The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-31 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS

THE OXFORD TRACTS REFUTED IN THEIR OWN BIRTH-
PLACE.—We have been informed that two able and well-
known churchmen, the Rev. J. R. M'Ghee, the distinguished
Protestant champion, and the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel,
are about to deliver a series of lectures in the Town-hall of
Oxford, in refutation of the (Popish) doctrines put forth in
the " Oxford Tracts."

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, LIVERPOOL.—The Rev. Wm.
Hughes, whose labours in the Principality have been emi-
nently successful, has been appointed to St. Paul's Church,
in the room of the Rev. J. N. Peill, now curate of All
Saints', Rose-hill. The rev. gentleman commenced his mi-
nistrations on Sunday week.

THE REV. R. AIKEN.—The Rev. Robert Aiken, who is
about to leave Liverpool, delivered his farewell sermon on the
afternoon of Sunday last, in the church of St. John the
Evangelist, Hope-street. The church was crowded to over-
flow. Mr. Aiken's discourse was of a most affectionate
character, and eminently adapted to the circumstances of
the occasion.

THE REV. C. H. BURTON.—We understand that the Rev.
C. H. Burton, who has been officiating for some time as
curate of St. Martin's Church, in this town, is about to re-
move from this neighbourhood. His exemplary labours in
this sphere of duty have been productive of much good, and he
retires from it with the esteem and affection of all classes.
The members of his congregation are, we understand, about
to present him with some memorial of their esteem.
TIIE TWENTY-NINTH OF MAY.—Sunday last being the
anniversary of the great deliverance of King Charles the.
Second, according to the rubric, " the form of prayer with
thanksgivini to Almighty God for having put an end to the
great rebellion," was read in nearly all the churches of
Liverpool.
PRINCESS ROYAL STEAMER.—This unrivalled vessel left
Liverpool on Tuesday night, at ten o'clock, and arrived at
the Bromielaw yesterday at twenty minutes past four o'clock,
making the passage, with a head wind and including fifteen
minutes' detention at Greenock, in the extraordinary and un-
precedented time of eighteen hours and twenty minutes.—
Glasgow Argus, of Thursday.
A deputation, consisting of Lord Sandon, M.P., Mr. G.
W. Wood, M.P., Sir Howard Douglas, M.P., Mr. Thomas
Wyse, Mr. J. Hodgson, president of the Birmingham,Phi-
losophical Institution, Mr. Russell, the treasurer, and Mr.
Arthur Ryland, the secretary to the Birmingham Philoso-
phical Institution, Mr. Joseph Brooks Yates, resident of
the Royal Institution, Liverpool, and Mr. albot, had an
interview with Sir Robert Peel on Friday, at his official resi-
dence in Downing-street.
AN OFFICER REBUKED.—A man, named Thomas Wil-
liams, was placed before the magistrates on Friday, on a
charge of having been disorderly and fighting in Banastre-
street, on the preceding day. Williams had his head bound
up, and appeared to have received some rough usage. Reece
Davis, the officer who had taken him into custody, stated
that he had been very disorderly, and would not go home
when he desired him, but bad struck him, and he (Davis)
struck him again.—Mr. Rushton : " Why did you strike the
man while there were officers near you ?" Davis replied that
it was because the prisoner bad struck him. Mr. Rushton :
" That is no excuse at all. There were plenty of officers to
take the man without striking him. Such conduct is what I
have always cautioned you against : you must never strike a
man when you can call assistance. Let the prisoner be dis-
charged."
THE NEW CHIMNEY-SWEEPING ACT.—The principal
chimney-sweepers of Nottingham have announced their rea-
diness to comply with the provisions of the new act, which
comes into full operation immediately. Several of them
have constructed new machines for themselves, and others
are letting machines out to journeymen, or are selling them
at a very reasonable rate. This is as it should be, and will
entirely remove any difficulty which might arise from the
want of machines.—[We borrow this announcement from
the Nottingham Journal, and cannot forbear the expression
of some surprise that we have not yet been instructed to
give a similar notice for Liverpool. Householders will not
forget that the employment of climbing boys is positively
prohibited, under a heavy penalty, after the new act comes
into operation.]
- - - -

