during a strong breeze, the Rochester
discovered the wreck of the vessel, and bore down to her
relief. She had six feet water in the hold, and the sea
was making a complete breach over her. She had been
struck by a sea while lying to in the gale of the 12th of
December. which carried away her three masts, and
washed off the second mate and carpenter. Though the
night was dark and squally, Captain Britton made the
noblest efforts to relieve the sufferers, arid, finally suc-
ceeded in taking from the wreck Captain Caldwell and
his son, Mr. Fraine,-the chief officer, fifteen seamen, and
twenty-nine steerage passengers. The praiseworthy and
persevering efforts of Captain Britton. his officers, and
crew are acknowledged by Captain Caldwell in the New
Yotk papers. The Dorchester belongs to the Boston line
of packets, and belonged to C. Train, Esq., of this town.
She had a general cargo valued at 200,000 dollars.
Nothing was saved from the ship but the captain's chro-
nometer.—Another lossis that of the ship Pensylvania,
Emerson, from New Orleans, bound to Liverpool. A
letter received in New York from Havana states, that she
was wrecked on the night of the 28th of December, 80
miles from that place, and was totally lost but some of
the cargo will be saved.

Feb. 4, 1845.

LIVERPOOL SHARE MARKET, FORTHE WEE

ENDING SATURDAY

We have had a large and somewhat speculative bus
ness transacted on our Stock Exchange during the pg
week, the principal portion of it in anticipation of,
regulated by, the sanction or condemnation of propose
new lines by the Board of Trade. An anxious wee
moreover, it has been, owing to the fact of an unusual
heavy settlement having to be made on the 31st ult., al
the anticipation of there being several defaulters, tl
name of one of whom was announced early in the wee.
This, in some measure, threw a damp upon transactiol
for a while. The Brokers' settlement over, however,
very active business was transacted; and the Gazette
Friday having contained the decision of the Board of Tral
upon another batch of railways, the business of Saturda
may almost be said to have run wild.

The shares in which we note the greatest improveme
(amongst the established railways) are the Birmingba
and Gloucester, which have advanced about £27 10s. P
share upon the closing prices of the previous Saturda
the Bristol and Gloucester, which have risen £8 10s, ; ti
London and Birmingham, which have risen £5 ; tl
Great Western, which have risen £7 ; the London al
Birmingham, £5 ; Sheffield and Manchester, £4 10
Manchester and Leeds, £7 ; Eastern Counties, £2. TI
rise in the price of the two first-named lines is attribute
to expectations of advantageous arrangements in cour
of formation with other companies. The remainder ral
be attributed in part to the effect of the announced a,
proval by the Board of Trade of feeding lines or branche
and in part to the general improvement which is visit)l
during the past mouth, in the traffic of established ral
ways. Few of the old lines have sustained a declin
The Liverpool and Manchester, although reducing the
dividend this half year to £9 per cent. per annum, a
steady, whilst the Grand Junction, notwithstanding tl
blow dealt against that stock by the sanction of tl
Churnet Valley line, may be said to have slightly lo
proved, (although it will be seen that it has since declitil
seriously.)
In the new shares, the principal improvement has bel
in Churnet Valley shares, which ranged, through tl
week, up to Thursday, about 6,1, on Friday rose to 7
and on Saturday were sold from 114 to 91. We ha,
been more particular in giving the prices of this stocl
because a hint has gone abroad that the secrets of tl
Board of Trade have not in all cases been kept. The'
shares rose, it will be observed, on Friday, the day
which the Gazette, announcing the approval of the lin
came out in London. Their rise here, on that da.
might appear to countenance such a supposition, It mu
be borne in mind, however, that Friday was settling da'
when, after the worst was known, which would be at 2
early period, speculation became more brisk. In Lee(
and West Riding, and West Yorkshire, both greatly a
fected by the Gazette, there was not on Friday a transai
tion. A large business has been doing in other ne
schemes, amongst which we may particularise the Birket
head and Manchester Junction, Caledonian, Cambridi
and Lincoln, London and York, Leeds and West Riding
(which have risen £3 per share), Scottish Central, at
Oxford and Rugby. The Irish lines generally have di
dined, Waterford and Limerick, amongst the new, at
Dublin and Drogheda, old, which has risen £5 per alum
being exceptions.

MONDAY, FIVE o'CLocK.—The closing settlement o
the Stock Exchange, which took place this day, bt
passed off extremely well, and all differences, excepting t
regards two parties, have been prompt'y met. The tram
actions to day have been more extensive than on any pri
vious occasion, and an almost general advance has take
place. Grand Junctions, however, have fallen £lO 0
share, in consequence of the Churnet Valley having bee
favourably reported upon by the Board of Trade. A
lines whose branches have been adopted by the Board
Trade, have advanced, particularly the Leeds, Sheffie!g
Barnsley Junction, and some Irish lines, as we percol
from the circular of Messrs. D. and J. B. Neilson.