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Leader (1850-1860), 4th April 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 332, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      Otley . )— -The Two Friends meet at Paris , and their conversations are herein recorded- They talk about knowledge , the press , death , a future state , French society , youth , middle age , politics , politicians , histories of the French Revolution , &c . One of the individuals believes in his own " depth /* the other in his own philosophy ; both are eminently dull . They think Pittled the port party , but do not name the sherry leader . They illustrate their topics with deadly-liveliness . Marshal 3 assompiere had so fine a digestion that he owned he never knew where his stomach was , yet lie died after a powerful supper . Theodore Hook took cayenne in his chanapagne ; Sheridan drank -white brandy as a diluent ; the West Indians mix pepper with their rum . Gas has much to answer for . Paris is languid on a hot day . Instances and assertions are multiplied without order , accuracy , or object , so far as we can see . '

      The Adventures of a Cat , and a Fine Cat , too f . By Alfred Elwes . With Eight Illustrations by Harrison " Weir . ( Addey and Co . )—It is a relief to quit these smoky dialecticians to find ourselves in the company of the kitten ( jifterwards a cat ) biographised by Mr . j Elwes , ami illustrated on "wood by Mr . Harrison VVeir . To flatter the fancy of a child a better book could not Deselected . Mr . Weir ' s woodcuts are admirable . Whalingi and Fishing . With Four Tinted Illustrations . ( Addey and Co . ) - —This volume is for children of & larger growth . It is well -written , varied , and incessantly amusing : it is > moreover , a good lesson-book in a special department of natural history . David , King of Israel : the . Divine Plcni and , Lessons of his Life . By the Rev . W . GL Blaikie . ( Hamilton , Adams , and Co . )—Without directly

      combating Bayle , Chubb , and Mr . F . W . Newman , who have assailed the character of King David , M > . Blaikie endeavours to construct such a biography as will practically refute their accusations . We have only to remark that he has brought to his task a good deal of learning and considerable ingenuity ; but he is scarcely qualified , we think , for criticism . Principles of Natural Theology . By- Robert Anchor Thompson , M . A * ( Rivingtons . )—Mr . Thompson is the author of the last Burnett Prize Treatise , Christian Theism . This small volume professes to be" an inquiry into the origin of our knowledge of the being and attributes of the Deity , " the writer ' s position being " that this knowledge is a product of the spontaneous action of the mind , but can be verified on strict principles of reason .. " The name of the author and the nature of the subject will recommend the

      book to theological students . The Epistles of Ovidlus Naso , Faithfully Converted into a New Measure of English Verse . By John Jump . ( Bell arid Daldy . )— -Mr . John Jump , unhappily for himself , has written , a . preface to the Epistles of O vid ; and a very absurd preface it is . He quotes Perry , and remonstrates : — " Perryism , reader , pure Sheridano-Perryism , Doubletonism . ' * His translations are close and fluent ; but his prose originalities are execrable . The ambition of John Jump has overleaped itself in his discourses on prosody . J . Twine of Wayside . Ivy >; or , Three Tales from an Old Woman ' s Note-book By Margaret Casson . ( Moxon . )—Miss Casson ' s Ivy droops over three abysses , in which blighted hopes are sunk—one being the grave of vanity , another of worldliness , another Qf confidence ; but the ivy hangs over the three . The men have noble manners and ringing voices ; the youthful

      heroines have their souls riddled through and through bj the shafts of agony ; but all to a good purpose . N ~ o fault is to be found with the stories , except that they have a twang of unhealthiness in their sentimentalism ; nor are they devoid of interest ; but the style is terribly artificial , and Miss Casson ' s people are unbearably dolorous . The Angler in , the Lake Districts ; or , Piscatory Colloquies and Fishing JExcursions in Westmoreland and Cumberland . By John Davy , M . l > . ( Longman and Co . ) Amphis holds a colloquy on fish , Diphilos undertakes a pilgrimage in search of an honest fishmonger , Alcaeos wrote a song to the limpet , " child of the Tock and hoary sea ; " Dr . Davy , therefore , travels in procession , with a goodly line of writers -whose " fish-tattle" has been preserved . We dislike books in dialogues , but we have no doubt that Dr . Davy has prepared a volume of agreeable reading for anglers . INot being anglers we can scarcely say . But to- those who love quieter sport than is to be followed on the Tweed or Teviot , the work recommends itself .