[Advertisement.]—THE NEW SEASON'S TEA.—It would
be impossible for us to furnish more pleasing or important
intelligence to our friends, than the progress of a large pub-
lic auction of Teas—which commenced on the 27th instant,
wherein greater inactivity prevailed than has for many years
past.—This is owing to the recent abundant arrivals of Tea
from China—and the total disappearance of speculators from
the market—(who have been the chief cause of the great
fluctuation in prices during the last two years—but who
now have been taught caution by experience, which is doubt-
less a boon to the public,)—it will require some new and very
alarming feature in the Chinese quarrel to be announced be-
fore a similar feeling for speculation can be again created.
Therefore, until a further change takes place, we can parti-
cularly recommend : Fine Stout Congou (Blackish leaf),
4s. and 4s. 3d.—for general family use—and high flavoured
or choicest description Pekoe Souchong kinds, ss. and ss. 6d.
—Robt. Roberts & Co., Royal Bank Buildings.—
Entrance up the steps leading to Bank.
May 30th, 1842.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION.—Sunday being
the anniversary of the restoration of King Charles to the
throne of these realms, the occasion was marked by the dis-
play of the Royal Standard and other national flags, with
boughs of oak, from the several churches and public build-
ings in this town and neighbourhood ; and yesterday groups
of the juvenile portion of the community walked in various
parts of the town, carrying children embowered in oak, and
representing Charles in miniature in commemoration of
the occasion. On Sunday, and also yesterday, many of the
vessels and boats in the docks and on the river were de-
corated with flags, and branches of oak at their mast heads.
In consequence of the anniversary falling this year on Sun-
day, the ship carpenters and others who usually walk in pro-
cession on the 29th of May, have, we learn, postponed their
procession to the 12th of July, when they will celebrate
simultaneously the Restoration and the Battle of the Boyne.
DEATH FROM BURNING.—An inquest was held yester-
day, before Mr. Curry, the borough coroner, on view of the
body of a child named Thomas Gough. The deceased, who
was but three years old, was, it appeared, left by his mother,
on Thursday week, in the room in which the family lodged
in Sparling-street,—while she went for some water. The
brother of the deceased, a boy of five years of age, was in
the room with him. The door was locked outside, with a
view to prevent them from falling down stairs, and there was
only a slow fire in the grate. Another female, who lodged
in the house, heard a scream, and on going into the room
found the deceased in flames. She called for assistance, and
several persons came, including the mother, and the fire was
put out, but the deceased was so much burnt about the face,
breast, arms, and neck, that, though he was dressed at the
Infirmary, and afterwards attended by a surgeon, he lingered
until Friday last, when he died. The jury returned a verdict
to the effect that the deceased died by burning, but how his
clothes became ignited, there was no evidence to show.
ROBBING A SCHOOL.—At the Police-court yesterday, a
woman named Lynch, and her son, were charged with having
committed a robbery in the Seel-street Roman Catholic
School. The boy, it appeared, had been a scholar there, and
knew the mode of obtaining access by the back. A week or
two ago a number of books were missed from the library,
amongst which was a copy of Lingard's History of England ;
and on Saturday an entrance was effected through a window,
when a coat, belonging to the master, was taken away. A
servant girl living in the neighbourhood had observed the
younger prisoner lurking about the premises for some time
before, and she acquainted the police with this circumstance.
The cellar inhabited by the prisoners was consequently
searched, and the missing coat was found concealed among
the bedding. The female prisoner had previously protested
that she knew nothing at all, either about the robbery or the
missing property. Mr. Rushton told her there could be no
doubt she had instigated her son to commit the felony. Both
the prisoners were committed for trial.

CAUTION TO WAREHOUSEMEN AND OFFICE-KEEPERS.
—Two men, of notoriously bad character, named !Cavanagh
and Dolphin, were placed in the dock of the Police-court
yesterday, under the following circumstances. They had
been seen together in King-street early the same morning,
and at a quarter before seven o'clock Cavanagh was found by
the charwoman standing at the door of Mr. Smith's office,
in South John-street, wich he had opened by means of a
skeleton key. The woman asked him what he was doing
there, and he replied that he was one of Mr. Smith's clerks.
Dolphin at the same time was standing at the front door in
the street, evidently keeping watch. Nothing had been
taken from Mr. Smith's. Police-officer, No, 539, coming
P, he took both into custody, and on Cavanagh be
found a skeleton key, which opened Mr. Smith's of-
fice door, and a pair of boots, which had been stolen
from the adjoining
office of Mr. Sherlock, along with
other property, on the 12th or the 24th instant, for it had
been robbed twice.
tfehcetebdoobtys meansashis of a The entry on both occasions was ef-
sekeyle.tonmkre. yß.asMhtro.oS, haeftrelorckheiadrieangtifithede
proprt
whole circumstances, committed Cavanagh for trial at the
next sessions, and ordered Dolphin to be imprisoned as a
rogue and vagabond for three months.

