The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-15 00:00:00

MULANOUOLY OCCURRENCE.—We are sorry to perceive,
from the Telegraph report, that on Sunday afterno.op, during
a squall, a sloop was sunk oft' the Point of Ayr, at the en-
trance to the Dee, and all hands perished.
It is worthy of remark, that the British and North Amer-
ican royal mail steamer Britannia, which sailed hence on the
4th and arrived at Boston on the 22d ult., carried out the
European news nearly four weeks later than had previously
reached the United States. All the sailing vessels to the
westward had had unusually long passages.
RUMOURED DESTRUCTION OF CABUL,—The Times city
article of Saturday morning quotes a letter, dated on the 10th
of December, from the camp at Dadur, in Upper Scinde, by
a military officer, who says, " Major Outram, the political
agent here, has received a private account of the total de-
struction of Cabul on the 13th ult., with 20,000 rebels."

DEATH BY BURNlNG.—Yesterday week, as a girl of the
name of Lydia Smith, ten years old, who resides with her
parents in Redmond-place, Nash-grove, was, engaged light-
ing a fire in one of the rooms down stairs, her clothes acci-
dentally caught tire, and she was so much burnt that she
died at tLe infirmary on the following day.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD.—On Friday last, as James
Keay Mairs, son of Mr. Mairs, of Eldon-place, was passing
from school with some of his companions, he suddenly ;ell
down insensible. He was lifted up, and his father was .s.nt
for. He was carried home, where he shortly expired. A
post mortem examination was made, for the purpose of dis-
covering the cause of death, which was found to have re-
sulted from a rupture of one of the vessels of the heart.

Lord Frederick Beauclerk was a passenger on board the
Merlin steam-packet, and on the point of starting for Li% er-
pool, from Kingstown, on the night of the ith, at half-past
10 p.m., at which hour an unfortunate woman fell between
the vessel and the quay, and was on the point of being
drowned, when his lordship, without hesitation, jumped
overboard, and held her up until assistance was brought, and
thus saved her life.
NEW MANX STEAMER.—The launch of the Isle of Man
Steam Company's new vessel, the " King Orry," took place
from the Bath building-yard, at half-past ten o'clock on
Thursday morning last. The day was unusually tine, and
the company of spectators unusually numerous. The cere-
mony of christening was performed by Mrs. Crellin, the
lady of the late Deetnster Crellin.
EXCHEQUER BILL FRAUD.—The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has now named Thursday next for his motion to call
attention to the subject of the late frauds connected with the
issue of exchequer bills ; but considering the corn-law de-
bates that must ensue on Lord J. Russell's motion, Colonel
Sibthorp's motion, Mr. Christopher's amended sliding scale,
and lastly, the further consideration of Sir Robert Peel's
plan, there is not the remotest chance of such motion being
brought on this week.

CAUTION TO PAWNBROKERS : QVERCHARGE OT INTE-
REST.—On Friday. at the Police-court, Mr. Holland, pawn-
broker, appeared to a summons,- to answer the complaint of
a female, of an overcharge in interest on the amount lent on
a pledge. It appeared from the evidence of Alice Williams
and her daughter Elizabeth, that the latter, by request of
the former, who was a stranger in the town, as also to the
regulations affecting pawnbrokers, had, on the 25th of June
last, pledged a pair of sheets with the defendant for a shil-
ling, to provide for her family, she being at the time in strait-
ene circumstances. The mother went to redeem them on
the 29th of January, and was charged 9d. interest in place
of about 34d., the legal interest for the time, which was
seven months and four days.—Mr. Rushton remarked, that
though some pawnbrokers conducted their business in a
proper manner. there were others who took shameful advan-
tage of the necessities or ignorance of the poor. The law
allowed them large profits, and they should be contented
and act fairly. The defendant must pay a fine of 45.
DEATHS By DROWNING.—On Friday morning, a fisher-
man of the :lame of John Stewart, 77 years of age, was
drowned in the Queen's Dock Basin. He is supposed to
have accidentally fallen into the river whilst in the act of
bringing his boat to the moorings.—A similar accident oc-
curred the evening before to a man of the name of William
Thomas. a cabinet-maker. The deceased was about to pro-
ceed to New York by the ship Benjamin Morgan, lying in
the Prince's Dock, with three other vessels between her and
the quay. About twelve o'clock on Thursday night the de-
ceased and some of his fellow-passengers were going on
hoard, and while the former was in the act of stepping from
the second into the third vessel, he suddenly fell between
the two into the dock. The space between the second and
third vessel was about four or five feet, and as there was not
a plank for the passengers to walk on, they had to step or
leap from one to the other. The deceased was apparently
sober at the time of the accident. Several ropes were thrown
to him while in the water, but without effect, and when he
was taken out, life was extinct.
- -

