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

as the cele

oin Webe:

expressive power and excellen

pa'rticularly she seemed
completely electrified
.the audience, brin
..

.oused to I

perfect storm of approbation, and securing a hearty and
unanimous encore. Pearsall's madrigal; " Who shall win
try lady fair," was also sung in such a manner as to form
a rich treat. For his spirited singing of Wallace's song,
" The star of love," Mr. Sims Reeves was rewarded by a
hearty encore, which he responded to by introducing a
clap-trap affair, in which " Sebastopol and liberte-e" figured
conspicuously ad captandum ;—the conclusion of the
quotation is so little complimentary that we shall avoid its
utterance. This latter piece also, chiefly from its novelty,
we suspect, was received with applause and encored, both
of which would unquestionably have been
More honoured in the breach than the observance.
Preceded by a sestetto from " Don Giovanni," the concert
was wound up by Weber's splendid overture to " Pre-
ciosa." During the evening several choruses were sung
in good style, and the orchestral accompaniments were
tastefully and judiciously executed. As a whole, the con-
cert gave great and deserved satisfaction. We
with pleasure that that the same chief vocalists a:
mental performers intend giving " The Messial
Philharmonic-hall on Tuesday fortnight

perceive

FREE LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

THE Library and Muse

m Committee have issued their

second annual report, which contains subject of both con-
gratulation and regret. It is pleasing to learn that both
the library and the museum are becoming more extensively
popular, and consequently more extensively useful ; but it
is painful to learn, as we do from the report, that the
utility of both institutions is seriously impaired by the
want of suitable accommodation connected with the mu-
epum We are informed that "no .nrogress has been
made during the year in mounting additional specimens,',
occasioned by want of room ; and we are also told that
there is a large number of specimens of "the most interest-
ing and varied character" kept in drawers, unmounted
and unstuffed, on account of the crowded state of the
cases. Such a state of affairs is in every way unfortunate,
and points in unmistakeable terms to the necesssity of
speedily providing more extended accommodation. This
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 edifice, through
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.

The report notices likewise, in gratifying terms, the
pleasing history and progress of the Lending 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,