The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-10-24 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

longer presented "the attack on the luckless Tiger," but
was turned in admiration of " La Cordova," at the Odessa
Operahouse, with whose acting he was fascinated. Dis-
covering the "impressionable mind" they had to deal
with iu Lieutenant ROYER, the Russian magnates took
care that he should behold Muscovite life and manners
coleur de rose, and they treated him to all manner of
civilities, including a pleasant journey to St. Petersburg,
and a charming interview with the GRAND DUCHESS, pre-
paratory to his being introduced to the GRAND DUKE, the
melo-drama being consummated by a tgte a tgte with the
EMPEROR ! In all of these unusual incidents great care
was taken to show the sunny, not the shady, side of men
and matters, and, contrary to every form of expectation,
Lieutenant ROYER was invited to make notes—in short,
to write a book; he took the hint, and on every page of
his one-sided tablets he has successfully performed for
himself the office which DOGBERRY sighed in vain for a
clerk to do for him. This is all very sad and very serious,
but it cannot be helped. The reception of marked, indeed
very marked civility, where he had expected rudeness, if

not cruelty, and above all, the studiously elaborate cour-
tesy of a veritable live Emperor, has been too much for
the simple son of Neptune, it has u, set him, and—he has
written, and worse than written, published a book—need
more be said on such a painful subject ?
In the death of SAMUEL PHILLIPS, which event took
place at Brighton, on Saturday, the 14th instant, the
literary brotherhood has lost an able and industrious
coadjutor. In his earlier years, indeed it may almost
be said "hot youth," Mr. PHILLIPS sought renown
as a player, but did not meet with that success which his
ambition craved, and, withdrawing from the stage, he
betook himself to literature. In 1811, his most important
literary work, "Caleb Stukeley," appeared in Blackwood's
Magazine, and was followed by " We are all Low People
there," both of which have recently been re-printed.

Subsequent to the publication of then,
engaged as a writer for the Times,•his contributions to
that journal being, it is understood, chiefly of a literary
cast, and including, it is said, severe rather than unjust

strictures on the writings of DICKENS and some other
Del populorum. He afterwaixls became connected with
the Morning Herald, for which he wrote political leaders,
and,-at a mote recent period, he became ostensibly the
proprietor of the John Bull. Seceding from this, about
two years ago, he became more prominently a literary
man and less of a political writer, connecting himself with
the literary details of the Crystal Palace, of which depart-
ment he was appointed director, and published " The
Crystal Palace Hand-book," and " The Hand-book to the
Portrait Gallery." In early manhood, his constitution, at
no time robust, suffered severly by a fall from a I

from the malign effects of which he never fully recovered ;
and, after a protracted course of ill-health, he died sud-
denly from the rupture of a blood-vessel, in the thirty-
ninth year of his age.

Literary and publishing circles are again hunched upon

the foggy ocean of

Law's " glorious uncertainty," in respect

to the greatly vexed question of "foreign copyright." A
legal opinion, promulgated in the Jurist, declaring, con-
trary to the received general opinion,—and that of pub-
lishers in particular—that the recent decision of the

House of Lords does not in any degree affect the question
of " foreign copyright in this country !" " Who shall
' In the meantime, the

when doctors disagree ?'

practical effect of that decision has been great, numerous
cheap reprints, particularly of American books, have been

ed and very extensively

circulated in tb

country

This invasion of the rights of property of sister Sarah and
brother Jonathan, has had a wonderful effect in sharpen-
ing their intellects, previously very indifferent as well as
obtuse and hazy on the literary relations of meum and
teem, and the Yankee confraternity of authors has become
clamorous for the establishment of an international law of
copyright. Unauthorised rumours having of late ob-
tained wide circulation, to the effect that the recent cheap
re-issue of the " Waverley Novels" had proved unprofit-
able, and was abandoned, have received the de facto con-
tradiction of the appearance, within the last few days, of
"The Antiquary," as a volume of that series. Another of

se unauthorised drafts on the somewhat liberal bank of
public credulity" has been dishonoured by non-accep -
It was to the effect that the cheap re-issue of
BULNVER'S novels had been found not to ans

r, and that

the agreement under which that re-print had been issued,
has been cancelled. To this averment Messrs. ROUT-
LEDGE give the most unqualified contradiction. From
this somewhat lengthy string of facts and fictions, it is
evident that the spring breezes of the literary atmosphere
have begun to stir the buds and give token of coming
blossoms to grace the advent of its antipodean summer.

