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Northern Star (1837-1852), 9th October 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 14, REGISTRATION DECISIONS. ^ A good deal of...

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    • PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.
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      W2 J-Lmu* -W Tow1- (*>E^ -

      W 2 j-LMU * -W TOW 1- (*> e ^ -

      Public Amusements.

      PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

      The Theatres. Hat Market. On Monday Nigh...

      THE THEATRES . HAT MARKET . On Monday night this house , the Adelphian performances at which terminated on Saturday , re-opened in its pwn proper sh-Upe with the comedy of ' * Money , " played by the same performers who acted in it last season . Mr , Webster was received with the

      heartiest applause . The present season will terminate his management of the Haymarket , which has now lasted many years , and which has been most creditably distinguished by the hearty encouragement he has afforded to living dramatic authors . At present he has around him a strong working company , which in all likelihood will bring his reign to a prosperous close . The favourite actors of the company were all loudly applauded on their entrance by a numerous audience .

      DRURY LANE . On Saturday last , this theatre opened for a " short season , " and Sir E . B . Lytton s w Richelieu" was performed by a company totally unknown to the London public , and totally without qualU fication to dispel the obscurity . The representative of the politic Cardinal made of the part a " singular combination of senility , inaudibility , and rant , and could only disarm the wrath of the

      audience by stepping forward and informing them that he had undertaken the part at two days' notice , while the actress who played Julie , or , as-ipmeof the dramatis personal called her , " Shooly , " added to the Absurdity of the exhibition by reading her words from a book . The play was followed by mingled applause disapprobation , and derision , and evidently left an impression that a time-honoured establishment had been deeply degraded . Some -clever tumbling-feats restored the good humour , but could not elicit the respect of the audience .

      ADELPHL The opening of this favourite house on Monday night was signalised by the re-appearance of Madame Celeste , who had been absent for about twelvemonth , on an American tour . An enthusiastic round of applause and three bouquets greeted her first entrance , and probably no artist was ever more deserving of a hearty welcome . The drama selected for the re-appearance ojf Madame Celeste was " Green Bushes , " which may be termed the evergreen of the Adelphi . Although it has been so often played- ^

      for the number of its representations are counted by hundreds , not units—it was exactly the piece suited for the occasion . Every actor has some particular character with which he is identified , and in which his likeness is generally taken by the portrait painter . With Madame Celeste this character i $ Miami , the " huntress of the Mississippi , " and when she appeared with her Indian costume , and the light rifle in her hand , it was her own proper self that she brought before the audience . Any other dress would have been a disguise *

      Moreover , " Green Bushes '* has intrinsic qualities , which , however often it is played , prevent it from appearinghacknied , Every playgoer is familiar with every incident and every joke in the piece , but still everybody is disposed to gaze with iadmiration on the generous but vindictive Miami ,. to laugh at the eccentricities of Jack Gong and his " giv ' ner , " and to sympathise with the wild natural joy and grief which Miss Woplgar displays as Nelly , that most faithful of foster sisters . The secession of Mr . Wright from the theatre causes an important change in the cast ; but Mr . Honey , who frequently played " Muster Grihnidge" during Mr , Wright ' s illness , is well versed in all the business of the part , and

      is no inefficient substitute for his predecessor . The habitues of the house must have remarked for the last two years the gradual rise of Mr . Honey since he first took a decided stride in a melodrama called " Jessy Grey . " His industry and zeal is unbounded , and his chief endeavour should now be to put a check on an ultragrotesque tendency , and to tone down a certain hardness which pervades his grimaces and his gesticulations . With a little care he may be one of the first broad "low comedians" of the present day . The entertainment closed with "Jack Sheppard , " which has been re-transferred from the Haymarket , and in which Mrs . Keelev is as admirable as ever . The house was crowded .

