The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-02-10 00:00:00

LIAMS

Mr. BERMINGHAM proposed, " The town and trade of
Liverpool ;" to which Mr. KNAFPER made an eloquent
reply.
The MAYOR, in a most appropriate address, proposed the
health of the president of the evening, Mr. Coward; to
whose zeal and exertions, on the part of the society, he paid
a well-deserved tribute.
The PRESIDENT said, he felt extremely obliged to his
worship for the mode in which he had proposed the toast,
and to the members of the Guardian Society for their recep-
tion of it. To them he owed much, very much, for their
patience in continuing him in office ; and to the committee
was under special obligations. (Hear, hear.)
r. JOHN SMITH, after showing the advantages which
ht arise from the proposition, suggested that the society
sii.)uld turn its attention to the discovery of the best mode of
p :venting and extinguishing fires. He showed that the
eti',..-ts of the society might be very usefully occupied in this
work ; and, after strongly recommending it, he closed an
able speech by proposing the health of the Vice-President.
The VICE. PRESIDENT returned thanks in a neat address.
The TOWN-CLERK rose, amidst loud cheers, to propose
the health of Mr. David Evans, solicitor to the Guardian
Society, upon whose professional and private merit he passed
a just eulogium. There was not a more worthy practitioner
in the town of Liverpool ; and his exertions on the part of
the society were proved by the smallness of the law charges.
(Hear, hear, hear.)
Mr. JOHN SMITH.—The smallness of the account shows
the greatness of the merit. (Cheers.)
Mr. EVANS, in returning thanks, observed, that this asso-
ciation did not derive the great influence it possessed so
much from its numerical force as from its moral power,—

(cheers,)—and that influence he trusted, would go on in-
creasing for the benefit of the community. (Cheers.) He
was proud to have it in his power to say that he had kept
them out of litigation. (Hear. hear.) That, in fact, was the
principal part of his duty. (Hear, hear.) His duty, indeed,
was to do all he coal

; and if

they should g•C involved in it, to on al! lic conhi to get them

late hour he would nut detain

them longer, but conclude with expressing the strung sense
he felt of their kindness in proposing the toast.
Mr. lIAsTINos proposed the health of Mr. Reay, the
secretary, suggesting at the same that the committee should
at the first opportunity turn their attention to the high prices
charged for water. (Cheers.)

REAY returned thanks. Several other toasts follow-
ed, and shortly after eleven o'clock the assembly dispersed,
perfectly satisfied with the mode in which the evening had
been spent.

THE THEATRES

At the Theatre Royal, on Tuesday, Mr. Hammond, in
pursuance of an announcement in the bills of the day, deli-
vered the following address :

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-It is with considerable re-
luctance I appear before you, to address you upon a subject
irrelevent, as I may say, to the legitimate purposes of the
theatre. I rely, however, upon your kindness to grant me
a patient hearing, whilst in my own justification I shall a
" round unvarnished tale deliver," which, in its effect, I hope
will convince you that "I am a man more sinned against
than sinning." lam unwilling to trust my feelings on this
subject, lest, in the warmth of my excitement, any expression
might fall from me which, on after reflection, I might regret
having used. "I am no orator, as Brutus is ;" but to all
who know me " a plain, blunt man," and speak only to facts.
I, therefore, with your permission, will read what I wish
cautiously, yet fearlessly of contradiction, to state to you
and, through the press, to the public generally.
Mr. Ha►nmond proceeded to read as follows :
The person now assuming the management of the Liver
Theatre, Mr. Copeland, is connected with me by relation-
ship, having married the sister of Mrs. Hammond. I feel
called upon to state this circumstance, as, in the hearing of
the public assembled at the Court-house, at Kirkdale, on
Tuesday last, when the magistrates decided upon the infor-
mations laid before them against the performers engaged at
the Liver Theatre, it was asserted by an individual in his ad-
dress to the bench, that Mr. Copeland and his family had
cause to curse me as their bitterest enemy. Ladies and gen-
tlemen, the sin of ingratitude is one which few men have had
the hardihood to acknowledge. If, therefore, Mr. Copeland
has been indebted to me on many occasions for acts of kind-
ness shown to him, I think you will agree with me that he
should have been the last person to have' placed himself in
hostile array against me in my professional pursuits. Mr.
Copeland was well aware of the difficulties I had encountered
in carrying on the concerns of this establishment; and had
he had one spark of feeling or gratitude towards his former
benefactor, lie would not have lent himself as a willing agent
to increase those difficulties. '

