The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-07 00:00:00

down to a sumptuous repast, at the Gerard's Arms Inn, to

lost I OWN

~nation of the skill and judicious manage-
ment displayed by Mr. Docwra, the well-known contractor,
-•ing on the works in connexion with the Rivington Pike

testify their apt

works," and after the

,dbes. &e,

usual toasts, appropriate and

the company separated at a late

the conviviality of the evening,"

•It so happens that 1 live in Ashton, and know pretty well
what. is going on, and I know that no such " sumptuous re-
.

past" took place, as reported in the Mercury. I know also
that " the gentlemen and landowners" of Ashton are too

much dissatisfied with Mr. DoCwra's "judicious manage-

to this

managers, in so

an assure you that the works are a great nuisance
ighbourhood ; they seriously obstruct the traffic on

the high road by their

iicious management,"

navvies cause great disturbances in our vii

and their

lage by their

4orderly conduct; so much so, that on
one or two occasions the police were overpowered, and would
have been seriously injured by them, had not some of the
civilians come to their rescue; and to convince you that the
Veroury, and through it the public, have been imposed upon,

drunkenness and

I give you an extract (whicl

have been allowed to peep at)
of the proceeding-a of our Board of Highways, which consists
principally of " the gentlemen and landowners" of the town-
" That

ship. It is, ns near as I can recollect,

as follows, viz.,

rnerous complaints of the impedi-
ments and obstructions caused to the traffic in Lily-lane, by
laying the pipes for the water-wens, it is resolved, that
Henry Wood, the assistant surveyor, be, and is hereby, in-
structed to insist upon the road in Lily-lane being thoroughly
and efficiently repaired by the parties engaged in the Liver-
pool water-works, and that the said party or parties be com-
pellerl, in their future progress through this township, not to
impede or obstruct the high road in the manner they hereto-
fore have done." So Much for the accuracy of the report in
the Mereuly. A RESIDENT
Ashton-in-Nlalcerfield, Nov. 4, 2854

'quence of the

.21irETSTC ..417D L

SHILLING ORATORIOS.—One of these popular enter-
tainments takes place this evening, in the Philharmonic-
hall, on which occasion the " Creation " will be performed.
Mu. E. W. THOMAS'S SHILLING CONCERTS, we per-
ceive, are to be resumed for the season, commencing on
the first night of the ensuing year. Miss Bainsford, we
understand, has been engaged for the series, which, is, we
_And, to include several musical novelties of repute,
among others, Bochsa's favourite composition entitled "A
Musical Voyage round the World," a piece which, on its
production at Her Majesty's Theatre, excited a great
sensation.

underst

AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Buckstone has con-
cluded a successful engagement, the evenings of the week
having been devoted to a repetition of those characters for
the able representation of which he has acquired so wide-
spread a renown. In the different pieces he has been
ably supported by Miss Fanny Baker and Miss Swan-
borough, Mrs. Shalders, and Mrs. Power ; and likewise by
Mr. Baker and Mr. Villiers, and the other members of the
resident company.
CONCERT AT THE PHILHARMONIC-HALL FOR THR
PATRIOTIC FUND.—The practical members of the Phil-
harmonic Society, assisted by several amateurs—the whole
about 300 in number—will give a concert at the Philhar-
monic-hall, on Tuesday next, in aid of the Patriotic Fund.
The programme will include Mozart's 12th Mass, and
several other popular compositions. The price of admis-
sion will be one shilling, a rate which will enable the
working-classes to add their mite to the fund.
LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE CHORAL UNION.—The first
concert of this union took place on Thursday evening, in
the hall of the Collegiate Institution. The programme
contained a judicious selection of choral music and solos,
which were executed in a style reflecting much credit on
the assiduity and skill of the members and the judgment
of the conductor. The society, n hich is but of recent
origin, promises to be of great service in promoting a
knowledge of part singing, and is an excellent school for
study in that department of musical art. It numbers
among its patrons the Right Honourables the Earls of
Derby and Ellesmere, the Most Noble the Marquis of
Salisbury, Thomas Berry Horsfall, Esq., M.P., the Vener-
able Archdeacon Brooks, and the Rev. A. Campbell; the
Rev. J. S. Howson, president of the Collegiate Institution,
being president of the Union. Its objects, as stated in
the rules, are to promote the study and practice of sacred
and secular music; its members consist exclusively of for-
mer pupils and of masters of the institution, with such
ladies—relatives or friends—as may be introduced by
them ; and, judging by the performances of Thursday
evening, the objects of the society appear to be steadily
adhered to and discreetly followed out. such institutions
are useful, and praiseworthy as they are useful.
THE GRANT) OPERAS AT THE THEATRE ROYAL have,
during the past week, been somewhat of a mixed character.
Rossini's great and difficult opera "Seiniramide" occupied
Monday evening. On Friday, the performance@ consisted
of selections from Mozart's "Zauberflotte ;" from Handel's
"Ads and Galatea ;" and from Beethoven's " Fidelio." On
this occasion the manager was again compelled to offer an
apology for one of the leading vocalists, Mad'lle Agnes
Biiry being unable to perform. The services she had to
render were once more allotted to Madame Rudersdorff,
who is always ready—better still, always willing, and best
of all, always able to sing, and sing charmingly. The
selections from Mozart's celebrated " Zauberflotte " went
off with extreme ponderosity and dulness ; those from
the " Acis and Galatea" were rendered with much superior
spirit, and elicited several well-merited rounds of applause.
Still, every one present seemed impressed, if not oppressed,
with the inappropriate formality of a concert on the stage,
instead of the legitimate accompaniments of dramatic
representation and scenic effect. The second and third
acts of " Fidelio" concluded the evening's performances.
On the non-operatic evenings, Mr. Barry Sullivan, aided
by the musical talent of the operatic choruses, has been
delighting select and intelligent audiences by his repre-
sentations of William Tell and Macbeth; and, this
evening, the veteran tragedian Vandenhoff, and his accom-
plished daughter, make their appearance in the grand
lyrical tragedy of Antigone." The piece is to be brought
out with great scenic splendour, and, represented as the
leading characters will be by the lady and gentleman
named, supported also by the able chorus, it must prove a
dramatic treat of the highest order.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY gave a subscription
concert on Tuesday evening last, in their splendid hall.
The attractions were numerous and of a high order, and
the audience large and fashionable. The principal vocalists
were Madame Clara Novello and Mr. Sims Reeves ; to-
gether with Mrs. Endershon and Mrs. Lockey, and Mr.
Lockey, Mr. Hobbs, and Mr. Henry Phillips, members of
the English Glee and Madrigal Union, and J. L. Hatton.
The orchestra and chorus consisted of the members of the
Philharmonic Society, and the whole was well conducted
by Mr. J. Z. Herrmann. Haydn's delightful symphony
in E flat, was selected as the opening piece, and it was
executed with good taste, the members of the orchestra
displaying judgment as well as ability in its perfor

