The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-07-25 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, during the past week, the
play goers of Liverpool have had a rich share of amuse-
ment afforded to them in the masterly performances of
Mr. Charles Mathews, whose engagement of five nights
terminated on Friday evening with a bumper house, the
performances on that occasion being for the benefit of Mr.
Mathews. In addition to the performance of several cha-
racters, the excellent rendering of which at the hands of
Mr. Mathews has been long familiar to the public, several
novelties were produced during the course of his brief
engagement. The most important of these was " The
Bachelor of Arts," in which Mr. Mathews plays the part
of Harry Jasper—a gay, thoughtless libertine, who, for
"fun

answers the adiertisement of an old gentleman
wanting a tutor, and which situation he ultimately accepts,
and, by so doing, manages to save his patron and his wife
from disgrace, keeps his son from throwing himself away in
marriage upon a courtezan,and defeats thedeep-laid schemes
of a wily money-lender, who has long been the dailytorment
of his employer's existence. The admirable nonchalant
ease and perfectly graceful buoyancy of manner with
which he goes through the various scenes, and the tranquil
gaiety with which he prepares to meet every emergency,
are displayed in his most winning and effective style. In
this play the whole of the characters were admirably sus-
tained. The grasping, greedy, cunning, and dishonest
money-lender, Mr. Andrew Wylie, found an able and
judicious representative in Mr. W. J. Ray, whose concep-
tion and acting of the character were telling and effective.
Miss F. Baker as Emma Thornton, Mr. F. L. Villiers as
Adolphus, and Mr. B. Baker as Mr. Thornton, were all
and each of them excellent in their respective lines ; and
throughout the whole piece there was a completeness and
artistic keeping highly charming in itself, although un-
fortunately but too seldom seen on our boards. It was per-
formed for the first time on Tuesday, and was repeated
on Friday evening for the benefit of Mr. Mathews. In
"'Serve Him Right," he personates a jealous husband,
who, after a career of dissipation and flirtation, marries a
young and pretty wife, and, fancying by his own example
that everyone is trying to deceive him, he makes himself
and all around him wretched by fits of foolish jealousy.
Besides the pieces named, Mr. Mathews also appeared as
Mr. Affable Hawk in " The Game of Speculation," in
which character he was admirably played up to by Mr. F.
L. Villiers ; he also performed Sir Charles Coldstream in
" Used Up," besides sustaining characters in several lighter
pieces, On each occasion the performances were witnessed.
and welcomed by crowded and admiring audiences.
AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Mr. Lyon and Mr.
Lorraine, along with Mr. G. Honey, have been the lead-
ing performers. A new piece, called " The Courier of
Lyons," was brought out with considerable success; and,
as an afterpiece, " The English Fleet," supported by the
drolleries of Mr. Honey as Mat Mainmast, has contri-
buted to draw respectable audiences. On Saturday even-
ing, Mr. Vandenhoff commenced the second portion of his
farewell appearances at this house. He performed his
favourite character of Brutus in the play of " Julius
Cesar" on the occasion with his usual ability, and was
rewarded with frequent applause. We are glad to per-
ceive that during the present week his impersonations will
be supported by the talent of his accomplished daughter,
her beautiful play of " Woman's Heart" being announced
for two evenings.

. LIVERPOOL AUSTRALIAN EMIGRANT

FLEET

FIRST-CLASS vessels, belonging to the various Australian
Packet-ship lines, continue to depart from Liverpool in
considerable numbers each week ' • and it is not less grati-
fying to be informed, from time to time, of the safe arrival
out of those which, a few brief months ago, we saw depart-
ing from the Mersey. The Bloomer, of Messrs. James
Baines and Co.'s " Black Ball" line, took her departure on
Thursday, with 160 government emigrants, for Portland
Bay ; and the Phoenix, belonging to Walthew's "Liver-
pool" line, which sailed on Friday, for Melbourne, with
370 passengers. The latter is sister ship to the Salem,
which recently made such a very successful run to Port
Philip, and the captain is determined, if possible, to follow
the Salem's example. The Marco Polo started on her
fourth trip to the Antipodes, on Saturday morning, about

unn;ll., Luna ,rum ner appearance ana general finding,
there is every reason for believing that, under Capt. Wild,
this celebrated ship will retain the enviable position which
1_ 1 • I •

she has gained in respect to speed and safety. She had
on board 616 passengers ; 40 in the first cabin, 186 in the
second, and 390 in the intermediate and third cabins. She
carries, in addition, a very large mail, and about 400 tons
of fine goods. The publication of the Marco Polo
Chronicle will be commenced immediately on the ship
getting to sea, " when land is no longer in view," and will
be continued weekly during the voyage.
The Emma, of the " White Star," the Flora Temple,
of the " Black Star," and the Stamboul, with government
emigrants, are advertised to sail during the week.

