On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (6)
-
' MA THE LEADER. [No, 445a Qctobeb 2,185...
-
THE MAGAZINES FOR OCTOBER. Eraser's give...
-
Literary Intei-uoenoe. -— Messrs. Hurst ...
-
BOOKS RECEIVED THIS -WEEK. My Lady. A Ta...
-
..
-
? THEATRES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS. Py...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Dr. Livingstone's Cambridge Lectures. Dr...
It appears Mr . Monk has taken the entire risk upon fiimself , as well as all the trouble and . anxiety oFgetting up the volume . We trust he mil have liis reward .
' Ma The Leader. [No, 445a Qctobeb 2,185...
' MA THE LEADER . [ No , 445 a Qctobeb 2 , 1858 . 1 \) oQa . ^^_____ ¦ .... ' ' ' - ' - ¦ '" . '"' . ' . : ~*~ rz _ i ^^
The Magazines For October. Eraser's Give...
THE MAGAZINES FOR OCTOBER . Eraser ' s gives the reader thirteen pieces—large and small , prose and poetry—but none of superlative , though all of respectable merit . The most pretentious contribution is entitled the " Cruise of the Betsey , " which is in fact an overwrought eulogium on the late Hugh Miller , evidently irom the pen of an enthusiastic Scotchman . " Recent Travellers in Central America , " is a review of
Tempsky's " Narrative of Incidents and Personal Adventures on a Journey in Mexico , Guatemala , and Salvador , in 1853-5 . Edited by J . S . Bell . " To form an idea of the perils that await the traveller in those regions traversed by Von Tempsky we make the following extract , premising that Von Tempsky and his party had first crossed the ridge of the Sierra Madre . when they came upon the traces of the Comanche Indians : —
Darkness sank slowly on our road , yet we had to go -on as our task for the day was not ended . The moon -rose and guided our footsteps over a road that began to 4 be rugged and broken . All at once my friend stops and points to an object , half in shade , lying crouched on the xoad . "We make a sign to our followers to stop , and , « ocking pur rifles , we carefully advance on one side of the road , from tree to tree . Opposite to the object we tialt to reconnoitre and await some movement . The ibrm is human and naked , consequently an Indian ; the attitude , as much as is discernible , crouching , like some one with his ear to the ground . It is no doubt an outpost to some larger detachment . To dispose of him unsheath
¦ with a shot would therefore be imprudent . I my knife , put my rifle down , cautiously measure my distance , and with a spring have his throat in my grasp . My knife is descending , when , to my horror , I feel , by the clamminess of his throat , that the hand of Death has forestalled mine . In that moment the moon , for some time shrouded , breaks through the clouds and glitters on the scalpless skull of a body perforated with lance-wounds . The face is contracted and rigid , and I ^ see we have mistaken a Mexican victim for his Indian murderer . With a shudder we go onward , and find another and another in the same state , and so on until we fConnt twenty-nine bodies ! At last we recognised in one the features of the Mexican lawyer who invited us -at Mazatlan to accompany him ! The heap of corpses
iras his party ; they had all perished except one , who at least was not to be found . It seemed to us that they were killed without much resistance on their part , as many of them had carbines still loaded in their cold grasp ; and the Indians had so left them , ammunition -being most wanted . " Hanworth , " a novel , progresses four chapters ; ¦ " Hints for Vagabonds " is another amusing chapter of the pilgrimages of an observant traveller . •" The Political Pulpit of the Civil War " has many points of interest , and the further recommendation of something rather novel . " Sylvester ' s * Da Bartas '" deals with the works and genius of an old JFrench poet , and is one of the most readable pieces in the number .
Titan . —The " Story of an Exile , " winch opens the present number , is a memoir of M . Alexandra Thomas , a French writer of some celebrity in a special circle , but we fear as little known to the ruck of general readers as the bodily presentiments of Brown , Jones , or Robinson . Nevertheless , the author of the article , who has evidently set himself « dpwn to the task as a labour of love , has shed much pleasant light round a subject of limited interest , and iis style and illustration will doubtless induce many to go steadily through an article from whose length they would otherwise be disposed to skip it altogether , « or merely to pick out the plums . "My First Lockup" 13 throughout vulgar and utterly without reliability as a picture of police life and habits . It is
"Written in the worst style or the penny publication , .-school , makes pretensions to smartness which a penny-a-liner would repudiate , and libels without taste or truth the police force and police magistrates . We should recommend Titan to leave such contributions to that walk of literature which aims at oheapwess rather than quality . "Levita Lofsnda . Part 3 , " finishes with unabated vivaoity . his lively and clever writer we hope to meet again . "Behind the Scenes in Paris" improves on further acquaintance . , The reviews are , good , and important . ' * The Virginians . No . 12 , —This number brings us to the conclusion of "Volume I ., and , as a novelist ought , tho author baa concluded tho half of hie work with a startling event , which , however , it would bo breaking tho tacit understanding between reviewer and author to reveal .