      SURREY . On Monday night this theatre , after having undergone a thorough renovation and re-decoration , was opened for the season with no fewer than three new pieces . The first entitled " The Seasons , " was said to have been suggested by Thomson ' s poem , but it seemed to have nothing in common with'it beyond the name . In the first act , «* Spring , " there is an evil landlord bight Leeward . This Leeward has a pretty ward upon whom he has himself designs , but she sacrifices her fortune and weds Mr

      Brightfaart , a gentleman whose father also disinherits him for having married a penniless girl . In the second act ( ten years later ) BrigUheart is represented in the full enjoyment of the happiness to which his devoted love has entitled him—the father of two children , and the possessor of a fine estate , which the fruits of his industry have enabled him to purchase . This is « Summer . " But "Autumn" is approaching . This epoch is fixed five years later ; and in it BrigUheart ' s son has been led into extravagant habits by the plotting of Martin Iron , the steward of Leeward

      m his days of prosperity , but who , having been ruined by his spendthrift conduct , is now used as his tool . Leeward had been originally a needy adventurer , and had entertained a passion for Amanda , but he now transfers it to her daughter , and meeting with a repulse , he wreaks his vengeance upon her brother , whom he causes to be arrested . Brighthart , after a severe mental struggle , forgives his heir , and . pays his debts ; but the young man , desirous to retrieve his reputation , leaves the country . Fifteen years after the events set forth in this act , Briqkthtart comes once more before the audience consumed with anxieties for fcis lost son ; but the prodigal at last returns . The joy of the reunionhoweveris

      , , interrupted by a sad catastrophe . Iron has had an encounter with Leeward , who has been reduced to beggary , and whom he shoots . In the struggle he sustains some hurts , of which he takes advantage to charge vourig BrigUheart with robbery and attempted murder , lie calls upon the father to commit his son ; the aged parent enacts the " antique Roman / ' and upon Irons sworn deposition signs a warrant . " Now is the winter of" general " discontent ; " but the falsity of Iron ' s charge is suddenly made manifest ; and he is himself committed for perjury , with a comfortable prospect of being also tried for murder . He ( is then led off to prison amidst universal shouts of triumph from all , whether on or off the stage . The piece is a very fair

      The Theatres. Hat Market. On Monday Nigh...

      production of the school , and achieved an unequivocal success . The principal characters were ' exceedingly well sustained by Messrs . Creswick , Shepherd , Davis , and Mead . Some very amusing comic business was introduced for the special benefit of Mr . H . Wid-hcomb , who , however , would not be less funny if he interpolated the text a little less freely with oaths and other profanities . Mr . A . Younge , likewise , enacted a benevolent misanthrope with considerable effect . The second piece was called " Going to Cremorne , " in which Mr . Widdicomb sustained the chief burden . Mr . and Mrs . Twiszle ( Mr . Yoimge and Miss Boria ) have both been to Cretnorne by stealth : and have both

      seen a certain waiter , one jP <^^*^( Mr . Widdicomb ) , who happens to be engaged hy J ^^ J ^^ aunt as a footman for her niece . Hence the gtft % y > feie are thrown into agonies of fear lest things should bft fotit . d $ > ut ; and to add to the embarrassment of Mr . Twizzle , Peter takes it into his head that he is his long lost father . The extravagancies that result would take too long to tell ; but the miseries of the hapless couple ought to he quite enough to prevent clandestine visits to any forbidden amusements whatever . The entertainments concluded with a drama , n two acts , " of intense domestic interest , " and called '"The Divorce . "

      PRINCESS'S Mr . Bouricault ' s pretty little comedy "The Prima Donna " ( which continues to be performed nightly , with undiminished success , ) was followed on Wednesday evening by a melodrama called " Mount St . Michel ; or , the Fairy elf the Sands ; " a piece entirely of the Adelphi school , and produced , apparently , for the purpose of bringing out Mr . John Wright , who is now a member of Mr . Kean ' s company . In point of dramatic quality , " Mount St . Michel" is even below the ordinary standard of pieces of this

      class ; indeed it is utterly destitute of merit ; being a jumble of stale melodramatic incidents , and unmeaning buffoonery . There is an old French count , who is pursued by a powerful enemy , and seeks shelter and concealment on the rock of Mount St . Michel , oh the coast of Normandy , accompanied by his daughter , an ultra-heroine , who does wonderful things , and encounters unheard-of dangers ( except in melodramas ) to save him . Then the young lady of course has a lover—a very chivalrous gentleman , who fights with and conquers the villain Of the piece ; and there is the usual assortment of villagers , who dance and sing choruses ^

