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Cmmmnial Miurs.
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the breath of the tempest like a scroll , the sounds die away , die away—and you listen , locked in silence , to the simple song of the shepherd , and to glad and plaintive bursts of melody so tender and yet so majestic that lift tlie soul above the wants and woes of earth . " Here we arrest the flight of our dithyrambic friend , and clip his wings , and ask him , what of Clauss ? Upon that hint he mounts again , scarcely less dithyrambic : "What shall be said of that enchanting apparition ? Who could pain her with the cold breath of carking criticism ? No , a hard word cannot be said of her—you may say she wants force and aplomb ; that she plays besideher music ; but then how she charms you , and takes you captive with an ever subtle and airy grace ! she robs the grand old giant Beethoven of his terrors , and shows you his difficulties with so fairy-like a presentment , that you revel in the luxury of enjoying ease without a thought of the chasms and precipices that hare been got over . If you prefer a closer initiation into the terrible secrets of Beethoven—if you love the " savage style , " ' choose another guide ; but with Clauss for your Ariel , you may hold sweet converse with sounds " that bring delight and harm not . " Thus far ,
my dithyrambic friend ; for the rest of the concert he confesses himself bored by Weber's " Fight and Victory , " and he tells me that Lockey replaced Sims Reeves at the last moment , and did not suffer by the perilous comparison . Talking of Lockey , we may say a word parenthetical of the Madrigal Union , which concluded a spring series of six concerts , on Monday last , with a fine selection , admirably performed , to a crowded and delighted room . There was but one blemish on the evening—it was the interpolation of some mawkish songs and ballads , rather indifferently executed . On Thursday , Mr . Ella concluded his Winter Evenings ; between those evenings and the dawning summer splendour of the Musical Union , the interval is happily brief . The selection on Thursday was not ( to our barbarous taste ) of the most interesting—rather somniferous , indeed ; the playing was satisfactory , but rather
cold , and the instruments seemed to be affected by the weather . Schubert ' s quintette , which Mademoiselle Clauss had selected for her first piece , struck us as equally laboured and dull . This was the first time we had seen our idol of last year ; and we had come sternly resolved to check " those dangerous guides , the feelings , " and to steel our hearts in a panoply of critical ferocity . When that child-like and sensitive face —a shade thinner and more delicate , we thought , than last year—appeared again our critical faculty grew weaker ; but we have still enough to say that , for the magic and morbidezza of her touch , for the exquisite fulness , delicacy , tenderness , and roundness of tone ; for the airy suppleness and purity of expression ; for all the qualities only genius can give and no labour can achieve , Wilhelmine Clauss bears the palm away . Stillshe has a great danger to fear ; a danger , perhaps ,
, she has not altogether escaped ; we mean her own success , and her early fame . She has been the spoiled darling of the-brilliant concerts of Paris , and the critical audiences of London . May she know that she has no rival to apprehend , so formidable as her own reputation ; may she take to heart and mind the conviction , that without patient and profound study , no position so high as hers , and achieved so early , can be long maintained . Let her remember last year ' s excellent advice from the able and thoughtful critic of the Times , whose severity is ever tempered with kindness . Genius liko hers is a glorious privilege ; fame like hers is a serious burden to bear . As we write , these pleasant words of Hector Berlioz salute us He is bidding Mademoiselle Clauss adieu . He writes , " Mademoiselle Clauss is
a young Bohemian pianiste , whose talent is of that very rare order which I am never weary of praising . She is well known here in Paris , now : known , and loved too . I will only now say that , in the concert she lately gave at the Bonne IsTouvelle her execution of Beethoven ' s grand sonata was majestic and inspired . That chef d ' ceuvre gave me a moment of intense emotion , such as one of the magnificent symphonies of the great master might arouse . Mademoiselle , you are an artist , and I thank your With such a testimony from such a hand , we close this rambling notice . May the greetings of England , more severe , hut not less kind , echo the impassioned adieux of Hector Berlioz .
THE OPERAS . A visit to the old Opera House , during the past week , has been like a trip to Hades You might have taken the Sixth JEneid as a guide hook . Ihc deserted staged ami the confused heaps of old glories belling now , " like rags , " seemed to say to managers and lessees , —¦ "Lasciate ogni speranza . In a word , all the traditional properties of the old house— " for all its faults wo love it still "—are under the hammer . The stage represents—Judjua . Meanwhile , Coveiit-pnrden has the big green letters out , and is announced to open on Easter J ue » - day No doubt the directors appreciate all the responsibilities of a monopoly , and will not suffer the public to he the losers by their own hard-won victory . P .