POOR LAWS.—The Poor-Law Commissioners, on Thurs-
day afternoon, met Lord Sandon and a-. deputation from Li-
verpool, at the Home Office, on the subject of the New Poor
Law Amendment Act.

MAYNOOTII COLLEGE.—We understand that a petition,
for a commission of enquiry into the state and studies of the
Roman Catholic College of Maynooth, was forwarded from
Manchester, to J. P. Plumptre, Esq., on Monday last, con-
taining 30,316 signatures, which exceeds the numbers to the
petition of last year by upwards of 3,500.
TOXTETII-PORK PROTESTANT OPERATIVE ASSOCIA-
TION.—The petition adopted by this spirited and truly-
patriotic association, for an enquiry into the system of
education pursued in the popish college of Maynooth, has
received upwards of 3000 signatures--and it has been for-
warded to Lord Sandon, for presentation to the House of
Commons.

PLANS FOR THE Sur.-WORKHOUSE.—The Board of
Guardians for the Parish of Liverpool selected, on Tuesday
last, after a deliberation of three weeks, two designs out of
the thirty-nine submitted for the proposed Workhouse, " in
recto decus" for the tirst prize, and "coat of arms" foi' the
second prize. The names of the architects proved to be Mr.
Walter Scott, of this town, for the first prize, and Messrs.
Lockwood and Allen, of London, for the second. We con-
gratulate Mr. Scott, who is well known by his buildings in
Cheshire, on his success.

ZOOLOGICAL GminENs.—There was an excellent attend-
ance last night at this very popular place of amnsement to
witness the Roman Festa. We must draw the attention of
the police authorities to an intolerable nuisance that takes
place every night while the company are leaving the gardens ;
unless it is put a stop to it will very materially operate
against Mr. Atkin's interest. We allude to the crowds of
stamping boys and young men that are permitted to assemble
by the sides of the road, who offer insults to the company on
their progress home, not only by words and abuse, but also
by throwing sand and lumps of turf in all directions. We
have heard several complaints of this, and we hope that the
nuisance will be " reformed altogether."
SMUGGLlNG.—Yesterday the man William Scott, trate of
the ship Bradshaw, whose case has been noticed before, was
again brought up at the Police-court, on the charge of
having smuggled allbs. of tobacco. The evidence, which
had been reduced to writing, was read over, after which the
prisoner was asked what he had to say in his defence. He
replied that he was very sorry for what he had done, for it
had been the meant of ruining his character for ever, as he
had obtained a responsible berth in the royal navy, which
was now forfeited. Mr. Rushton said lie should have
thought of that before. In order to save a few shillings
duty, he had not only placed himself in the situation of a
criminal, but he had put the owners of the ship to very
serious trouble. He must be convicted in the penalty of
one hundred pounds.
THE PERUVIAN MUMMY.—This singular relic of hu-
manity, on which the coroner was about holding an inquest
through the witless hoax of some silly person, was purchased
from Captain Hoodlop, of the Oberon, a ship belonging to
Messrs. Brocklebank, by L. T. Gaskill, Esq., of Seacombe.
Dr. Thorburne intends delivering a series of lectures in Li-
verpool, similar to those now delivering by Signor Peltigrew,
of London, and the Peruvian mummy will be exhibited in
illustration. Captain Hoodlop discovered the mummy in a
chalk tomb at Pisco, and it appears that he had the greatest
difficulty in conveying it on board his vessel. The Spanish
boatmen who rowed him and his prize to the ship, on disco-
vering that they had charge of a dead body, laid down their
oars, and it was only by his persuading them that it was the
body of his brother which he was bringing to England that
prevented them from throwing it overboard.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
—The committee appointed to inquire into the communica-
tion between England and Ireland have, for the present,
suspended their inquiries. We noticed in our last that Mr.
Cnbitt, the eminent engineer, had been examined. Mr. C.
W. Williams, managing director of the City of Dublin
Steam-packet Company ; Mr. Pim, the secretary of the
Dublin and Kingston railway ; and the Right Hon. Frede-
rick Shaw, have also been examined ; and it is stated that
all parties agree as to the superiority of railway communica-
tion between Chester and North Wales over the present
mode of transmitting the correspondence via Liverpool. It
is understood that the committee will impress upon govern-
ment the necessity of employing engineers to examine and
report upon the subject.