      monks who walk in procession and sing hymns- -fierce-looking soldiers , a ridiculous magistrate , a pert country girl , and a clown . Such a kring of commonplaces cannot excite the slightest interest , and the comic portion has not a spark of wit or humour . Mr . Wright ' s part has nothing whatever to do with the business of the piece ; if , indeed , the piece can be said to have any business . He had " his exits and his entrances" for no other purpose than to indulge in the lazsi and grimaces with which he has so long bee a in the habit of entertaining the Adelphi audiences ; and he carried them to such a length that he more than ohce provoked loud expressions of disapprobation .

      The piece , however , had one great merit—the only thing , indeed whicji carried it through . It was one of the most beautiful spectacles we have ever seen , Some of the scenic effects were exquisite ; there was in particular , a night-view of the sea-shore , with the sun rising and gradually illuminating ah expanse of sands , bounded by the water gleaming in the distance , which did the highest honour to the talent of the artist . The living tableaux on the stage were managed with admirable skill and taste : and there

      was a village fete , with dances , which would have been applauded at Her Majesty ' s Theatre . The piece , in short , was got up with singular care and completeness ; but all the pains and cost bestowed on it only suggested the thought , "Le jeu ne vaut pas la chahdelle . " There was considerable applause on the fall of the Curtain ; but it was far from being general , and the prevalent feeling must have been surprise that such a piece should have been produced by Mr . Keail at the Princess ' s Theatre .

      OLYMPIC . Mr . Stirling Coyne , who may be regarded as" the dramatic chronicler of passing topics , has now seized upon Australia , and has produced a farce bearing the long and extraordinary title of « Wanted , 1 , Q 0 & Spirited Young Milliners for the Gold Diggings . " The joke of a lawyer ' s clerk , who assembles a crowd of modistes in his master ' s office by the advertisement embodied in the title

      oi the piece , is not without its prototype on the stage ; but the appearance of a multitude of young ladies , who are amiable on occasion , and furious when they discover they have been imposed upon , is always amusing to a theatrical audience , and the acting of Mr . Hoskins as the lawyers clerk , and of Mr . Compton , as his friend , both of whom assume the disguise of elderly spinsters for the reception of the milliners , sustains an incessant roar .

      SADLERS WELLS . "The Stranger" was produced at this theatre on Saturday . The piece contains materials for a good play , and if the five acts were reduced to three , thus getting rid of the long and wearisome speeches which axe by ho means necessary , the play would become very popular . Mr . Marston was very successful as the Stranger , which was very suitable tb ^ hira . the " Stranger" was followed by an excellent farce , entitled "John Dobbs , " in which Mr . Robinson was more at home than in those more ambitious parts to which he often aspires . A farce called "Ladies at Home , " concluded the evening ' s entertainments .

      The King's Cross Iuilwat Tei.Minus.—This...

      The King ' s Cross IUilwat TEi . MiNus . —This fine station is now completed , and will be opened for use in a few days , it is a very extraordinary work , and reflects honour on its designer , Mr . Lewis Cubit . Each " shed" is 800 feet long , 105 feetwide , and 71 feet high , to the crown of the semi -circular roof , without a tie , A brick wall , formed by piers and open afehes , divides them . On the westside of the departure platform are the offices for the general administration of the affairs of the railway ( including a bookinghall , about 100 feet in length , 40 feet in width , and 45 feet in height , ; and on the east side of the departure platform , the cab-35

      dnye , feet in width . There are seven lines of way under each shed , with the necessary turn-tables and appliances . The roofij ( semi-circular ) are formed of laminated ribs , placed 20 feet apart , manipulated tp their form on curbs , or moulds , first formed of the required size and curve , and of inch-and-half boards or planks , at various lengths , the boards strongly screwed to each other at frequent mtervals or spaces , no two joints of the boards being placed opposite to each other . The hi gher portions of the roofs , which are glazed the extent of two-thirds of the whole covering , are formed by longitudinal pur . ins , fixed 8 feet apart , and thick plate glass , in sheetsof that length , are fixed , in sizes , 2 feet 6 inches wide , divided hy vm bars , rebated to receive them .- ^» Builder .