the audience marking their approbation of the piece and
of its execution, by well-merited applause. The first vocal
performance was Elliott's beautiful glee, " Come, see what
pleasures in our plains abound," which was charmingly
given by the members of the Glee and Madrigal Union
It was sung with that tasteful combination of 1
effect which is produced by individual exce
united skill, and which forms the leading featur
style of•composition. The performance was wort
reputation achieved by the distinguished artiste
waa enthusiastically encored. The glee was follovied
duet from Verdi's "Eigoletto," sung by Madame Clara
Novello and Mr. Sims Beeves, which these distingdished
vocalistesave with theiz customary AEI, sweetness, and

ence and

that the
.ed by the

is painful to learn, as we do from the rei
utility of both institutions is seriously imr
want of suitable accommodation connected with the mu-
seum. We are informed that "no progress has been
made during the year in mounting additional specimens,',
TET occasioned by want of room ; and we are also told that
.DRAMA.

there is a large number of specimens of "the mos

terest-

ing and varied character" kept in drawers, unmounted

and unstuffed, on account of the crowded state of the
tunate,

cases. Such a state of affairs
and points in unmistakeable terms to the necesssity of
speedily providing more extended accommodation. This

.s in every way ur

necessity is yet more pointedly displayed in the fact that
the museum has been visited during the year by 122,174
individuals, such a number clearly showing the importance
and popularity of the institution. The report also notices
another gratifying illustration of the good favour in which
the museum is held, in the number of donations which
have been made to it in the various departments of natural
history.

It is also gratifying to know that the Reference Library
has proved useful as well as popular, conclusive evidence
of which is afforded in the consultation of 98.760 volumes
during the year; but here again we are met by the re-
pressing statement of the committee, that the room is
badly ventilated and overcrowded. " The usefulness of
the Institution," say the committee, "is marred, and its
Progress retarded, if not entirely prevented, by the want
of a suitable building." Considerable funds have now
been provided for the erection of a suitable ee
the munificence of private liberality and the contribution
of the corporation, and it is to be hoped that ere long
active steps will be taken for securing that sine qua non
to the success of the institution.

ifice, through

The report notices likewise, in gratifying terms, the
pleasing history and promss of the Ler.ding Libraries.
Eighteen hundred individuals have availed themselves of
the privileges afforded by those libraries, 1,080 volumes
being the average weekly circulation in the two years.
The report says, "It is a noticeable fact, that the larger
proportion of solid reading is among the really working
classes," and further adds the gratifying statement, "that
the greatest order and decorum is manifested by the
readers, no case of misconduct having showed itself." On
the whole the report is satisfactory, as a record of the
success which has attended a most praiseworthy and
valuable institution—one in every way deserving of popu-
lar support and public countenance.

LIVERPOOL ACADEMY EXHIBITION
♦

SIXTII NOTICE.

IN the various visits which we have made to the Exhi-
bition galleries, partly induced by the limitation of their
number, and partly deterred by the exceedingly disadvan-
tageous position allotted for their display, the sculptural
portions of the Exhibition have not been noticed. It is
time to remedy this oversight; and we shall proceed to do
so. Conspicuous among these, for their artistic merits,
are two small subjects in basso-relievo,—No. 747, " The
Miseries of War," and No. 718, " Titania Asleep," from
the spatula of Mr. F. M. Miller. In both of these the
composition is tasteful, and the handling delicate. The
lines are generally sweet, and the grouping artistic. In
the former, the sentiment imparted to the mourning
figures is impressively suggestive of sorrow, without con-
veying the idea of harrowing misery and ill-fated despair.
The artist has sought rather to display the dignity of grief
—deep-seated, fixed, rooted grief—in preference to the
more vehement outburst of passionate suffering
has succeeded, to a very great extent

and he

in realising his de-

sign. His production, while speal
feelings, fixes itself firmly, but not unpleasant]

Lng keenly to the