The magnificent new ship James McHenry, belonging
to the "Thistle" line, the property of Mr. Duncan Gibb,
is on the berth in Canning Dock, taking in goods and
passengers for Melbourne. She is a first-class ship in all
respects, and has been built in Quebec, and was launched
last year expressly for the Australian trade. She is of
large dimensiops, measuring 195 feet in length, and
36 feet in breadth, with a depth of 28 feet. Her regis-
tered tonnage is 1721, and she will carry 3,600 tons.
She has been built on very fine lines, and is in every
respect fitted to make as good a passage as any ship
trading to Australia. Her commander is Captain John
Hood, late of the ship Covenanter, long and favourably
known in the Australian passenger trade. Her pas.
senger accommodation, which is extensive and com-
fortable, is confined to the first deck and poop ; the under
part of the vessel being adapted, on both the lower decks,
to cargo. The poop cabin berths are first-class, and the
passengers of that compartment will enjoy the extensive
privilege of using the quarter-deck as a promenade. Another
advantage which passengers by this vessel' will experience,
will be the ample promenade accommodation afforded by
her great length and width of unencumbered deck. The
appliances for ventilation, and otherwise securing the
salubrity and comfort of the passengers, are of the most
judicious order, each set of sleeping berths being separated
from those in closest contiguity with it by a passage,
which being open, and communicating with an opening
light, secures at once the admission of light and fresh air.
Among the numerous ships now trading between Liver-
pool and Australia, it would be difficult to find one in
which more attention has been devoted to secure the com-
fort of passengers, in all respects, than has been bestowed
on the fitting-up and finding of this fine vessel. About
half of her berths have been engaged, and a large quantity
of her cargo secured ; and she will be dispatched during
the first week in August.
The Government Commissioners of Emigration have
chartered the David Inver, belonging to Messrs. James
Baines and Co., for the conveyance of emigrants to
Sydney.

While notifying the departure of these fine vessels for
Australia, it is not less gratifying to record the accom-
plished voyages of those which recently left our shores.
Of these the Indian Queen, belonging" to the Black Ball
line, arrived at Melbourne on the 21st of April, in 92 days
from Liverpool. She sailed on the 19th January—the
same tide with the unfortunate Tayleur, and was for
fourteen days delayed in the channel by the heavy gales
which prevailed at the time. In fact, her commander re-
ports having met with no fine weather until 40 degrees
south of the Equator. She crossed the line on her 38th
day from Liverpool; but was delayed several days off the
coast of Australia. As the Indian Queen was to sail on
her return voyage on the 26th of May, her early arrival is
looked for. The Crest of the Wave arrived at Melbourne
on the 26th of April-74 days from Liverpool,—the fastest
passage ever made by a sailing vessel—having left here
11th of February. She had very fine weather at starting,
having reached the line in 16 days. She was built In
Sunderland for Messrs. Brice, Friend, and Co., of this
port, who also own the Spray of the Ocean (a sister ship),
which will be placed on the Australian berth in a few
weeks. The Eagle, belonging to the Eagle line of packets,
arrived at Melbourne on the 28th of April, being 104 days
from Liverpool. She encountered severe weather during
the entire passage. The following ships from this port
have also arrived at Melbourne :—Mary, April 9th ; Milti-
ades, 10th ; Swan, 22nd ; Dido, 24th ; Ann Martin, 25th ;
Matilda Wattenbach, 27th. Sydney :—Annie Armstrong,
March 27th ; Coringa, 30th ; Collaroy (s.s.), May let ;
Sumnatia, 10th. Adelaide:—Swan, and Thomas Fielden.
Portland Bay :—Almora, April 25th-84 days from Liver-
pool.