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cess was artistically managed , id conformity with the best traditions of the stage ; and she missed no point of the neatly finished dialogue in which Tobin has clothed the action of his piece . It has been our fortune td see so many Julias that we have no difficulty in recognising thorough competence when it
presents itself , and have no hesitation in pronouncing Mrs . Forbes an accomplished representative of the part . She was ably assisted by Mr . Howe , whom it was refreshing to see in some other line than that of the modern society business . We are not wont to be enthusiastic about Mr . Howe in the latter , but we were much pleased with the refinement he displayed as the Duke . He delivered the opening lines excellently , his performance being also effective in the subsequent scenes . Mr . Corapton made much of the nice bit of character in Lampedo , the barbersurgeon : Mr . Farren was" most agreeable and
gentlemanlike as the misogynistic Rolando ; and Miss E . Ternan spoke and looked prettily as Zamora . The great scene of the play was , of course , Buckstone ' s , who , as the mock Duke , hears the matrimonial cause in an extemporised court of divorce , with all the gravity of Cresswell and the facetiqusness of Knight Bruce . The piece is so familiar to the public that we should not have noticed its casual representation but for our desire to do justice to our fair American visitor , whose excellence in the part of the heroine is unquestionable , and was acknowledged by the discriminating applause Of a full and fashionable audience . ¦
OPERA COMIQCTE , ST . JA 3 IES S THEATKE > Hefold ' s charming Pre dux Clercs , which is generally admitted to be one of the best specimens of the French Opera Comique , was performed here on Monday last for the benefit of Madame Faure , who has been hitherto the mainstay of the troupe , and whose industry and intelligence have never failed to meet with that recognition they deserve ; although weakly supported as she has been by her fellow artists , she has of course not been able to attract any great amount of public attention to the eiiterprisei The brilliant airs allotted to the part of
Isabelle were well given by the beneficiaire , who procured an encore , for the popular trio in A < jj ; III ., and was well seconded . by the Nicette , Madame Celine Mathieu , who , in the . previous- operas of the season * has had little chance of taking a prominent position . The orchestra , including a talented soloist , M . Politzey , was , as usual , praiseworthy , and the male singers , as usual , the reverse . The opera was followed by a concert , of which the most noticeable feature was the fluent execution , by Madame Faure , of the famous " Carnaval de Venise , " which was earnestly and deservedly applauded .
ST . JAMES S HAIX . The " Monday Evening" " Popular" Concerts have proved so attractive , that they are now announced to continue until further notice . That of Monday last was of similar character to those which have made the reputation of the series . The leading vocalists were Mesdames Hayes and Bishop , the former of whom sang Kossini ' s " Sombres forets , " " The Harp that once through Tara ' s Halls , " The Last Rose of Summer ; " and the latter Giuglini ' s famous ' ' Gratia agirous , " Bishop ^ s «• Home , sweet Home , " and " Oft in the stilly Night . " Mjss Poole gave "My mother bids me bind my hair , " and Miss Stabbach a song by Mendelssohn , with great effect . A beautiful song , called " Lily lye , " by Macfarren , was exceedingly to
well sung by Miss Lascelles ; We Jiave not space recite the entire programme , which , composed as it was throughout of known and popular music , it would , again , be superfluous to criticise . It is npt too much to say that the numerous audience were delighted with the selection aa it stood } and , although musical fanatic * will forthwith proceed to urge clasaioality upon the management , their obvious interest will be to let well alone . They have now occupied a safe and profitable ground ; if they a ( ray from it into the boundaries of the high class " Musical Society of London , " whose prospeetus appeals to high legitimists , they will do so at their peril . Mr . Wioniaweki , the mechanical marvel of M . Jullien ' s concerts , is announced for the next soiree , and a selection from Mendelssohn may foe expected at the next but one .