Wehave but short measure in this number ; title page and contents taking up a portion of the letter-press . Mr . Henry Warrington is conveyed , like the heroes of all such histories formerlv , to a sponging-house , finds out that fine ladies and gentlemen make many professions of friendship , which they do not care to fulfil . There is onetthing that strikes us in this work , which is , that , whilst " it reveals a succession of the meanest and most sordid actions as the common conduct of persons of condition , it yet shows a wonderful veneration for rank . criticism of this
We might enter into a further strange book , but it is not timely to do so on thirty pages taken out of the centre of a book . Whether an elaborate biography of so common-place a person as Mr . Henry W arrington appears at present to be was required , may admit of question . If we did not expect another , and much better phase of his existence to be portrayed in the volume to come , we should undoubtedly say that he might very well have gone to his family grave with the other millions , without any special record . ' 33 This
Knights History of England , No . . — part forms a new division of the history , commencing with the triumph of the revolution of 1688 . Mr . Knight ' s plan of giving an idea of the m anners and feelings of the nation as well as the political events , renders his History entertaining as well as instructive . The material for such a narrative is abundant , and the author has made good use of it , and the aid of woodcuts further lightens the page , so that the most tender literary stomachs may take this historic food , which will be found , we should imagine , as entertaining as fictitious narrative , even by those diseased minds that can scarcely relish anything else .
Routledge ' s Shaksjieare . Part XXIX . This number concludes Measure for Measure , a long play , but not one of the finest of the great dramatist , though containing so many fine passages . The illustration ? , by Gilbert , which are the chief attractions of this edition , are numerous and pretty ; but that is hardly sufficient to illustrate the first of dramatists . They are certainly not theatrical , which is a mercy , but they smack of the studio , and have too set and manufactured a look . Indeed , they convince us that the many-coloured scenes and infinite individualities of Skakspeare can never be fully expressed by one artist . The verbal comments call for little remark ; the best consist of quotations from the acknowledged critics .
The Veterinarian ? s Vade Mecum . By John Gamgee , M . R . C . Y . S . ( Edinburgh : Sutherland and Knox . )—The cockney who , on seeing the skeleton of a donkey , exclaimed , " We are fearfully and wonderfully made !" was not so far out after all . The structure of bipeds and quadrupeds may somewhat differ , but there is a striking analogy between their ailments and modes of cure . The divisions of the work are four : 1 . Veterinary Pharmacopoeia—2 . Formularium Veterinarium—3 . Memoranda Toxicologia—and , 4 . Memoranda Therapeutics . The work will not only be found of importance to veterinary surgeons , but maybe consulted with advantage by those who keep animals of any kind . Farmers may profit by the information conveyed in clear and concise language , and professional men will find to their hands a compendium of all that is useful and known in the veterinary art .
Handy Booh on the Law of Bills , Cheques , Notes , and I . O . U . ' s . By J . W . Smith , LL . D . ( Efflngham Wilson . )— "We wish lawyers would learn to write English intelligible to the commercial mind , especially on commercial subjects . This little book contains a mass of valuable information , but it is somewhat too technically s « t forth to be universally acceptable . The preface commences with a little puzzle to common men of business—that the work is a " cheap and compendious code of the law of inland negotiable instruments . " If we admit that tho technical etylo ia best suited to the subjects , In that case we shall have to give unqualified praise to the care and completeness of this little compilation .
Literary Intei-Uoenoe. -— Messrs. Hurst ...
Literary Intei-uoenoe . - — Messrs . Hurst and Blackett have just issued their List of New Works for the forthcoming season . Among their other announcements of more than usual interest are the following : — A new serial publication entitled " Hurst and Blackett ' s Standard Library of Cheap Editions of Popular Modern Works , " each to be comprised in a single volume , elegantly printed , bound , and illustrated , prico 5 a . Tho First Volume is to contain " Nature and Human Nature , " by the Author of "Sam Slick ;"— " A Summer and Winter in tho Two Sicilies , " by Miss Kavanaghs" Henry the Third , King of Franco , his Court and 1
Times , ' by Miss Freer ;—Tho Genealogical Volume of " Lodge ' s Peerage , " Improved and Enlarged , and containing for the first time tho Ancestral History of tho Baronets , aa well as Poors of tho Realm ;— " Episodes of French History , " by Miss Paruoo . Among tho Work a of Fiction announced by Messrs . Hurst and Blnokott are : —A Now Story by tho Author of " John Halifax ; " — " Stephen Langton , " by Martin F . Tuppor , Author of " Provorpial Philosophy ;"— " The Lnlrd of Norlaw , " a Saottlsh Story , by tho Author of " Margaret Maltland ;" —" Two Hearts , " a Tale , Edited by Mrs . Grey ; — " Follow Travellers , " by the Author of " Margaret , or Prejudice at Homo ;"—Tho Muator of tho Hounds , " by Scrutator , Author of " Tho Squire of Boeohwood , " & o .