THE FUNDS.—SATURDAY EVENING.—The English funds
have remained perfectly quiet, with a small amount of busi-
ness. Consols for money closed 921 to i; and for the ac-
count, 93 to ; Bank Stock, 167 to 168 ; India Stock, 249 to
251 ; Exchequer Bills, 395. to 41s. premium ; 3 per Cents.
Reduced, 913 to ; 33 per Cents. Reduced, 100 to k; New
31 per Cents., 100 to I ; Long Annuities, 129 16 ; and India
Bonds., 21s. to 225. premium. Mexizan stock has advanced
to 37t to t, in consequence of the satisfactoryadvices received
of the state of that republic, and the progress Santa Anna is
making in the developernent of the resources of the country
in order to increase its revenue. Spanish New 3 per Cents.
also advanced, and several buyers came forward. Its last
quotation was 23k to j. In other securities there was little
alteration. Spanish Actives left off 22k to 3i ; Portuguese 5
per Cents., 38 to ;1i ; ditto 3 per Cents., 224 to 3 ; Dutch 2k
per Cents., sn; to 1; Colombian, 26k to 27-4- ; Chilian, 88 to
90 ; Brazilian, 67 to 68; and Belgian, 102 to 103.
SIR Hownun DOUGLAS.—We learn, from the papers
brought by the Caledonia, that the inhabitants of the city
and county of St. John's, New Brunswick, have recently
transmitted an address to this gallant officer and their late
distinguished lieutenant-governor on his election as member
for Liverpool. The signatures are very numerous and truly
respectable, and are led by the venerable father of the city,
John Ward, Esq., J.P., followed by the honourables the
senior member of the executive council, the speaker of the
House of Assembly, the high sheriff of the city and county,
the grand jury and the leading merchants of the community.
The address states, that the return of Sir Howard to parlia-
ment is deemed by them " an auspicious event for the high
purposes of the constitutional councils of the country," and
they add, that this belief is well founded since the "adminis-
trative residence" of the gallant veteran " was not only
marked by a support of the interests and dignity of the crown,
and his own urbanity as its representative," but also because
" every moral and industrial interest shared in the fostering
care of his almost parental hand."

