Bolton) was married to John Braham,
_il primo tenore d'Europa_, as the Italians termed him. Braham has often
said that this Music Hall was a finer room for sound than any that ever
he was in; and at these morning concerts he frequently sang. It was the
custom to enlist the aid of the vocalists, if there were any, at the
Theatre Royal, to add to the attractions of these concerts. The manager
was always willing to allow his singers to avail themselves of the
occasion. However, on Miss Cramer being offered an engagement, the
manager refused to allow her to appear. Miss Cramer, feeling the
injustice of the case, nevertheless sang at one of the morning concerts,
and was consequently dismissed from the Theatre Royal. The young lady
instantly issued a handbill stating her case, and the consequence was
that the theatre was crowded at night, and calls for "Miss Cramer" were
incessant. Mr. Banks came forward to justify himself, hoping that both
sides might be heard, but he could not obtain a hearing. At length the
audience grew so excited that they tore up the seats, smashed a splendid
chandelier that had only just been purchased at a cost of 500 pounds,
broke all the windows in the house, and did a great deal of damage. The
row was continued on the night but one following, when other damage was
effected, and it was only by closing the theatre for a few days that
peace could be restored. Some of the rioters were afterwards tried at
Lancaster, and, I think, heavily fined.

CHAPTER XVI.

In the year 1816, in consequence of the high price of provisions, as
mentioned in a former chapter, many persons rendered desperate by their
wants, formed themselves into gangs of robbers, and committed many daring
acts of depredation. Travellers were constantly stopped, ill-treated,
and robbed on the roads in the vicinity of the town; and scarcely a day
passed, without intelligence arriving of some house in the outskirts
being attacked and plundered. To such an extent was this carried, that
people commenced forming themselves into associations for their mutual
protection. In Toxteth Park, this was especially the case, as several
very serious robberies had been reported in that neighbourhood. It must
be remembered that at that time Toxteth Park was but thinly populated.
There were only a few good houses in it, occupied by highly respectable
families, for the salubrious air of "the Park," and the beautiful views
of the river