The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-26 00:00:00

cf/Exp rro LONDON..-A curious advertisement ap•
pears elsev: .2 of some concerts about to take place in Lon-
don,time
during le that the passengers by the above trip
visit the nett. polis. It appears that the purchaser of a
10s. 6d. ticket, besides a rich musical treat, has a chance of
winning a splendid Piano Forte, besides various volumes of
Music. Thus a party may go to London and back for 30s.
May board and lodge there for 40s. more, and have a
chance of winning a splendid Piano for 10s. 6d. more.
What next for novelty ?
THE DEAD ALlvx.—An elderly man, of rather shabby
appearance, was yesterday committed by Mr. Rushton to the
Borough Gaol for one month, for having obtained from a
medical gentleman lialf•a-crown, for the purpose of aiding
the interment of a person whom he had attended, but which
individual he bad siace ascertained was still living. The
scheme was exceedingly well concocted. Three persons were
concerned, but they have not yet been arrested ; one of them
purported to be a poor joiner who had made the coffin. Se-
veral others have, no doubt, been imposed on in the same

manner.
Tun ToiLaT.—A fine head of hair, "the inestimable gift
of the graces," from its influence in giving due effect and
expression to the features, has been universally sought after.
No article for this purpose has ever been favoured with such
distinguished patronage as " ROWLAND'S MACASSAR OIL."
the reputation of which, for its beautifying aiid restorative
qualities, has been promulgated in all ranks of fashion and
elegance, which the high encomiums and testimonials of its
value amply corroborate ; * dressing the hair, and arranging
it into any desired form of (furl or other decorative formation,
the addition of this oil is essential—it preserves the coiffure
in the heated atmosphere of the ball.room, and prevents the
relaxing effects of damp, or violent cxercise.—See advt.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTH DAY.—Wednesday being the day
set apart for the celebration of her Majesty's birth-day, the
Town-hall and public buildings, as well as many private
houses and establishments were decorated with national
flags. A holiday was given ou the occasion to the pupils of
the principal schools in the town, and to those of the Colle-
giate Institution, the heads of which were mindful of the
opening expression of speech of Lord Stanley, at the dinner
given on occasion of the laying of the first stone of the build-
ing, when that distinguished nobleman said from the chair.—
" Gentlemen, when that institution, of which we have this
day laid the foundation-stone, shall be opened for its great
and important purposes, I am sure that the first secular
lesson that will be taught within its precincts will be that of
loyalty, respect, and attachment to the Sovereign of these
realms."

TEE VIRGINIA MINSTRELS. The extraordinary per-
formers now exhibiting at the Music Hall, Bold-street, are
thus spoken of in one of the American papers :—" Among
the most curious, as well as the most pleasing musical novel-
ties lately presented to the public, is the above. The instru-
mental performance of this band is entirely original, being
composed of the usual accompaniments of a Southern coned
medley, and played with a skill and melody not equalled by
any other four instruments that can be brought together.
Scarcely one of them has ever been published, or even heard,
in this part of the country, before. The harmony and skill
with which the banjo, violin, castinets, and tambourine are
blended by these truly original minstrels, in their Ethiopian
characters, is a redeeming feature to this species of amuse-
ment, and cannot fail of making it acceptable to the most
refined and sensitive audience. —Daily Plebian, Feb. 4, 1813.
AN OFFICER AT FAULT.—Yesterday, at the police-court,
officer 166 preferred a charge against the mate of a vessel
lying in the Salthouse Dock, for having been disorderly in
the streets. He however failed to substantiate the charge,
and from what the prisoner said, it appeared the officer had
taken offence at his saving, on the officer asking what vessel
he was going on bo ird of, " You'll see directly," and taking
him to Bridewell, where, in consequence of the mildness
with which the prisoner conducted himself, combined with
his being perfectly sober, he was not booked, but was shortly
after brought back charged with striking the officer. The
prisoner denied having struck the officer, but admitted hav-
ing, through his temper being excited by being taken for the
first time into custody, called the officer an ass.—Mr. Rush-
ton said it was almost impossible for a man to preserve his
temper after being so causelessly arrested • nor could an
officer expect that after such treatmenthe would be very politely
treated. Mr. Rushton suspended the officer antil he should
enquire into his character.
THE APPROACHING EXHIBITION AT THE COLLEGIATE
INSTITUTION.—We were much gratified by being kindly
shewn through the exhibition-rooms of this noble institution,
on Wednesday, by Mr. Jones, the active and intelligent se-
cretary. Many paintings of great beauty and value have al-
ready been received, and placed in the long picture room or
gallery above, which is lighted from the roof, and is well ,
adapted for their reception. They are not, however, yet
hung up, as many others are yet to come, and we shall, there-
fore, not attempt to particularize until they are fixed, which
will be a work requiring much attention and discrimination.
The anatomical preparation room is already, nearly filled
with excellent specimens. Another room Is exclusively oc-
cupied by a very large model of Hobart Town, and a pano-
ramic view of Sydney round the walls. In the model every
house and building is distinctly represented, and harbour,
with its shipping, is shewn by real water. The statuary
room contains many fine classical figures, most of which were
recently purchased for the benefit of the pupils. One large
room is appropriated for models and patterns of vessels,
many of them regularly built as real ships. They are very
beautiful. The other rooms are becoming replete with ad-
mirable specimens of art and vertu, and the collection of ma-
chinery, in working and other models, implements, &c., will
be the largest and most interesting ever before brought to-
gether. The exhibition will be varied and unique, and while
it will reflect great credit on the contributors, will do honour
to the town at large.