Already the great houses are pushing out the "season's "
announcements, which include material of "rare promise."
Old friends are placed before us with decidedly new faces ;
and several new candidates for the Olympian crown have

intimated their intention of courting popular applause
To each and all of them a hearty welcome !

A great dramatic event has been introduced, and a bold
theatrical experiment has been made, in the revival of

Pericles, Prince of Tyre," at Sadler's Wells Theatre.
A considerable time has elapsed sine the intended revival
was intimated; and from time to time the public curiosity
was stimulated by green-room gossip and coterie on dits
relative to the style of its production, and the amount of
pecuniary aid it must necessarily receive. The old disputes
concerning its Shakspearian origin were in part-'resusci-
tated, and various other incidental means were hit upon
to keep the shuttle-cock of public curiosity in motion.
In the list of amateur commentators on the genius of the
great bard, conflicting opinions were, of course, hazarded,
combated, agreed to—none of them, however, acquiring
Iral favour than that long ago enunciated by COLE-
RIDGE, who correctly said of SHAKESPEARE, that he keeps
"at all times in the high road of life ;—he has no innocent
adulteries, no interesting incests, no virtuous vice;—he
never renders that amiable which religion and reason

more gene,

alike teach us to detest, or clothes impurity in the garb
of virtue." An extensive colloquial commotion having
been duly maintained for the required time, the piece was
launched, and proved to be a well excised scenic outline
of the crude though powerful tragedy. It has been put
on the stage with great spectaculer skill. The scenery,

of the most gorgeous and artistic order, has, it is said,
been several years in preparation—the dresses and stage
properties are various and beautiful, embracing the cos-
tumes and social adjuncts of Greece and Assyria, which
are harmonized with taste and judgment —the acting and
elocution were in general worthy of the care and study
bestowed on the piece in all its elaborate minutia and
powerful effect. Last week, I made allusion to the ques-
tionable style in which DOUGLAS JERROLD'S 'drama of
" A Heart of Gold" had been produced at the Princess's
Theatre. Mr. JERROLD has himself given a succinct nar-
rative of the cause which led to the injurious mode of its
production, and an equally succinct, though graphic com-
mentary upon the proceeding. He lays the weight of

his injury on the shoulders of Mr. CHARLES KEAN, and
attributes it to wounded vanity on the part of the actor,
who was carricatured in Punch. If KEAN was galled by
Punch, JE►ROLD seems little less hipped by KEAN, and
threatens in revenge to bid ".farewell to all dramatic
doings." At St. James's Theatre, "The King's Rival"
has undergone some judicious curtailment, and continues
nd attractive. The tact, delicacy, and beauty of
Miss GLYN'S acting in this drama have raised her to a
still higher position in histrionic art, and contributed in
no small degree to the success of the piece. At the
Mr. Monais BARNETT concluded his engage-
ment on Monday evening. He leaves this country for the
United States, where, it is to be hoped, an extensive and
profitable popularity awaits him.

popula

Adelphi,

WHEAT IN CANADA.—It is estimated that the Canadas
will have a surplus of 12,000,000 bushels of wheat to dis-
pose of this season.
FOREIGN FOSTAGR.—Lord Canning, accompanied by
Mr. William Page, the head of the Foreign and Colonial
branch of the Secretary's department of the General Post-
office, left London for Paris on Thursday last to enter into
negotiations with the French Government on the subject
of a new postal treaty.—Civil Service Gazette.

WARDS of 700 tons of fleecy hosiery,- consisting of
under-waistcoats, drawers, have been shipped on board
the Screw-steamer Prince, for conveyance to the troops in
the Crimea. A complete telegraphic apparatus, with
several hundred miles of wire, to be laid down in the
Crimea, and also several sets of diving apparatus, to
remove under-water obstructions, will likewise be taken
out by the Prince.
AN ANCIENT HOSTELEIE.—The old " Black Boy" at
Feckenham, Worcestershire, is now closed as an inn. It
has been in the family of the Gardners about 139 years.
The sign, which is of copper, stood the whole of that time,
until taken down on Thursday last.—'Worcester Chronicle.
Han MAJESTY'S NEW YACHT.—January next has been
fixed as the period when the splendid new steam-yacht,
the Windsor Castle, now building at Pembroke for the
Queen, is to be finished and launched. The greatest exer-
tions are being made in order to hasten her progress. A
large body of the beet men are constantly at work upon
her, and converted timber has regularly been brought
round from the other yards in order to expedite her build.
She is so far advanced that an excellent idea may be
formed of her; and there is no doubt that she will prove
a model of beauty both in finish and mould. Her lines
have evidently been laid with care and judgment, and pro-
Ill'Ete great speed, while her immense length, more than
100 yards, and proportionate beam, will secure ample
accommodation, not only to Royalty, but also to the
officers and crew--a comfort in which the Victoria and
Albert is sadly deficient. The Windsor Castle is built of
mahogany chiefly, with sound British oak. The diagonal
planking has been laid.