MESMERISM.—We take the following from a late number
of the Halifax Morning Post, brought by the Caledonia :
" Dr. Collyer may fairly be said to constitute the life—
if indeed he was not the pioneer—of animal magnetism in
this country ; and when that science, which is now as it were
in its infancy—which has but just fairly taken root—shall
have grown up to a tree of knowledge,' and have spread
its broad branches beneath the genial influence of light and
truth,—his name will be associated with its richest and
most verdant foliage. It requires no small share of intellect,
as well as moral courage and firmness, to stand up the
the advocate of a contemned truth, and defend it from the
incredulous, the scoffs of the ignorant, and the opposition of
the selfish who are unwilling that anything should exist,
unless conducted in their own way and by their own per-
mission. Dr. Collyer is admirably fitted for such a task,
Possessing a keen, discriminating judgement— immense
nervous power—an independence of mind which knows its
own recources, and is ever ready to wrestle with opposing
intellect for the mastery—a perseverance that never tires
—and an energy that scorns the common obstacles of the
world—he has moved forward in his investigations of the
science, and electrified mankind with its mighty results.
When he first came to this city, the ;almost united voice of
the public, and by far the greater portion of the press, was
against him. Every species of ridicule which ingenuity
could devise, was employed to bring his favourite science into
contempt. Yet through all this, Dr. C. has stood up man-
fully for the right, until opposition is silenced, public opinion
revolutionized, and science endowed with a new feature, in
its onward march to the ' healing of the nations' and in its
capacity to bless mankind. One year ago, nearly the whole
mass of community were sceptical; now, there is not one
in ten, who has taken any pains to procure information on
the subject, that doubts the existence of human magnetism.
Let the honour of such results be placed where it rightly
belongs."
A CABMAN OUTDONE BY HIMSELF.—The driver of a cab,
the number of which was not stated, appeared before Mr.
Rushton, at the Police-court, yesterday, to complain against
a native of France, who, he said, had hired his cab and re-
fused to pay him his fare. He stated that he was with his
vehicle in Bevington-bush on Saturday afternoon, when the
defendant, who was drunk, came up and requested him to
carry him to Peter-street, which he did. On arriving at
their destination he had to hawk his fare up and down the
street till he could find his lodgings, a matter of some diffi-
culty, as he could not understand a word that Monsieur said
to him. A squabble arose between them, which, as neither
party understood the other, was so interesting as to excite
the attention of the whole neighbourhood. At length the
police were attracted to the spot, to whom the cabman, being
more successful in making himself intelligible, they placed
the unhappy Frenchman in durance vile on a charge of re-
fusing to pay the legal fare for the hire of the coach. The
complainant having told his tale, the defendant began, avid
with infinite gesticulation he informed the court that as he
was passing along Bevington-bush he was saluted by the
cabman, who asked him if he would have a ride. He con-
sented, and mounting the box, the good cabman conveyed
him to Peter-street ; but when he arrived there he most
wantonly demanded 2s. He assured the court, upon his ho-
nour, he had never thought of engaging the cab at all. The
driver had invited him to ride, and he was fool enough to
accept the invitation, for it had been the means of his being
kept in custody since Saturday. Mr. Rushton asked the
cabman whether the defendant had, as he stated, sat on the
box of the coach. The complainant replied that he had, but
he added, by way of explanation, that he invited him to go
inside, but he declined. Mr. Rushton said there was no case
against the defendant. It was clear that the complainant's
eagerness to obtain a fare had occasioned what followed.
The prisoner therefore must be discharged, and in the mean-
time he would recommend the cabman to be more careful
how be invited drunken Frenchmen to ride in his vehicle
again.

The Neapolitan journals mention the recent death at San
Fili and Bianchi of a man aged 114, and a woman aged 110.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY—This splendid
road has now been open a quarter of a year, last Saturday
being the termination of the first thirteen weeks. The in-
terest which the public feel in this great undertaking is only
commensurate with the advantages which it is conferring on
the east and west coasts of Scotland, and the beneficial influ-
ence which it is destined to exercise on the two communities
of Glasgow and Edinburgh. During the first quarter the
company have carried 132,024 passengers consisting of 24,413
first class ; 34,016 second class ; 73,595 third class ; the
first class being 18 per cent., the second class 251 per cent.,
and the third class being 551 per cent. The money received
from these passengers stands in the inverse ratio, the first
class yielding 42T per cent., the second class 33i per cent.,
and the third class 231 per cent. The first week's passen-
gers of the quarter were 5,561 ; the last week's passengers of
the quarter were 13,147. The season of the year will partly
account for this increase, but the same reason may be alleged
for an increased progression during the next quarter. The
goods and cattle traffic department is gradually forming itself ;
but, notwithstanding its immaturity and the short time since
it commenced, which was some time after the opening of the
line, the revenue is already equal to a fourth of the passenger
receipts. For the week ending Saturday 21st May, the num-
ber of passengers was 13,149 ; receipts, £1,685 ss. 11d. ;
horses and carriages, £27 16s. 6d. ; parcels, goods, cattle,
s&ic.u,
it3n9aBl.lls. 11d. ; total, £2,111 14s. 4d.--
Glasgow Con-
it

ACCIDENT ON TILE BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER
RAILWAY.—On Wednesday morning one of the company's
servants (name not ascertained) who is employed near the
Eckington station to adjust the " points," or swivel turnings,
on the arrival of each train, was ran over by the first morn-
ing mail train, it is supposed while in the attempted perform-
ance of his duty. Some alterations having lately been begun
at this point, another carriage way was formed, and it was his
duty to turn the train by means of the aforesaid swivel, on
the rails which lie there at a slight angle from the direct
line. It is supposed, however, that it having been the
night of the Eckington wake, he had taken too much
liquor, and was consequently incapable of accomplishing
his allotted task with sufficient quickness or steadiness ; for
when the train came up he had not performed his duty, and
the engine passed over his leg, below the knee, breaking the
bone and severing the leg, with the exception of a piece of
flesh. It will hardly be credited, but it is nevertheless true,
that the unfortunate fellow, perceiving the state of things,
with the utmost sang froid, took a penknife from his waist-
coat pocket, and completed the amputation by cutting 'the
flesh through! He then took up the detached member and
threw it on the platform, where he himself crawled, and lay
for upwards of an hour, till medical assistance was procured
from Pershore, and the leg was then amputated at the thigh.
The poor fellow was removed, and is doing as well as could
be expected.— Worcester Guardian.