      Registration Decisions. ^ A Good Deal Of...

      REGISTRATION DECISIONS . ^ A good deal of stir has been created amount v Societies throughout the country , by a decision of M ! ' ° -Im the revising barrister for Middlesex , who has thus 1 ¦! Sl'a ^ ri law : — . "I will not admit the land to be worth 4 o > do ^ t . unless it cost £ 50 , and all these allotments < allud" ^ ' , [] l % seventy ) were purchased for a less amount each andn lo a C not worth the required sum ! " The Birm ingham l / e . 0 t e ;; rj theconsequence of this decision : — " The Birmingham VT ^> Societies have property to the amount of £ 70 , 000 . '' W scarcely a single lot of which cost £ 50 , and many j ? % them not half that amount ; yet the allotments are wonh ^ J . 5 i •—some more than £ 5 ; nevertheless , according to the di " 'i tor Shadwell , the whole of the members are , to all intents Ji ilt - disfranchised ! and this decision would similarly affect the T ^ i land Societies throughout the kingdom . " Our contemnn old ' proves that Mr . Shadwell has decided contrary to law - _ Hj

      But what is the law on this subject ? Mr . Shadwell tb barrister for Middlesex , surely ought to be intimately i tevis ^ with it . We would refer him to " Elliott , on the Qualific ?^ Registration of Parliamentary Electors : " at paee » - ^ will find it laid down that the question as to the proper m „ llf ascertaining the value of freeholds and leaseholds , under tlm o ul Act , 2 and 3 William IV . c . 88 , has been very folly dh ^ 2 , \ S the twelve judges , and decided in the year 1837 byalarge in . ' . ; ten against two—that the true criterion in estimating the vai ^" freehold or leasehold interest , for the purpose of qualificatio ^ not the co & t of their property , but—the sum which a solvent- ' ' !* * responsible tenant could afford to pay for it fairly and without » sion over and above all charges . The same principle Mill be h \ applicable to copyholds . Several cases were discussed , and ft ! i

      _ . * * __ C 4 1-. ~_ ^ . * _ - * . _ -. _ -. vwf . lf- _ -. _ - _**__ ¦ _ _ - ]_ - _ *• _ - __¦! OCT fin * . _*<¦ - *_ ___ . Jjf .-T . 1 . ** « C < cision of the judges was considered as having settled the law on | i subject . Numerous cases decided in the courts of law , showin . tl rent has been adopted as the true criterion for judging of the H of land in the case of valuing property , might be cited . % 2 however , that we have shown what is the law on the subject ami that the learned revising barrister for Middlesex has decided ' eon trary thereto , for the act referred to has neither been amended not repealed . Consequently the cost of property is totally beside tit question—the only point is the boirifde annual value . has been

      In Southampton a similar deci ^ pn come to , but at Sheffield , and in other parts of the country , the votes have been generally allowed . A very large number of freehold-land votes have been allowed for South Lancashire . At Southampton , Mr . AldriL the revising barrister , declined to give a case for appeal ! Important Decision on the Question of IUTK-rAmo . -Mr

      J . T . Macqueen , the revising barrister , delivered a very important decision affecting electors , on Wednesday -week , in the court ut' tli « Lords-Justices , at Westminster . The point arose upon the con . structionof Sir J . De Lacy Evans ' s act , the 11 til & 12 tU Yictoiia , c . 00 , which enacts that after the 1 st of January , 1849 , ' * No persuu shall be required , in order to entitle him to have his name inserted in the list of voters for any city , town , or borough in England , to

      have paid any poor-rate or assessed taxes , except such as sliall have become payable from him previously to the 5 th of January in the same year ; and that no person shall be entitled to be on any list of voters unless the poor-rate and assessed taxes payable from him previously to the 5 th day of January shall be paid on or before the 20 th day of July next folio wing . " In the case of Mr . W , s , Vord , a claimant for St . Clement ' s parish , the question arose whether the assessment payable on the 5 th of Jaimavy must be paid on or before the 20 th of July ; or whether it was sufficient that that due