CURIOUS SCENE ON 'CIIANGE.—Although the Standard
and the Sun, which had been sent by a special train from
London to Birmingham, arrived at the usual hour on Thurs-
day morning, containing full reports of Sir Robert Peel's
speech delivered on the previous night, the supply of papers
was not equal to the demand. The arrival of the morning
papers in the afternoon was, therefore, anKiously expected.
They arrived about ten minutes before four o'clock, when
the demand for them at all the news' venders was great, To
supply the wants of commercial men, two dealers hit on the
novel expedient of spreading their stocks on the flags of the
area of the Exchange-buildings. There, surrounded by
eager purchasers, the news'-venders sold their papers as
quickly es they could serve them out. The Times was in
particular request, and the supply was, fortunately, equal to
the demand. Nearly one-third of the spacious area was co-
vered, for some time, by gentlemen eagerly pursuing the
" broad sheet," while others walked off 'Change reading Sir
Robert Peel's speech, The scene was as curious as it was
novel.

ATTEMPTED FRAUD ON TEL pOOR-LAW GUARDIANS.—
On Saturday Mr. James Aspinall brought before Mr. Rush-
ton a female who had attempted to impose on the Poor-law
Guardians by means of a forged certificate. The document
purported to have been signed by one of the surgeons of the
Infirmary. It set forth, that the husband of the bearer had
been ill for six months, and unable to work. In such cases,
we believe, the Guardians allow a trifling sum per week. It
was proved that the certificate had not been written by the
medical man whose name appeared attached to it. The poor
woman said she had been out washing all the preceding day,
and that morning her husband gave her the certificate, and
told her to take it to the Parish authorities, which she did.
The surgeon said he had visited the husband, who was sick ;
but, as the man had been insolent, and was able to attend
the Committee of Doctors, he had given him up. The man
and woman were in a state of perfect destitution, and that,
indeed, was the cause of the disease. One of the visiting
officers of the Parish reported the case as one of extreme
wretchedness, Rushton discharged the prisoner with
an admonition.

THI ODDFELLOW.-At the seS.eions, which terminated on
Saturday, John Birchall A.stley vv4a indicted for a misde-
meanour in having obtained possessjon of pertain sums of
money from one of the societies of OddrgilowS, by (41s,ely Fe•
presenting that his wife was dead, and afterwards that 4,e )7 44
himself dead. The circumstances of this case have recently
been fully detailed in our publication. The facts sworn to
were the same as those proved before the magistrate, Mr,
Henderson prosecuted, and Mr. Murphy appeared for the
defence. Mr. Murphy raised two points, on which he in-
tends to move the Superior Court. One was, that certain
documents produced in evidence were not legally introduced,
because they were not stamped. The other was that, as the
society was no!.-. legally enrolled, it was only in the nature of
a partnership, and tbe.prisoner could not, therefore, obtain
money illegally from litmAetlf. The Jury found the prisoner
guilty, and he was sentenced. t. 2 !men years transportation.