I pass over many occurrences in which pecuniary aid had
been afforded Mr. Copeland, as well as Mrs. Copeland, by
myself and Mrs. Hammond, from the year 1823 up to the
period of 1833. In the month of May in that year Mr.
Copeland became manager of the Theatre Royal, Manchester,
(and let it be remarked, that during his management, the
same conduct which Mr. Copeland now pronounces as harsh
and persecuting in reference to the proceedings of the pro-
prietors of this establishment against the manager and per-
formers of the Liver Theatre, was adopted by the proprietors
of the Manchester Theatre Royal towards the manager and
performers of the Queen's Theatre : notices of an intended
prosecution were served upon the different members of that
establishment, and Mr. Copeland was strenuous in his
efforts to close the minor theatre.) At this time Mr. Cope-
land visited London for the purpose of securing the services
of his sister, Mrs. Fitzwilliam. That lady, however, de-
clined an engagement, assigning as her reason that Mr.
I Copeland could not ensure her a remuneration adequate to
her expectations. As a list resource, and at the eleventh
hour, Mr. Copeland in his necessity applied to me for my
professional aid ; and though promised a salary and benefit,
not one shilling did I receive for my services, constantly em-
ployed from the 27th of May up to the 2d of August. I shall
not enter into a minute detail, or recapitulate the many oc-
casions, during a long period, in which Mr. Copeland was
indebted to me for pecuniary aid, and also for my services
given on many of his benefit nights, with all the attendant
expense of travelling and personal inconvenience; but shall
bring under your notice a circumstance which took place in
the years 1838-9. At that time I was the lessee of the
Sheffield theatre; and with a desire to place Mr. Copeland
in a situation to obtain an honest livelihood, and eventually
to afford him an opportunity of becoming lessee of that es-
tablishment, Mr. Copeland was made manager of the
Sheffield theatre, with the understanding that the rent should
be paid in weekly proportions to the proprietors. This ar-
rangement, however, was not made good by Mr. Copeland ;
and, as 1 was held accountable for the rent, legal proceedings
were threatened, unless the same was promptly paid. And
upon the occasion of my acting for Mr. Copeland's benefit
at Sheffield, without remuneration, and with an assurance
from him that the receipts should be appropriated in liquida-
tion of the rent, and although he saw me served with a copy
of a writ, not oneshilling of the proceeds was applied in dis-
charge of the debt due to the proprietors. To this particular
circumstance may be ascribed my downfall in theatrical ma-
nagement; for, as I am prepared to show, the losses in-
curred, which were paid by me, amounted to a sum conside-
rably exceeding two hundred pounds. I still did not neglect
the claim which Mr. Copeland held up„,i me on the score of
relationship, but, on his return to London, used every en-
deavour to serve him ; and from the month of May, 1839,
until October in the same year, Mr. Copeland was an inmate
of my house, and supplied by me with such means of comfort
as my circumstances would allow.

In my arrangement for Drury-lane, I lost a valued, and I
have every reason to believe a most sincere, friend ; not for
having supported Nlr. Copeland in his need, but for having
employed him in a responsible situation in the theatre. These,
ladies and gentlemen, are facts incontrovertible. If they bear
hard upon Mr. Copeland, he himself is only to blame for
having drawn forth this exposure of his conduct, by nightly
appeals to the sympathies of the public, and by printed state-
ments, evidently showing a desire on his part to injure me in
public estimation.