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W E 15 S T E U' S FA R E W E L L . The theatrical event of the week has been Webster ' s farewell benefit at the IUymabkkt , of which ho has for ho many yearn been the manager The house was crowded and enthusiastic enough to satisfy even his most
exigeant friend ; and the applause was uproarious as he terminated the following address : — " Ladies and Gentlemen , —No words can express to you how honoured and flattered I feel at this numerous assemblage of friends around me on this my last appearance in the character of lessee and manager of the little theatre in the Haymarket . My final official duty is to offer you a grateful farewell . Having grown in good opinion as an actor , it emboldened me to task your patience as a manager ; and in catering for your amusement , your patronage has given me no cause to regret the experiment , though I began without the assistance of a single farthing b « yond what I had saved by rigid economy out of a very small income . I found this theatre in the lowest possible state when compared with other establishments , and incapable of being kept open more than the four summer months , when the leviathat not
thans , Drury-lane and Covent-garden , closed ; but feeling patronage was confined to period or place , I endeavoured to take John Bull by the horns , and persevered till the leviathans gave way , and this favoured spot became the only constant home of the drama for three years , once without closing a night , and I should have continued to pursue tj ? at course had not the principal performers complained of want of relaxation ; consequently , I have since made what are termed seasons , averaging about ten months each . During the 16 years I have held power here , the longest lesseeship in London on record , I have had many very trying political and other not dramatic influences to contend with , but no person employed by me has ever felt them , either in manner or money ; and I can conscientiously state , in all my transactions as man and manager I can leave an honourable and honest name to my children . I am sure you will excuse this warmth of egotism on a point so dear to me . A manager ' s life , ladies and gentlemen , is not a bed of roseswith the mind ever on the stretch for your pleasure , and his physical power
, endlessly employed in carrying out the mental efforts of others who would induce the thoughtless to laugh at scars who never felt the wound of such a position , though they have assisted to barb the arrow , and to authors I find I have paid near 30 , 000 / ., if not more . 'Tis said , ' Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown , but far more uneasiness has his head begirt with the tinsel crown of theatrical sovereignty , where every popular favourite is a viceroy over him , and when the ways and means are not compulsory , but solely dependent on the will and pleasure of our sovereign the public . However , if my labour in the cause of the drama , which has been a labour of love , has met with the approval of you , my tried and valued friends , it will not have been ' Love ' s labour lost / - Those who remember this theatre when I first took it , sixteen years ago ( of course I exclude the ladies from so long a remembrance ) , must perceive the extensive
alterations , and I think I may venture to say improvements , that I have accomplished during my tenancy . Abrupt angles have g iven way to curves , and my circles _ especially from their present occupancy — appear graceful m the extreme . I have backed the pit , and could , in another sense , for respectability , against any pit in London . I have stalled off what was orig inally the orchestra , sometimes discoursing sweet sounds , though sweeter music to my ear has supplied its place in the audible appro bation of my exertions , as to quote the words of Triplet , < author , manager , and actor too . ' The proscenium I have widened eleven feet , and entirely remodelled it , and introduced gas for the fee of BOW . a year , and the presentation of the centre chandelier to the proprietors , and behind the curtain money has not been spared to render the stage as perfect for dramatic represent * - have with ultimate
tion as its limited means will furnish . In fact , I expended , no advantage to myself , on this property , over 12 , 000 * ., besides paying more than 60 000 ? . in rent , yet I have met with anything but a generous consideration in return by the party most interested in the result . I trust my successor , John Baldwin Buckstone , my old friend and brother actor , will , as a brother manager , experience a kindlier treatment ; at all events , I am sure he will deserve it as honestly as he will zealously endeavour to merit your encouragement . Having passed from the past to the future , you will perhaps pardon me if I inform- you that I have not turned my back on the Haymarket without knowing with more certainty than Coriolanus did , that there is a world elsewhere , namely , the llieatre Royal Adclphi , peopled with imaginative passages of life , serious and comic , where I hope the exclusive devotion of my energies before and behind the curtain , will the old familiar faces that have bo
ensure me the gratification of seeing many of often gladdened my eyesight and heart here . I will at least , with the blessing of health , deserve the favour both in the quantity and quality of the material I shall present for your inspection . I mn bound to say that that successful establishment has been the main-stay of my management , and with iny previous successes here , placed me independent of the world . Ladies and gentlemen , I fear I have been too diffuse , but we are about to part suddenly from old friends . To the performers who have served under iny banner , 1 publicly tender my warmest thanks for their cordial co-operation at all times and muler all circumstances . To the press generally I beg to acknowledge my sense of deep obligation ; and in bidding you farewell on this sta-e , I < lo so with the most heartfelt gratitude , and with the suiccrest wishes for your happiness and prosperity . Ladies and gentlemen , ( Joel bless you .