- •
THEATRE-ROYAL—The first exaali-,4
,of the determina-
tion of the new lessees of this establishment to offer some
inducement to the public to support them, was the &elinira•ble
manner in which " Hamlet " was got up at the commence-
ment of the season. The next proof is in the splendid pan-
tomime which we briefly noticed in our last as produced on
Thursday. It has drawn very full houses, and is likely to
run a successful career. The. applause every night has been
immense. The stoEv or plot is simple. On the rising of the
curtain we find the interi,ar of the copper mine, and the
coiners at work, fabricating the airculating medium. A dis-
pute arisinc, amongst them, their brawl is ended by the inter-
vention of HarpihaPini. (Signor Baleno,) who giyes some
striking proofs of his determination to he obeyed. Through
the mouth of an immense head, (which, by an ingenious
mechanical action, " opes its ponderous jaws" and " windows
occupying the whole back of the
ofstagt e,
tshoeuGl'ii'autthepeeyne;)
p iece (Mr. Gray), appears with the
Princess Half-crouita (Madame Schmidt), whom he has
taken captive with the intention of wedding to his son,
Harpihapini. The Princess declinei thF honour, and
is transformed into a bronze statue. The SOW then
changes to "The valley of silver ore" (Johnson), where
we are introduced to Dollarinn (Mr. G. Cooke), who,
on the discovery that his daughter has been taken away cap-
tive, offers a reward of 1,000 crowns and her hand to whoever
will rescue her. Silver Sixpence (Sig. S. Boleno), under-
takes the task. He falls asleep upon a bank previous to
starting on the perilous enterprise. While sleeping he has
a vision of the " Silver Lake" (Johnson), wherein the Fairy
(Mrs. Barton) and her attendants appears. The Fairy be- I
stows upon Silver Sixpence a magic coin, to preserve him
from harm, and summons a sprite Quicksilver (M. Schmidt)
to attend upon him. The Fairy invests the sprite with a
cap which causes him to be invisible when put on. We
may here remark, that the Sprite is capitally acted bylM.
Schmidt. His dress is novel and curious ;at every move-
ment it appears to emit rays of coloured light On the disap-
pearance of the Fairy and the awakening of Silver Sixpence,
we are next shown the outside of the " Giant's Castle "
(Parker). Here some bustle and amusing incidents take
place through the agency of Quicksilver, who endeavours to
obtain his master an entrance to the castle undiscovered. Six-
pence gains the interior where we find, by the application of
his magic coin, he disenchants the Princess, who is carried
out of harm's way by Quicksilver. Silver Sixpence being
discovered by the giant and his son, is overpowered and
condemned to death. The Fairy appears and rescues him
from his foes, and summons the grant to appear at the court
of Emperor Guinea. The scene is changed to the " Palace
of Sovereigns," where we find Emperor Guinea (Mr. Bar-
ton), his Queen (Mr. Vivash), and court assembled. This
scene is executed by Mr. Johnson. Nothing can exceed it
in beauty, effect, and brilliance. At the back are displayed
transparent portraits of her Majesty the Queen, Prince
Albert, and the Royal children, surroanded by appropriate
emblematic devices. 4t the wings are transparences of the
orders of knighthood, &c. The National Anthem being
played, imparts great life and spirit to this scene, which the
audience appear to appreciate by loud testimonies of delight.
It is altogether a very splendid effdrt in the art of scenic
delusion. The harlequinade here begins, the transformation
of the characters taking place on the royal family retiring.
Throughout the pantomime there are some bard hits at things
in general, and sundry mundane follies in particular. There
i; a laughable caricature of Jullien and his band. The im-
mitation of the immortal Jullien himself, with his airs and
graces, dandyism and round-cut coat, is capital. It elicited
shouts of laughter. The pictures from " Master Humphrey's
Clock" are very beautiful ; they do Mr. Kilshaw, the artist,
great credit. Boz's portrait was hailed with warm demon-
strations of attachment. The gullibilities of John Bull—
his disregard for Shakspeare—(not true, by the way, for lie
is idolized, and his works appreciated)—and patronage of
foreign varieties, is happily hit off. Beaumont Smith's
forgeries—the pension list—the Chinese war—the penny post
—the " big loaf," and other matters, are rapidly introduced,
and go off well. The last scene is truly splendid ; it is
entitled, " The Glittering Grotto of Fairy Fourpence on the
Chrystal Lake." The artists are Messrs. Johnson and Park-
er. The effect is surprising; several fountians play, illumi-
nated by coloured fires, while a brilliant pyrotechnical device
scentillates in the centre. The conception and execution is
completely successful, and appears to afford the greatest de-
light. It must have cost Mr. %V. J. Hammond great labour
and anxiety, being produced under his direction. Expense
does no appear to have been spitted in any department. The
dresses are costly, and the scenery throughout excellent.
The dancing of Mad. Schmidt and Sig. S. Boleno as Colum-
bine and Harlequin may be highly commended for graceful-
ness and agility. Signor Boleno and Sig. M. Boleno as
Clown and Pantaloon amused by their activity and drollery.
One fault we must notice—they talk too much. Old Joey
Grimaldi rarely spoke ; how eminent he was, we need not
say. His was " the eloquence of silence." Such a pantomime
as this has not yet been produced in the provinces, and we
question whether it has been excelled in the metropolis. The
lessees have spared neither money, time, nor trouble, and we
hope the public will appreciate their endeavours to please.
Paul Pry" was produced on Friday, and was excellently
cast. Mr. W. J. Hammond's Paul Pry was inimitably
atc,etieedn,eiaiiri_erdcdayusweads frequent bursts of laughter. Baker's
a specimen
good of the testy old soldier.
l.
Mrs. Clarke played
Subtle in her usual style of .
A
excel-
lence. Miss Hornier was dressed a great deal too fine for
waiting maid. She sang
mistake" and " Cherry r
the —" The lover's