Ladies and gentlemen,—During the past year, my best
endeavours have been used in producing the performances of
this theatre in a style of excellence in the scenic department,
in the stage appointments, and wardrobe, that would not suf-
fer by comparison with the patent theatres of the metropolis.
My exertions, in this respect, I have reason to be satisfied,
have been acknowledged and appreciated by the patrons of
the drama. If there has not been the same succession of star
attractions (to use a theatrical phrase) as in former seasons,
it may be accounted for by a deficiency in the market, or to
an over-expectation on the part of those who set too high a
price on their commodity. Still, on this point I trust that
sufficient has been done to convince you, that there has been
no want of alacrity on the part of the management; and the
engagements of Miss Adelaide Kemble, Miss Rainforth, Mr.
Balfe, Madame Grisi, Signor Lablache, Signor Mario,
members of the Italian Opera-house, in conjunction with
many others—Mademoiselle Cerito, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kean, and other established favourites—l trust will bear me
out in the assertions. That some of the auxiliary engagements
have been disastrous in the result, lam free to confess. I
will instance one amongst the number ;—that of Monsieur
Thalberg and the party associated with him. The demand
for their services, and which, in my anxiety to gratify my
patrons, I yielded to, was £7O per night. On one of their
nights the receipts did not yield an amount exceeding £56,
another less than £lOO, and the third night the receipts
amounted to little more than £2O. There is another subject
to which I wish your attention to be directed. In the season
previous to my becoming the couductor of this theatre, a pe-
tition had been presented to Government, praying for the
grant of a second patent; that petition failed in its object;
and it was therefore reasonable to infer, that the privileges
of the patent attached to this theatre would, in future, be
duly respected. But the reverse was the case ; and the per-
son on whose behalf that petition had been concocted, seemed
to care little for the protection sought for, by giving for a
season the same routine of performances, at the Liver Theatre,
which he could only have been authorised to produce by a
legal license or patent; thus, in fact, bearding the authorities
and defying the law. if, therefore, upon the faith of the pro-
tection of the existing patent, the value of which might be
fairly considered as enhanced by the rejection of the petition
for a second one, arrangements had been concluded with the
proprietors of the Theatre-Royal which rendered the lessee
liable to a heavy annual charge, it surely cannot be un-
reasonable that the person having the rightful claim should
be considered entitled to the protection of the legal and civil
authorities ' in preference to those who knowingly are guilty
of continued infractions of the law. Much has been said in
reference to my former situation as Co-Manager of the Liver
Theatre. Upon this subject I shall not dwell further than
by saying, that having paid the penalty of fifty pounds for
an infringement of the patent rights of this theatre, I never
afterwards yielded to the advice given me to contend with the
law ; and can with truth state, that had rigorous measures
been enforced to suppress the performances at the Liver
Theatre, I should have withdrawn from the concern, rather
than have encountered litigation which must have been at-
tended with enormous expense, and must have eventually
ended in defeat and ruin to the parties having no legal sanction
or authority for their proceedings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,—With thanks for the kind atten-
tion you have given to this plain statement of facts, I shall
conclude by saying, that as a father of a family, with a wife
and seven children depending upon my labour and professional
exertions, I trust I shall have claims upon your consideration
on the score of " auld lang syne," for support, more power-
ful than those of an interloper, who, whether employed as
agent or principal, I cannot but designate as an ingrate, and
whose inflated speeches and printed addresses I shall in
future cease to notice.

Lord Huntingtower applied for his certificate on Wednes-
day, which the commissioner agreed to grant on the 14th of
April.

HAVERFORDWEST.—This town was yesterday (Thursday)
morning thrown into no small excitement by the discovery of
the loss of the toll-gate erected at the top of Prendergast, on
the Fishguard-road. It appears that some evil-disposed per-
sons, moved, it is thought, by the desire of emulating the
fame of " Rebecca and her Daughters," in the adjoining
county, on the night of Wednesday last lifted the gate off its
hinges, and carried it to a field at the distance of about a
quarter of a mile. Early on Thursday morning a search
was instituted for the missing gate, and about noon it was
found in the field, sawed to pieces, and quite useless, except
for firewood. It is supposed the plot was executed by at
least half a dozen persons, as the gate was very heavy and
no disturbance was made. At present there is no clue what-
ever to the discovery of the offenders.—Cambrian.
THE GREAT CABBAGE CASE.—The Cour Royale of Paris
has just been occupied with a case which arose out of the
famous colossal cabbage, that some time back excited so
much interest in the capital. AM. Billandeau had originally
purchased this vegetable wonder for 15f. in the arrondisse-
ment of Melles, which is remarkable for large productions of
the kind. The Royal Society of Horticulture named a com-
mittee to report on the case, and this report M. Billandeau
had distributed throughout France, with a notice that the
seeds of the wonderful cabbage would he sold at the moderate
price of a franc each. The advertisements in the journals
announced that the King had taken 100 seeds, and delivered
them to M. Jacques, his head gardener ; and that the Minister
of Agriculture had offered 200 f. to the Royal Society of Agri-
culture to try experiments on the new production. As there
were 200,000 seeds ready to be delivered, it was expected that
a tolerable profit might be made on the first cost of the cab-
bage. A copy of the report having reached M. Remont, an
honest nurseryman of the Seine-et-Oise, he hastened up to
Paris, and proposed to M. Billandeau to form a partnership
cabbagelwi si tt listened nhe idm taofto for sending
oo f ,
proposal,t
rhemreeepaafratsitkol
i‘eael,
mei
eeinedddebdsrsloe3oyliemil,it
noenaoseogyfi America.oinf
.g
ffixedro rn his
Asel
value
aeu
e p Billandeauaorft
nhei
s
towards their common expenses. A quantity of the seed
was sent off to the United States, with a certificate from the
himself,ic cabbage.
obt effectbbaSecretary
eh
a.
that
bon
the
Nfadi
d.a Legation,spßfetleeaemdrn
ohstnaoto
dtm goanulinedcti
gatheredhtai isnl
experimentshothey
ilue sealed,gtoyhinlept
trni teodt conusosceutteehledrderi
at
cabbages exactly similar to
uhisow exculpated
back,
c kl:h but i
himself i
This being the
Botimihi eaanlcdi
iaesnaeu:,
tNrla.tißonen,iaonndt dmem.aßndileiadndheias money
refused to give back a sou. The matter was referred to arbi
f
Thursday, the
tifireaucdou;
rtburetveornsetdhethe apspeenalte,
nwchie, cphroccalmaiemed
on
theon
dissolution of the partnership, on the ground of its not having
been based on an object of legitimate speculation, and ordered
the 3,000 f. advanced by M. Remont to be returned.