STUPID HOAX.--ALLEGED .BURKING AFFAIR !

On. Saturday morning a stupid hoax was played off upon
Mr. Curry, the coroner for this borough, which, neverthe-
lt;ss, has excited some little merriment to those in the secret.
For some days past as will be seen from another paragraph, a
PERUVIAN MUMMY, imported from South America, in the
ship Oberon, has been lying at the office of L. T. Gaskell,
the agent of the London Times newspaper, in Lord-street
Chambers. Some lover of practical joking (who deserves to
have his nose held to a grindstone for his pains), dispatched on
Saturday a letter signed " Francis T. Wilson to the coroner,
informing that gentleman that the corpse of a man was lying
at the office in question under very mysterious circumstances ;
and that the writer confidently believed him to have met with
his death from assassination.
On the receipt of such a communication the coroner des-
' patched his beadle to the office of the alleged barker, Mr.
Gaskell. That gentleman, however, was not upon the spot;
and the official, in consequence, having declared his office
and the serious errand upon which he had come, proceeded
forthwith to institute a rigorous inquiry from some parties
whom he found in occupation of the supposed place of slaugh-
ter or felonious concealment. The box which contained the
embalmed body was at once shewn him, and its history duly
related ; but so dark a tale would not satisfy the man of
corpses. Who knew, he thought, but that a radical town-
councillor, or ex-whig mayor, an ex-whig member of parlia-
ment, was there packed up for the resurrectionist or for some
London curiosity shop ? The mysterious box was, therefore,
opened ; and the beadle, with the remembrance of Burke,
Hare, Greenacre, and Good, making
" Each particular hair to stand on end
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine,"
Proceeded to note down the appearance of the strange fish
or fowl which was presented to his gaze. Having completed
his survey, and satisfied himself that it was neither William
Rathbone reduced to parchment, nor Rigby Wason done
brown, the body in question having been dead for something
like a thousand years, he demanded the names of the parties
present, and satisfied with his examination, withdrew to re-
port progress, as the House of Commons people say. In
the course of the afternoon the coroner, having probably not
been much enlightened with the report of his official,
despatched a note requiring the attendance of Mr. Gaskell
at his office. That gentleman, however, was still absent;
but Dr. Thorburne, of this town, who was accidentally
present, proceeded to wait upon Mr. Curry, and explained
that the mummy in question was one which had been dis-
covered in a chalk tomb, where it had probably been buried
for centuries, and brought over to this country, as before
stated; and that it was his intention shortly to make it the
subject of a course of lectures. The coroner, we need not
say, was perfectly satisfied with this explanation ; and severely
reprehended the conduct of the authors of a hoax which had
created so much trouble and annoyance.