      We have to enumerate among reprints the third and fourth volumes of Lord Campbell ' s Lives of the Lord Chancellors ( Murray ) , a book for all public and private libraries ; cheap editions of Mr . Charles Reade ' s Christie Johnston * and Peg Woffington ( Bentley ) ; Mr . John Murphy ' s very graphic sketches , entitled Russia , at the Time qj' the Coronation of Alexander II . ( Bradbury and Evans ); a third edition of Dr . Wilson ' s Water Cure ( Triibner ) , a guide to the delights of strengi . h-in-the-body-of-man-restoring Malvern ; and Mr . Thomas H . Gladstone ' s verj interesting series of letters on Kansas and Squatter Life and 3 ' order Warfare hi the Far West , reprinted by permission from the . Times ( Routledge ) , with a map and several characteristic illustrations . Margaret Ccttclqwle has been reprinted in the Library of Household Novels ( Hodgson ) ; and Mrs . Thompson ' s Anna Boleyn in the Parlour Library ( Hodgson ) .

      Untitled Article

      MB . EOBSON'S " DADDY HARDACRE . " It was a very happy idea of Mr . Palohave Simpson ' s , the adaptation of La Fille teTAvcire for the Olympic ; and dexterously has he performed his task . A ± length , Mr . Robson has been provided with a part worthy of his powers , but i t is from France , and from the repertory of a great French actor , that the plav and the part have come . .. Of Mr . Kobson ' s Daddy Hardacre we may simply and truly say , that it « one of the finest pieces of acting that has been witnessed on any stage m Europe foi many years ; it places the actor at a bound in the first rank of his prolession , andamong the very few dramatic artists of the it would be

      age . Higher praise impossible for us to invent than we lieard from the lips of a gentleman whose criticism tvouM be accepted as the most undeniable authority in any court , and \ vho > pronounced Mr . Robsok superior to Bouffe in the level parts of the play and in the details , and not inferior to him in the great explosion of lage in the second act . It is some time since we saw BotJFFE in 1 m Fille de FAvare , but from what we remember we should he disposed to accept this opinion unreservedly . The wonderful truth and subtlety of the actor's instinct was evident from the moment he appeared to the last scene * There was not a symptoiii of effort or of exaggeration ; all waa natural , unforced , spontaneous , and yet subdued by the nicest and most delicate art . Such

      a performance must draw the town to the Olympic . We suggest to Mr . Paj . - GRAVE Simfsok another look through M . Bocfjte ' s repertory ; it is a rich vein to work for Mr . Hobson , in default of an original play , in which the actor ' s genius should not be sacrificed to any conventional grimacing , or to any mere mannerism . v .

      Untitled Article

      HER MAJESTY'S THEATEE . Signor GiUGLiNr and Madlle . SpEzrA appear on the opening night , Tuesday , the 14 th inst ., in La Favonta . Madlle . PoccmNi malces her debut in a revival of the ballet of La Esmefalda . The same performance is to be repeated on the second night , which is to be what is called an open Thursday .

      Untitled Article

      THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA PROGRAMME . " A blessing oil both your houses 1 " Contrary to expectation and to hope , Mr . G"xe has been compelled to take refuge again at the Lyceum lor this season . As Mr . G-JfE himself very fairly admits , the Royal Italian Opera is for the present excluded "from a great portion of the general public , " and although he " has the satisfaction of being able , by judicious alterations in the building , to accommodate a very considerable number , " it is only a very considerable number Of the regular subscribers . This is cold comfort for the general public , which , and which alone , the public press is supposed to represent , and in that capacity -we

      do not feel ourselves entitled to join the subscribers in " preferring the smaller theatre , on account of the facility in seeing and hearing the entertainments , as well as for the elegance and exclusiveness of the audiences . " The principle of exclusiveness would exclude the opera from the domain of publicity altogether . We therefore prefer to look forward ¦ with Mr . Gyb , confident as we are in his energy and resources , to the restoration of the Royal Italian Opera for the sea . son of 1858 in " a homo equal if not superior to that of which it has been deprived . " Mean-while we cordially recognize the completeness of the programme for the present season , and the judicious selection of operas peculiarly iitted for the smaller stage .