Surplus on traffic account
"This railway has not been exempted from the common
suffering, (in passenger traffic especially,) consequent upon
the general depression of trade, but that revival, which begins
to be very generally anticipated, the directors hope may
shortly communicate its benefit to this line, and, by the ad-
dition of adequate accommodation for efficiently conducting
the goods traffic, lead to a decided increase in the revenue of
the company,
" In the goods department a great improvement already
appears, and were the proprietors to exert their influence in
promoting it, a large increase might be reasonably calculated

upon.
" The amount to be received from the Postoffice not being
yet decided, the directors do not feel warranted in recom-
mending:a greater dividend for the past half-year than ten
shillings per original whole share, and five shillings per half-
share, which will leave a surplus of £1547 18s. 6d.
" Negotiations have been opened in reference to the sale
of part of the Monk's Ferry property and the right of ferry,
and the directors recommend that the sale be made, subject
to adequate guarantees for securing the conveyance of railway
passengers and goods at moderate rates, and reserving the
right to resume the conveyance of goods should the company
think proper, and also of passengers, if the conditions of the
contract be not efficiently fulfilled.
" WILLIAM DIXON, Chairman."

Appended to the report was a statement of the receipts and
disbursements on traffic account, from the 30th June to the
31st December, 1842. The receipts from passengers, parcels,
merchandise, rents, &C., amounted to £12,555 19s. 6d.; and
the disbursements, for locomotive power, coaching expences,
police, interest, &c., left a balance in favour of the company
of £2094 4s. 6d. Added to this was a claim of £3,203 14s.
upon the Post-office, for conveyance of mails from 15th June,
1841, to 31st of December, 1842. These sums made applica-
ble for the dividend £5,297 18s. 6d. It appeared that there
had been conveyed 15,850 first-class, 36,855 second-class, and
74,954 third-class passengers. A statement of the capital
account followed, on which there appeared a balance to the
credit of the company of £772 9s. Od.
Mr. SOWERBY said that the report being read, he had a
few questions to put to the directors. lt appeared there bad
been 5,000 whole shares issued, at £5O each, which amounted
to £250,000, whilst only £246,620 had been accounted for ;
that 5,000 half-shares had been issued, at £25 per share,
which amounted to £lOO,OOO, whilst only £99,045 had been
accounted for. On the 31st August, 1841, £1,190 Is. had
been received for iron rails, which had not been inserted in
the present report. On the 31st of June, 1842, there had
been received for old engines £220, of which no account ap-
peared in the present report. On the 30th June, 1842, there
had been received from J. Dixon £512 145., which did not
appear to be accounted for ; and there was then stated to be
due from the late treasurer £2,300, which had not been ac-
r. yesterdayT WILCOX,b but,
the
ee
counted for. He wished for some explanation of these ac-
counts. He should have asked Mr. Wilcox for an explana-
tion
compare the accounts he would find the amounts he had
named deducted from the expenditure.
Mr. SOWERBY observed that that fact was not stated.
Mr. WILCOX replied that he could not mention it. The
sum received for iron rails, for instance, was deducted from
the expenditure for rails up to this period.
Mr. SOWERBY said the account did not say so.
treasurer, was
not
in
said,t h
eoffice.
if Mr. Sowerby would
Ai
Mr. WILCOX repeated that it could not be stated. The
expenditure was made up to a certain period.
Mr. SOWERBY.—You cannot blame me for asking the

question.
Mr. WILCOX said he would repeat that the account could
not be stated. It was correct up to the present period. For
instance, the,amount received for old engines had been taken
off the expenditure for new ones.
Mr. SOWERBY said, all he complained of was, that the
statement did not make it so appear.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the directors in their state-
ment could not be expected to give the proprietors a copy of
their books. The sums alluded to by Mr. Sowerby had all
appeared to the credit of the account.
Mr SOWERBY wished for some explanation with regard to
the balance due from the late treasurer.
Mr. WILCOX replied, that was a matter not settled yet.
The CHAIRMAN added, that proceedings bad been taken,
and he hoped the amount would be recovered. The directors
had made endeavours to obtain the money ; and now legal
steps had been taken, by which he hoped the money:would
be recovered.