Tux ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—It is rather a curious
circumstance that whenever the proprietor of the Zoological
Garden announces a " Grand Gala Night," so sure the
night turns out a complete damper ; like a shooting corn, an
announcement of this description is a certain forerunner of
wet. On Wednesday evening. in honour of her Majesty's
birthday, Mr. Atkins had proposed his opening fete—but
the fates were unpropitious ; and whether Murphy or the
clouds were to blame, the fact of a wet day banished all
hope of an evening's enjoyment. Although towards evening
some clearing off took place, and though at least one thou-
sand persons presented themselves for admission in the full
expectation that the fireworks would be exhibited, the wet-
ness of the day prevented the necessary arrangements being
made, and Mr. Atkins was obliged to abandon his intention
of " firing." The Gardens are in charming condition ; the
beds are covered with the early spring flowers ; the haw-
thorn and the lilac, with their fragrant scents,
" Load the sleepy breeze,"
_ _ _

and the lawns are verdant with 'the herbage. The animals
are in fine condition. Two tigers, male and female, are re-
markable for their beauty. Several additions have lately
been made. The performing elephant is not one of the
least curious specimens. Of the View of Amoy we may
speak in terms of the highest praise. It is one of the most
beautiful pictures of its kind we ever beheld, and for pictu-
pleasing effects it is far superior to any before ex-
resque and
hibitod in these Gardens. The scene represents the city of
Amoy, with its houses, forts, pagodas and gardens; the hills
at the distance are cleverly managed. On the left of the
spectacle is a fortress ; on the right a dwelling-house—while
the centre is occupied by the city itself. There are portions
of this view quite gems in their way. In fact this scene is a
happy effort of art, and is highly creditable to the designer
and painter. The effects of light and shade are really cle-
verly and capitally managed. The reflection in the water, as
seen from the doorway of the rotunda, is very pleasing. On
the elevation behind the bear pits a camera obscura has been
erected. The view of the various objects and the groups
moving about have a curious appearance. If fine on Monday
night, when the gala is to take place, great crowds will, no
doubt, assemble.
LECTURE ON HYDROPATIIT.—On Wednesday evening,
an interesting lecture on hydropathy, or the water cure, was
delivered at the Music-hall, by Dr. Heatbcote, author of the
hydropathic treatment of diseases. The room was well filled,
but we did not observe amongst those present any of our dis-
tinguished members of the faculty. Captain Claridge, author
of the well-known work on the subject, was called to the
chair, and opened the business in an address detailing his
connection with the system. He had himself been a martyr
I to rheumatism while on the continent, and after trying vari-
ous regimens and nostrums without success, was persuaded
to go to the hydropathic establishment at Graefenburg, in
Austria, where it had been acted upon for 13 years, where by
submitting himself to the treatment laid down—the frequent
application of bandages dipped in cold water, and covered
with dry cloths to prevent the escape of the perspiration that
ensued ; the use of the cold bath, and the copious drinking
of the element, he was effectually cured, and was now with-
out ailment. He adduced a numberof extraordinary instances
of cures of numerous diseases by the same system, in Austria,
in other parts of the continent, and at various establishments
more recently formed in England, in which the faculty, he
regretted, were still sceptical of its safety and good effects.
Ile concluded by introducing Dr. Ileathcote (who had tin
establishment in this town,) to the meeting; and that gene
tleman read a long and elaborate paper on the subject, de-
tailing its origin with an Austrian peasant, named Vincent
Priestnitz, who was restricted by the government of that
country to the practice of healing by the use of cold water
only, and who had been so wonderfully successful as to es-
tablish a system, which he (Dr. II.) had no doubt would in
a few years supersede the use of drugs and medicines, which