      up to the previous Michaelmas should have been discharged on or before that day . In this case the claimant deposed that the taxes due at Michaelmas had been paid within the time prescribed , and also that those falling due at Lady-day had been paid , but not until the 30 th day of July . The decision , which was very elaborate , embraced the following passage , which settled the point :- " The assessed taxes are imposed by statutes which declare them to be payable quarterly , on the 20 th of June , the 20 th of September , tli . 20 th of December , and the 20 th of March . Those statutes , however , do not contemplate a quarterly collection . To save expense aud to moieties

      promote convenience , the collection is to be by half-yearly , at Michaelmas and Lady-day . This is the rule j but , under special circumstances , requiring strictness , the collection may be quarterly . Keeping in view that the claimant is , on or before the * 20 t \ i of July , to pay all taxes which shall have become payable from him previously to the 5 th of January , it seems clear that the quarterly payment falling due on the 20 th of December is included in this requirement Mr . Huggett , the barrister , who appeared in support of the claim , observed that 2 , 094 persons had been omitted from the list of voters on this ground , and gave notice for an appeal to the Court of Common

      Pleas against the decision . , „ ., . In Halifax there is a Liberal gain of 65 votes ; in Bristol , ol w , J Huddersfield , of 63 ; in Wakefield , of 14 ; in South Northumberiana , of 42 . In Hertfordshire , also , the Liberals appear to haveigaufj " somewhat . For Middlesex , after thirteen days of political siw the result is in favour of the Tories , being a gain o / 2 U 7 votes , w number of their objections was enormous . About 1 , 31 ) 0 new cr > were admitted , but it is impossible to make even an approxmiai guess at the politics of the new voters .

      Dj-Strtjct-Ve Whirlwind-Oh Sunday Last, ...

      Dj-strtjct-Ve WhirlWind-Oh Sunday last , Ijefcween thrt « j and four o ' clock in the afternoon the fown of Lyme i < e 8 , Dorsetshire , was visited by a terrific whirlwind , by winenaw * . of hay in the Home bush fields , weighing upwards ot flye tons , carried up into the air and scattered about the country in * idirectio n _ A field of flay also , at , a short distance oft , was ton i

      by the roots and scattertd about the neighbourhood . The & IN done to the farm and land upon which the storm fell mm ^ est fury is very considerable . In addition to this an ^ body of water from the sea , just off the end of tll \\ ° n D L ^ was drawn un into the air on high , like a waterspout , tow & astonishment and alarm of the good people of Lyme , xv ^ the waterspout did not discharge the main body oi ns ^^ upon the town itself or the adjoining lands , as in tn * ^ y ^ fa damage done must have been incalculable . During ^ rancc , ic the day the sky had assumed a very strange and l » rw * W ra j ! I a me day the sfcy Had assumed a very strange * "u i *» - ** ral ! i a out

      as if a violent thunderstorm had been coming on , m actually fell until after the whirlwind , when it c 0 ^ " ord otl about half an hour to pour in heavy torrents ( to use i tWl ( an eye witness ) as if heaven and earth wer ^ f 5 ^ ° nd $ & The storm , however , was very partial in its ™» bju » ^ ^ not extend far either way along the line of coast , im gcgne 0 f , ever , has been partly washed away near the imnieui » disaster . on 0 bserva ; ri As Unlike as Chalk and CuEESE .-It ** . l ° ? fL <&&&• ' # tiou to hear , "Oh ! they are as different as chalK » ** fr iioli articles U 1

      Now , the difference between these two vr * w that cna 7 so great as persons may foolishly imagine , we all kd very welw enters largely into the composition of milk , ami we » ^ ^ know that cheese is made from milk . Accordingly , j ? 0 i , reason that , instead of their being any violent ^ flfri ^ , 1 W 1 the contrary , a strong resemblance between ehal « : aw ^^ are both members of the celebrated Casern larmiy . ~ - *

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 9, 1852, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_09101852/page/14/