Books Received This -Week. My Lady. A Ta...
BOOKS RECEIVED THIS -WEEK . My Lady . A Tale of Modern Life . 2 vols . post S ™ Smith . Elder , and Co . l C *™ Hills and Ho / lows . A Novel . 3 vols . post 8 vo T n Kfewby . -i . O . The New El Dorado . Post 8 vo . T . C . New by . The Curiosities of Literature . New Edition . Vol II foolscap 8 vo . . Routledge and Co . Tlie Secret of a Life . Foolscap 8 vo . Koutled ge and Co . Maoazinks . — Blacl-ivood—Fraser — Titan Eclectic —Psycological—JJvblin University—English Jl ' oniatCs—Mechanics '—Le Follet—Art Journal . Reviews . — The Westminster — National- * - The London—lite British .
..
€ ljt Ms .
? Theatres And Public Entertainments. Py...
? THEATRES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS . Pyne and Haiuuson Opera Company , Diujrt Lane . — -Dramatic an-1 musical reporters , though as a general rule good-naturedly reluctant to be committed to flat censure , are also too apt , it is to be feared , to take refuge in faint praise and sate deceitful generalities , rather than be caught tripping into enthusiasm , or into unreserved praise of first representations or appearances . This habit , the usual restriction of newspaper columns to the record of novelties , the haste with which such reports are necessarily prepared , and the anxiety of managers and others concerned for immediate notice , must often cause mortification , if not injustice , to -managers , authors , composers , and artists , who can hardly lock to journalists for the amendment of imperfect criticisms , or the reversal pf . husty opinions ' delivered under the pressure of such conditions . Having , however , space at our disposal , \ ve wish to say a few words in addition to our former remarks upon Mr . Balfe's Rose of Castille , for which , however , our excuse rmist . be more the importance of the attempt to naturalise English opera on the stage of the national theatre , than the correction of any error in our recorded judgment . "We have certainly , as critics , to note the extreme vapidity and incoherence of the tale as unworthv of the author and of
the composer whoso honeyed strains are so misallied to it ; but as reporters , we must add that , like other aetor-authors , the manufacturer of this libretto seems to have at his command a mysterious sauce , labelled " Stage Fitness , " we will suppose , for want of a better name . With ' a dash of this he contrives to season tip for the public taste the most absurd lay figures of characters , the most improbable si ml inartistic situations , and , in fine , to produce what , seeming to be rather than being a drama , nfiliets the connoisseur , but delights the general public . The hundredth representation Of the Hose of Castilk , on Wednesday night , ¦ which drew a more enthusiastic and more
closely-packed audience into Drury-lano Theatre than did its first to the little Lyceum , proves tie truth of our position ; for it is impossible that Mr . Balfe ' s music , clever though it be , could otherwise have carried so far the weight of a Vj , which the public condemned ns no plot , nml ot ft libretto which the same public considered trash . We hope that the composer may have tor his next opera the far better framework we have fair right to expect from the same nnnu . We are glad to own our impression that the music of the Jiose improves upon acquaintance . AN < i now notice passages of mark and beauty , which cscapou us when dircctinir our attention al « o to the beautum
scenery , tho evolution of the incidents , nna un . study of the ensemble . The choral accompaniment of Elvira ' s schezo , for instance , has much » ' ) 'l ) r 0 ; in delicacy , and the old-style passage in tie preceding duet seems more captivating on eacu ou « - sion , as , indeed , do s Miss Pyne'a execution ot uw schozo itself . Of the passage , " Yes , when new n » , & c , " in tho duet between Manuel ami /¦ . frira , «•« refrain in tho trio between JJum Pedro , /¦ « "' "'' *" Sallust , of tho quartet between those character .. and Elvira , and of tho final chorus to Act x ., more delay , " wo may say tho sumo . In l l 0 ,.,, fl fln j act we enjoy , as before , the trio for tho lm lea aw * Mamml"I ' m not the quoon-hu ! lm ! " »"" ° » v " Tl o
, visit found Mr . Harrison in better voice " ; * ,. maid I mot , " which we thoug ht very liitlu <» " » first performance . "We have , on ft I ' * 0 ™" , !! . ; ftr 0 sion , notified all the remaining vwrceaux t a worthy of praise , but we are Klatl , , ' " ' i " . i wo con mcndiitioii of Mr'Glover , tlieMw / W ' "; Y" Luhardly Miovo to have wilfully nog ccto . 1 tno »'" tnous " call" with which ha was ^»»» 101 " \ U conclusion of tho performance on V « " » JJ rde Mr . Unlfe has , wo understand , far itfvi ^ 1 t «« f tho completion of a now work founded i l >< n J J Jt / WnMwfo , of which little has trauaf lred suvo ^ is expected to be tho oomposov ' s chej tlauiio ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02101858/page/18/
-