cing re

PERCIVAL'S SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS, BIRKENHEAD.
—The second concert of this interesting series took place
on the evening of Thursday last. The audience was
select and fas ' table, and the entertainments of an
interesting c ter. The artistes engaged on the
occasion were t members of the Liverpool Glee and
Madrigal Union, in addition to Mr. Percival and his
talented pupil Mr. Radcliffe, the latter of whom performed
two solos on the flute. The glees and madrigals were
effectively produced, and were accompanied by the society's
pianist, Mr. J. Skeaf, jun. Purcell's beautiful round
" Yes, brother, yes," and the " Tars song" by Hutton,
were charmingly given and rapturously encored.
THE GRAND OPERA—THEATRE ROYAL.— On Monday
evening the magnificent opera of "Der Freischutz " was
repeated in German, the character of Agatha being sus-
tained by Madame Rudersdorff, Annette by Mad'lle
Sedlazek. Both these characters were well performed on
each of the occasions, although preference is decidedly due
to the first. As on the preceding Friday, Herr Reichert
was advertised on Monday to appear as Max, and as on
that occasion his place was again occupied by Herr Zapf,
to the considerable disappointment of those who attended
in expectation of witnessing the performance of the former
gentleman. That he was labouring under au attack of
illness, in Manchester, we believe, was only too conclusive
a reason for his being unable to appear as a public per-
former in Liverpool, and in regretting his unavoidable
absence under the circumstances, many will join, who are
altogether sable to sympathise with the indiscretion of
announcing his appearance a second time, while still
labouring under that indisposition which compelled his
absence on the preceding Friday. Very recently, Mr.
Copeland felt himself justified in publicly replying to
accusations brought against him by the anonous cor-
respondent of one of the Liverpool journals. What may
have been the nature 'of the complaints, we have no know-
ledge of, never having read the communication referred to,
and only guessing at its tenor from Mr. Copeland's answer.
The defence was mainly that the engagement of first-class
talent is not remunerative in Liverpool, even at the high
rates charged for admission, to witness the performance
of the grand operas; but that, by perseverance in produ-
"y good operatic entertainments, he hoped yet to
In this praiseworthy endea-

render theni remunerat:

he was I your we wish him ever:

success; and sincerely hope his
most sanguine expectations' niay be fully realised ; while
doing so, however, 'Mr. Copeland must pardon us for
expressing grave doubts as to such repeated announce-
ments and substitutions being the best way to assist in
bringing abcut so desirable a result. Parties paying a
large price for admission, and to some extent interfering
with domestic arrangements, are not likely to be attracted
to the theatre, if they learn by experience that implicit
reliance is not to be placed on the announcements issued
under the authority of the manager. On Friday, Doni-
zetti's Opera " La Favorita " was performed for the first
time in,Liverpool. The house was but indifferently filled.
Madame Caradori appeared as Leonore, the music of which
she sang with great taste and beauty, combining these quali-
ties with powerful execution and appropriate expression.
As Inez, Madame Heinrich did not appear to great advan.
tage ; her acting seemed tame and forced, and in rende-
ing the music she laboured, we had aln 'd, in a
iorse, of troubles. Signor Fortini sang with fire •'s we'

Most said, in a sea

eloquence, and as a whole, his representation of Alphonso
was highly creditable to his talent as a vocalist, and his
culture as an operatic artist. The Fernando of Signor
0. Benedetti was correct rather than of a high order.
Throughout the opera the orchestra was effective and
powerful, although in several instances there appeared
considerable hitches ; and a common understanding did
not seem to be well established between the scene shifters
and the prompter, any more than between the latter and
the conductor of the music. Last night the opera of

" Lucia di Lammermoor " was performed ; and Bee-
thoven's splendid opera of " Fidelio " is announced to be
performed on Friday evening,in German. At this theatre,
on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings,
Knowles's play of " William Tell" was performed, the part
of William Tell being spiritedly sustained by Mr. Barry
Sullivan, whose representation of the hero was iu all
respects excellent; his elocution being correct, dignified,
and expressive. In addition to the ordinary attractions of

the drama, a judicious