      Fra Diavoh is to be adapted expressly by MM . Scribe and Auheu for the Italian stage . IIeboliVs Zampa , is to be produced ; and ( delightful anticipation !) the Matriinonio Segreto and the Nozze di Figaro are to be revived . This is really good news . Don Pasquah is to return in the person of La . ulache , and Mekcadante ' s masterpiece , II Giuramento , will bring forward Ronconi in one of his finest tragic parts . La Traviata , in spite of all the howling proprieties , is to reign supreme at "both houses this year : at the Lyceum , in the person of Madame Bosio , whose singing , however , will not eclipse the charm of Ficcolobiini . But Signor Mahio , who has been singing like himself again in Taris , will strengthen the cast as Alfredo , and Signor " Gkaziani will not suffer by comparison with Signor Beneventano . Among the engagements for the season

      wo note the reappearance of Gnisi , who has quite forgotten her farewell ; and the debut of Mademoiselle Vxctoire Uai , fb , the daughter of the composer . We hear tho most promising accounts of this young lady ' s grace s and talents : she is described to us as young , pretty , and piquante , with a rich voice , admirably disciplined , while as an actress she is saiU to display a singular selfpoBsesBion and confidence , and a true dramatic instinct . We arc sure she will receive the hearty welcome due to her name and youth , and -we shalLnll bo proud of her success . Signor Neke Baraldi , a pleasing light tenor , is now regularly engaged , and Signor Tamdekmk , wo rejoice to say , is promised an engagement on his return from the Brnzils , having cancelled his engagement at Rio .

      For tho ballet wo are to huvo Madllo . Ckhito and Madlle . Plunkktt . It is sufficient to stnto that Mr . Costa retains his baton in tho renowned orchestra , which , although nccessurily reduced in number , is to bo in quality worthy ot its chief . TI 1 EA . TRICAL NOTES . Mr . Dillon ' s first season at the Lyckum closed on Thursday night . On the previous Tuesday night , Mr . Tooi-i 1 : hail si benefit , nt which ho acted in four jiieco . s The Woiuter , Dominique the . Deserter , The Good-for-Nothing , ami My Friend from I ^ eatherhead—in all which ho exhibited great humour nnd power of characterization-Mr . Tooi , ic 13 an actor of much proiniso ; and wo -vvoro therefore pleased to ilnd the theatre crowded to inconvenience , though wo suffered somewhat from tho fact .

      Untitled Article

      332 THE li E A B E R . fNo . 367 , Saturn

      Untitled Article

      largely in these societies . lately a truer musical feeling- has sprune ur > and tW art as now cultivated more zealously and purely for its own sake ? 8 he ^ f fe happiest evidences of this musical progress is afforded by the Vocal AssocStioT , consisting of more than two hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemtn S ° ' marshalled inharmonious array under the b&ton of Mr . bInebict ^ We vlll T ? i ? ii ™ th an admission to a private performance given by this Associatfnn at the Music Bali ., Store-street , on Tuesday last . It was at once an 1 " ntereS spectacle , and an admirable conceit . The programme included the 2 SS § Menumossohn , Mozart , and Benedict himself , u-ith selections from the ^ Berlin Choir Music . Mr . Benedict ' s part-songs , distinguished alike for iWfcKi

      ana sjnmu arrangement , delighted the audience . The singing for the niost part d ! d great credit tothe Association , and especially to th ? elertions of the conductor . ^ Therei was abundant power both in the female and the male voices and in both we fancied , a perceptible want of sweetness in the more subdued nhrk ^ and of delicacy m the gradations from low to loud . The bell-like vitiationi 5 tone which was so enchanting in the Cologne Choir is not yet attained by the Vocal Assodationj ^ U this is the work of time and study , arid so great is the zeal of all , and so effective is the result already achieved , that we mayfairlv an ticipatc ^ perfection . It is an incalculaWe advantage to the Association to be under the direction of so perfect a musician , and so universally esteemed and beloved a gentleman , as Mr . Benedict . dna

      __ . , , THE VOCAL ASSOCIATION . Wb have heard much of M . Julmen ' s services to music in this country , and wo ar . ^ deposed to undervalue them . A man who has made Beethoven and Mozabt « go down' tho public palate , sandwich-fashion , between a polka ami a vraltz deserves all prais * . But there have been other , and , perhaps , purer influences ut work m a higher direction : wo allude to the establishment of Vocal Associations for the performance of choral pieces « nd part-songs . Mr . John lluixA « had established his singing-schools before M . Julmbn Wj . a heard of in tins country hut perhaps it ia to tho performances of tho Cologne Vocal Unio that wo owe tho most sudden and decided growth of muVoal felineTin ihS motropo is England has long beo « famovw for her Sees andi mudr ? eils Glee «» nd Mudr . gol Unions and Catclv Clubs abound : there is no lack of IS vo . cea . But the tram ng has , been defective , tho methou of sfnging has Deo careless , and tho stylo too often coarse and vulgar . This , as arisen from tho want of a good school of Binging proBidcd over by a thorough master and above all , from insufficient practice . The convivial element lms prcdo ^ TnaSd loo

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      CJjelrte ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 4, 1857, page 332, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2187/page/20/