THE THEATRE - ROYAL. -THE STARRING

SYSTEM

We perceive by the announcement of the Theatre-Royal,
elsewhere in our paper this day, that the lessees have at
length broken through the rule they started with at the corn-
mencement of the season,—they have engaged "a star."
We have been so frequently addressed by various corre-
spondents to account for the non-engagement of the metro-
politan actors at the Theatre-Royal, that it has led us to
make some inquiry into the matter; and from sources that
we have no reason to doubt as to accuracy, we have gathered
a few curious particulars that will, while they point out an
instructive lesson, let the public a little into affairs behind
the scenes. These statements, •re we to give them at
length, would show the rapacity of the London actors—the
absurd value they put upon their services—the risk the
manager runs in engaging them—and the opinion the public has
of them, by the amount of patronage bestowed upon them.
The lessees of the Theatre-Royal have persisted in their
original plan until the stars have come to their terms—terms
at once equitable and just to all parties. To Mr. Anderson's
honour let it be said, that he has shown in his present engage-
ment a disposition to use the lessees fairly. We believe we
may state, so far, that the amount of his remuneration for
his fortnight's services will be entirely contingent upon his
benefit. We hope the public will remember this, because
their approval in supporting him on the ,occasion will show
how far the new system is appreciated. We can point out,
as we shall presently, that the new system is beneficial to the
public and to the stage. The result of the benefit is, as we
have said, an equitable mode of recompensing an actor ; be-
cause, if his services prove advantageous to a manager by
drawing extra attendance, it may be at once inferred, that on
the night of such benefit still greater will be the attraction.
This is the old system. Munden gave his services for a
fortnight, and was content to share half the receipts of his
benefit with the management. Have we a Munden now, or
any one that can be named within a long walk of him ?
Master Betty, a surprising instance of precocious genius,
but a mere " bubble of the day," it is true, yet still a good
and sure card, was content to divide the nightly receipts after
£9O, and give £156 for his benefit charges. Edward Kean,
the greatest actor the stage has for years produced, was quite
satisfied, in 1817, when in the zenith of his fame, to share
after £6O per night. Think of this, ye twinklers. In the
days of Johnston, Emery, and others, the sharing system
was considered satisfactory to all parties, and it appears to be
the only one upon which a theatre ought to be worked to be
rendered a safe speculation. The labourer is worthy of his
hire. If an actor excites curiosity in the public, and brings
so much more money to the house than would otherwise be re-
ceived without him, then he is worth his proportion ; jibe does
not draw extra money, he is clearly not worth his salt. This
has been proved, and is daily experienced in the provincial
theatres. What said Mr. Hay in his speech at Portsmouth,
as given in our last Friday week's publication —" The stars
were attractive, but they ran away with all the profit." So
it has been in this theatre. Some of the stars have brought a
little more money into the house, but have taken it away with
them. For instance, Mr. Macready, who vaunts his love for the
drama, and would have the public believe that he is the great
reformer of the modern stage—what has he done for it in
London during his last season? But let that pass. What
did he for the Theatre-Royal here last season ? Mr. Mac-
ready could not afford to accept an engagement unless be-
tween £3OO and £4OO (nearer the latter than the former)
were guaranteed to him for an engagement of ten nights !
This engagement Mr. Macready had when he was last here
—was paid to the very letter of the bond—and the manage-
ment sustained a very serious loss by him ! Now, will any
one have the effrontery to tell us that this nuan's services
were worth such a sum? Cui Bono—what benefit did he,
either mentally, morally, or physically? Why, the man that
mends a pair of shoes for 3s. 6d., that enables the hardy
mechanic to pursue his labour, is, in our opinion, a man of
more utility than Mr. Macready, or any other of his kind.
And where is there a member of a profession, trade, employ-
ment, or occupation, that dare come forward and ask such a
sum as an equivalent for services at such a rate? It is a re-
markable fact. that the " Heir-at-Law," which was originally
produced at the Haymarket, with the extraordinary cast of
Suett, Palmer, Fawcett, C. Kemble, Munden, Johnstone,
Mrs. Davenport, Miss De Camp, and Mrs. Gibbs, did not
cost the then management so much per week, as Mr. Mac-
ready's sole engagement lately at the same theatre! Actors
tell us they are public property, and therefore we make no
mincing the matter. The stars have been overpaid, and the
public has suffered. These people have required so much of
the gilt off the gingerbread, that managers, to make a bare
living, have been obliged to obtain poor companies to do their
ordinary work. The stars had no objection to this, because,
like the foil to the stone, it only set them off to greater ad-
vantage ; but the public has suffered, because it has seen a
part only in each drama well played, while the rest was bur-
lesqued most villanously. Thus has the public suffered by
the star system,