generally went only to drive out one disease by leaving ano-
ther behind. He explained the progress of the new art, and
gave a variety of instances of its efficacy in eradicating diseases
that had resisted the prescriptions of succeeding medical men
of celebrity. Some of the cases related were astonishing,
and went to !show that hydropathic treatment would eradicate,
and speedily too, fevers, rheumatism, gout, and other hitherto
obstinate and dangerous diseases ; that, in fact, it would cure
all illnesses that medicine could vanquish, and many more
that it failed to remove. He was listened to with great at-
tention throughout, and was frequently applauded. Captain
Claridge afterwards addressed the audience at considerable
length, and with some eloquence, furnishing a number of
anecdotes and instances of cure and permanent health from
the use of water alone, outwardly and inwardly, and certainly
in himself exhibited a favourable specimen of robustness and
strength, the result he assured us of abstinence from ine-
briating liquors, and the copi libation of cold spring
water. tle Wlllll also wools appla4f,s,4 ; uuil at the close a vote
of thanks was given him by a, and another to his
friend, Dr. Ileathcote. For i;etaiis of the system we must
refer our readers to the respective pamphlets of the operator.
PICTURES Os THE OLD MASTERS.—Mr. instanley, of
Liverpool, related an anecdote, which may enlighten as well
as interest the patrons of old pictures. The high character
of Mr. Winstanley secured him from the suspicion that he
has at all exaggerated the statement; but we believe there
are many persons who could relate stories equally striking
and equally true. It is notorious that there are in England
hundreds of Titians, Vandykes, and Raphaels, the canvas
for which was manufactured in the nineteenth century; the
impositions practised upon English buyers on the Continent
are so notorious as to have become proverbial ; and of the
8000 works of foreign masters annually imported, perhaps it
would not be much to say,
ninety-nine out of the hundred
are forgeries, 84e. Mr. Winstenley exhibited to his audience
a small picture which, from the peculiar costume, the cut of
the beard, and the expanse of forehead, looked like a portrait
of Shakspere. It was also finished in a style, and had an
appearance of age and mellowness,
that would incline almost
any one to believe it a genuine picture. Some years ago, a
friend in London wrote to him, giving information that he
had picked up from
Winstanley saw the picture,
some voteless vendor of heterogeneous
articles, a portrait of Shakspere,
an undoubted original. Mr.
approved of it, and became its
proprietor. It was the identical picture which was then be-
fore the audience. He showed it to several persons of
eminent taste, who all pronounced it an original picture, and
set upon it a hi
matters. II high value, though they attributed it to different
•-e was offered very large sums of money for it ;
which, however, be refused, on the very proper principle,
that if it were an original portrait of Shakspere, such a rarity
was inestimable
; and if it were not, he had no right to take
any such amount for it as was tendered. To set the matter
' at rest, he took the picture to London, where he called upun
an individual whom he found repairing a portrait of Nell
Gwynne.
This Person informed him, in his peculiar way,
that he had made many portraits of Shakspere, and he had
no doubt he could tell him something respecting the one in
question. The moment the picture was placed before bins,
he said, " Oh, that is my old friend." On being pressed for
an explanation, he said that it had been made by a pupil of
his—a person whom he had taught to manufacture portraits
of Shakspere. It was one of a pair of old pictures of an
ancient gentleman and lady of the Elizabethan age. From
the costume and features they thought it might be made to
look very like Shakspere. Accordingly, under his direction,
his pupil heightened the forehead, altered the hair and beard,
and nut i
• in a few touches, which made the old man into a
Shakspere. This sort of deception, Mr, Wirotnnley assured
the "Lint P91)71 had not bolo tWoctr,Un cud 00.1 a picture
f.s
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