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286 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ^
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MONEY MARKET ANI > CITY INTELLIGENCE . Friday Evening , March 18 , 1 H 5 H . Yov it o'Ci , ock .- ~ T 1 io markets liuvo all fjono Hatter on account of thonowHof Iho Kii liHli ileotliavintf proceeded to the DanWHoh , ; anil there are homio unoiwy reports from Franco . CoiihoIh , wlnoli durinL' the early part , of tho weok were par to ft , receded yes terday on receip t of tho . American rromdonf / H AddreHH to 5 >» f , then rallied atfiiin , and uro to-day quoted at »»? . 1- I ' oreign HtnckB are very tfood , particularly Nnaninh and Houth Anio-m-an . IJuchoh AyroH , owiiitf to tho iiowh oi tho continued diHturlmnccN in that country , fell Honuwhat ; butaH roinittanceH have arrived , there m but little doubt thut it in but a temporary dopriwuon . Tho AuHtmliiui l-and ami Gold Mine HharoH have bo < m very < ltM ) rem « Ml throughout Uici week , notwitliHtandintf the arrival ol HO 0 , < KH >/! . of tfold . Tho Australian Land Company liavo liiul 111-I , rii ( l « i-H in the Hhape of miuiiiIIoi-h . who claim the ri ^ 'llt to < litf "J , their territory , or rather talio it against ri tf ht , hoiho ol thono roHpoctablo loafei-H hinting ominously that the coiiuniHHionorH Hhould be lynched . . Mn liHh fair play , however , iiiitH a hUh > to thiw " wild jimtioo" an lulminiHtered in America , but it him Hhakeu tho confidence of many perHonH , oven thotm holding private property in New Houth WalcH , aH to tho romiltH , an < l all our HharoH have felt tho hIiooIi . Jfrunoh railways have boon \ t ^ ry high . Houth ICiiHtorn oi Franco , which m on the iivd of obtaining a oonooHHion , in u good dual inquired after . Copper Milieu maintain a fair promium price . All lOngliHh inium ( dealt in out of tlio Stock Exchange ) arc flint rising m value , uuu heavy BpocululiouH are . mud to bo
embarked in thorn . Money has been m : arco in certain circlesdoubtless tlio Mottling of thin hint very heavy account ban operated to make money Ncarco . The new . Sardinian Loan brought out by McsMiH . Rothschild , in much nought after . Our own Kailway Market haa been pretty steady , without much iluutuation .
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11 HITIS 1 E FUNDB J- 'Olt TII 10 PAST " YVEKK . ( Closing Punins . ) Satur . Moad . Tucs . \ IVetln . Thura . l'Vid . Bank ' 8 took Hhufc a per Cent . Red lOOfr 8 per Oont . Con . Ann . 10 (> j 100 i 1 O 0 J 100 Kit ; »» fc CoiihoIh for Account ... 10 (> i 100 J 100 J 100 ft 100 ()!) J UJ per Omit . An 10 ; lj } lOII-f Now 5 por OtMitH ' 1-0 Long Aiih ., 1 H «() <) A India Stock Ditto UoikIh , . I' 1000 45 4 H 'U > 45 Ditto , under . IM 000 45 50 4 ( 1 45 Kx . HillH , . CKKK ) I li p 10 p lip U ) p i : i | i K » p Ditto , . MM ) lip 10 p 10 p Up 18 P Ditto , Hmall 1 -I p III p I d p Up Jl P
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KOUKK 1 N FUN 1 ) H . ( Lakt Oii'irioiiii . Quotation iwuinh tiiic Wkhk undinu FlUllAY EVICNINCI . ) Jlra / . ilian T > per Oonln . ... 101 I { . unnian , WM !' " <> Chilian < l per OcnUt 10 H Sardinian IIoiuIh i * 7 Dutch 21 por OntH < W £ HpaiiiHh : $ p . Oontti fH ( iroek , ox ovur-due Coup . i > HpaniuhUp . Ota . Now I ) of . _ 25 Mexican 3 por ContH 25 J Spaniuh Coin . Cortif . of Peruvian 4 i p . C'ta . Scrip 4 i > u » . Coupon not funded ... 71
Cmmmnial Miurs.
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My Lady "Viscountess . —My Lady VisconntcBB's face wan duubinl with white and red up to the eyon , to which tho paint tfivo an unearthly glare : she had a tower of luce on her head , under which was a hush of Mack curls -borrowed curls— -no that no wonder littlo Harry Esmond was ncared when he was first presented to her—the kind priest acting as master of tho ceromoniiiH ut that solemn introduction—and ho stared at her with eyes almost as great as her own , iw ho had stared at tlio player-woman who acted tho wicked tragedy-queen , when the players came down to Killing Fair . She sate in a great chair by the lir < » - < -orner ; in her lap was a spaniel < log that barked furiously ; <> n « littlo table by her was her ladyship ' s snun-l > ox and her sugar-plum box . She worn a dress of black velvet , and a petticoat of ihune-coloured brocade . She had an many rings on her fingers an the old woman of Hanbury Cros «; and pretty small feet which she van fond of showing , with grout gold clocks to her stockings , and whito . ptintoileH with red heels : and an odour of musk whh Hhook out oi ' her garments whenever she moved or quitted the room , leaning on her tortoisexholl stick , littlo Vury barking at her heels . — TllAOKNUAY ' tf Mstnond .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 19, 1853, page 286, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1978/page/22/
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