The lessees of the Theatre-Royal, in breaking the star
system, do the playgoing public service. They say, "We
will have a first-rate company. Our theatre is open to
stars,' as they call themselves, (though we question whe-
ther it is a correct term, for they come-it rather stronger
than such luminaries,) if they will engage at a price that
will pay us. We can draw as much money to our house
without as with them. We can get up everything in
a superior manner ; and experience has shewn that more
money can be taken without them." " This cannot be ! "
exclaims the reader. " What ! a regular company produce
more money than stars ? " It is even so. In the season of
1840, the following were engaged during the first fifteen
weeks, in rotation :—Miss Tree, Miss Romer, Templeton,
Mrs. Honey, Buckstone, Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, Yates and
wife, Bedford, Wright, Power Gilbert, Miss Bain, Master
and Miss Marshall, Madame'Vestris, C. Mathews, Vining.
In 1841, Van Amburgh, Elton, Balls, G. Vandenhoff, Wal-
lack, Miss Delcy, Templeton, Charles Dean, Mrs. Warner,
Mr. and Mrs. Yates, P. Bedford, Wieland, Wright, Master
and Miss Webster, Boleno Family. In 1840, when the
Adelphi people were here the best houses were drawn during
the whole time, they having played that most moral piece,
" Jack Sheppard." In 1841, Miss Delcy's was a first ap-
pearance : she did not draw. This season the Adelphi Com-
pany brought down several of their nasty pieces, which, if
the Liverpool public had served according to their deserts,
ought to have been hissed'off the stage. Now here, in fifteen
weeks, we have all the available talent of London ; and it is
a positive fact, that during the first fifteen weeks of this pre-
sent season, we believe that a larger sum has been taken
than in the year 1840, and some hundreds over that of 1841 !
The " stars," it is said, have come to a resolution to de-
cline any engagements at Liverpool and Manchester under
the present management. We saw the statement in a Lon-
don paper. It is clear that the lessees are better without
them ; but we strongly suspect that these stars will be glad
to come upon the fair and equitable terms proposed.
Liverpool and Manchester have always proved good specs
for these gentry, and they will not like to be cut out
of the two towns. Supposing that any of them should come
for a half benefit, and could clear £7O to £lOO for ten
nights, we think they would be well repaid. There are
many and many excellent and clever men, with many
mouths to feed, who are debarred of the common comforts
of life, who toil day by day, and sometimes part of the
night, to make all ends meet, who do not in one or even two
years, make as much as these superficial people consider an
inadequate Payment for a fortnight's labours. The doing away
with the star system is the true way to advance the interests of
the drama ; young actors and actresses get a chance of prac-
tise and advancement, their merits are tested, and if they
have talent in them, it is brought out. They become per-
fect • they are induced to study and persevere.
duch has been said on the subject of Miss Kemble not
being engaged by the management, which, if we may judge from
what has been dinned in our ears out of doors, has been greatly
blamed for not engaging her. But why should the public
blame any one for attending to their own interests? A
theatre is but a private speculation for a public purpose, and as
such, private remuneration must be looked at. Miss Kemble,
or those who have bought her up, who pay her so much per
week for her entire services, like the man in the van, who
pays a giant or a dwarf, or a learned pig, or any other matter
have the modesty to ask £lOO
in the showman's way, per
night. To set Miss Kemble's performance effectually on the
stage, many expences, we should imagine, must be incurred,
which might in round numbers, amount to perhaps £3O per
night ; to this must ea dded the expense of new scenery,
dresses &c., and the rrn charges of the house, besides
the slack business before and after her appearance. Would
it recompense any one sufficieptly to run, in bad times like
these, when every sixpence is looked at twice before it is
parted with once—wouldrather suchba speculation be prudent, even
It is_stl'd, that in the eventhouse of £lOO
supposing, which m
every night?
e a full could
be secured
per night not being guaranteed, it has been proposed to ac-
cept two-thirds of the receipts. _e have not heard whether
this proposal has been acceded to, bu.t we should fancy not.
The public, that is to say the Play-going portion of the
community, has better chance of amusement with a com-
panyhas bee sufficiently shown
like the present at. the Theatre-Royal, without
" stars," because, as, every
thing can be well done. That_ the star system is a bad
one, injurious to all except rapacious individuals who
have an interest in keeping it in existence, is quite clear;
and it is to be hoped that the management of Liverpool and
Manchester will persist in their present plan, and that every
other in the kingdom will follow its example.
Last evening Mr. Anderson, from Drury-lane, appeared as
Othello, Mr. Brooke playing /ago. To-night, " The Lady of
Lyons" will be performed, and to-morrow, " Hamlet." The
latter, it may be remembered, has been admirably put on the
stage ; a treat may be anticipated, Mr. Anderson's Hamlet
is a highly-finished performance.

Mr. J. Walter, the late representative for Nottingham,
has again offered himself as a candidate for that borough.
HORRID DISCOVERY
..—The Rio papers of the last ar-
rival mention an atrocious case connected with slavery. It
seems, that a house at Barra de Tajuca, a thriving, populated
district, about five miles from Rio, had been searched by the
police, and that the bodies of five, blacks, who had been
flogged to death, were discovered. The proprietor of the
house had been arrested.