Mr: GERARD mentioned, that at the last meeting of the
proprietors, Mr. Jackson, one of the directors, stated that
the balance would be recovered in a fortnight from that
time.

Mr. MALLAEY begged to state, that proceedings had been
taken against all the parties—both principal and sureties.
Mr. GERARD read what Mr. Jackson had said at the
meeting referred to.
Mr. JACKSON admitted having made the statement; and
The CHAIRMAN stated, that in accordance with what had
been then promised,
measures had been taken. The directors
had paid every attention in their power to the matter ; but as
the proprietors were aware, it frequently required great length
of time before parties could be compelled to discharge such
responsibilities.
compel payment, and
had taken every possible means to
ment, and they would not lose sight of the sub-
ject.

Mr. SOWERBY said that at the last meeting it was'men-
tioned, in the capital account, that the company were de-
bited with only £l5O upon account of interest paid and
mortgages, whilst it would be about £BOO.
Mr. WILCOX, in reply, said a large sum had been received
from the Woodside Ferry Company upon the sale of that
ferry.

Mr. Sow Ee.
mßgwe:aYrsue pxsota2hoi misunderstood. There was a
the
etemd
standing, of
.00nf
lot mhneo t s than
Decembera
30thn sixj unme o
tlnhBt
e4h
r2se:
would be about £7OO of interest due. It appeared, however,
that only £l5l 75. Bd. had been paid.
Mr. WILCOX replied, that that £l5l was the balance of
interest paid and received upon the six months. There bad
been a number of receipts and payments of interest, both
sda ntslhl7:eo2:lBaaa, nOsnOd
and
o
ways; and this was the amount of. the balance. The great
bulk of it had been received from the Commissioners of
Birkenhead, for the payment of Woodside ferry.
Mr. SOWERBY was glad to hear the explanation. He was
perfectly satisfied.
Mr. E. MoziAce asked whether ibis £l5l odd cleared off
the whole interest due on the 31st December last?
Mr. WILCOX replied in the affirmative, adding that, in an
account like that submitted by the directors, it was impossi-
ble to enter into minute details. There had been perhaps
between 30 and 40 receipts and payments of interest, and
the £l5l, as he had said before, was the balance.
Mr. MOZLEY had a remark to make touching the amount
due from the defaulter, the late treasurer. If there was
going to be a loss of it, thei better way would be for the pro-
prietorsinfermed of it at once. £2,300 was a large
to be
sum of the surplus money of the company, inasmuch as they
had a balance on the capital account of only £772. Os. The
law clerk, without reference to the directors, was the proper
person to tell the proprietors, first, whether the amount of
defalcation had been ascertained ; second, in what state were
the proceedings
which had been instituted; and, third, whe-
ther there was a reasonable hope from the stability of the
parties that the money would be recovered?
Mr. MALLABY replied. The amount of defalcation had
been ascertained, but he did not know the precise figures—
Mr. WiLcox.—£2 ,300 •
Mt. MALLABY, in continuation, said the directors had
taken what they considered to be adequate security to the
extent of £3,000. They believed the parties were able to
pay, but they had been driven to adopt proceedings on ac-
count of some counter security not received by the sureties
themselves, which would have enabled them to pay the debt
before this period. Proceedings had been taken, and they
were in a situation to be tried at the ensuing assizes if there
was any defence;
andthe proceedings had been taken with
such celerity, as to drive the parties to that • t Ifth
ey
had .
had been taken at an earlier period no greater advance would
have been made, although they might have been commenced
when the last report was made, and when it was supposed
would be
that payment made in the ensuing week. The
pro-
ceedings, as he had said before, were in such a state that
they would be at issue at the next assizes, unless payment
was, in the meantime, made.
Mr. MozLEy took it for granted, that in the proceedings
which had been taken there was nothing to doubt the ability
of the parties to Pay! and no technical objection which would
make the company liable to be upset ?
Mr. MALLABY was not aware of anything.
Mr. MOZLEY.---
Then it is a mere question of
getting
the
money if they have it ?
Mr. MALLABY.—Exactly.
Mr. GErcitian called attention to the fact that 5000 whole
shares had been created, which amounted to £250,000,
whilst only £246,620 appeared to have been received, leaving