THEATRICALS IN RUSSIA . The subjoined paragraph has been handed to us as a pretty literal translation from a Russian theatricaf criticism . Admiring as we do Mr . Ira Aldridge , the African actor , we are ' glad to note the enthusiasm ¦ with which he has been received , by the artists and amateurs of the northern capital : — On Saturday last , the 20 th of December , took plnco one of the moot splendid representations ever remembered at Petersburg , on the occasion of the benefit <> f Mr . Ira Aldridge , who ployed Othello , and the comic part of the slave Mungo in the farce of the Padlock When the btfndflclaire appeared , he waa hailed by a triple salvo of enthusiasm . Such a deafening hurricane X have not beard since the last visit of Madame Vtardot . Mr .
Aldridge surpassed himself in Othello . Real artists are more than ever liable to be inspired in the moments of their triumph , when the love and respect of the public reveals itself in a iliore accurate and defined form . Our public manifested these sentiments towards Mr . Ira Aldridge , who , moreover , may boast of the unfeigned Aldridge , who , moreover , may boast of the unfeigned of his Russian fellow
and truly brotherly sympathy - artists . The elder Tosnitchky , when Othello was over , descended into the orchestra and presented Mr . Aldridge with a bracelet of massive gold , inscribed " The . Russian Artists to Ira Aldridge , the great interpreter of Shakspeare . " He handed also an illustrated scroll of cloth of gold , headed " Thou hast , with the help of ; thy genius , talent , and labour , revealed to the Russians the spirit of the immortal Shakspeare ; aiid henceforth we shall never forget Othello , Shylock , and Lear . To Ira Aldridge , from the Russian Dramatic Artists . 1858 . "
Had these gifts been offered by the general public , they would not have had the hundredth part of their present value and significance . Among thousands it would not be difficult to find thirty appreciators of art in general , and of Mr . Aldridge ' s exceptional talent , but where thirty artists belonging to the same body unanimously and publicly acknowledge their unbounded sympathy for the talent and personal character of a stranger actor , that promises a great harvest for art . For such as these Shakspeare ' s works translated into our nativ * tongue have charms indeed .. They evinced their true nature also at the last performances of King Lear at the Alexander Theatre .
With the \ bracelet were showered on the stage nosegays , verses , and garlands of different shapes and quality . Haying had the opportunity to look attentively over ' alt these , I selected the following anonymous verses ,, which are written on a handsomely painted paper : "Let us go altogether , carrying our Russian ' Thank you ' to him who has made iis a gift of Shakspeare with combined nature , feeling , and sense . His Othello , like a jealous tiger , affectionately and passionately frightened us ; his Shylock , a dreadful usurer , sharpening his knife , rent our very heart ; his Lear was a king fr 6 m head to foot . Following him with our best wishes , and offering him a wreath of laurels , we will say , ' Such visitors as thou are rare . Aldridge , we greet thee heartily , and beg thee to return with thy family the Jew , the Moor , and the : King . '" These verses , apparently from the pen of a youthful student , make
me also add a . conclusion : " And . if not in winter , at least in summer , return to Petersburg in haste , and acquaint us with Macbeth , thy favourite part . " Othello was followed by a remodelled play of Beecher Stowe , The Padlock , iii . the way of a Spanish vaudeville , in one act , where Mr . Ira Aldridge not only showed that astonishing natural vis comica which we fancied had been buried with Labi ache , but also acquainted us with the type of a silly , naively-cunning negro slave . Conceive at one and the same time a character like Figaro , Bartolo , Diego , Cowti Almaviva , Lear , Basilio , and you have Mr . Aldridge ' s Mungo . Among the songs sung by him was that favourite song of the American slaves , " Opossum up a gum-tree , " to the general satisfaction ; but the character of Mungo , most beautifully created by our highly-gifted guest , produced on me , notwithstanding all his careless niirth , a mournful impression ) reminding me of the many distressing sceneB in Uncle Tom ' s Cabin .
Chips . —A story appeared in print lost week to which we were reluctant to give further currency until assured of its truth . We have learnt , however , that the sum of 100 ?* recently changed hands at St . James ' s Hall under amusing circumstances . A Russian gentleman , who was present afc the Howard Paul ' s entertainment , on being informed by his friend and cicerone that the ballad " Who shall be Fairest ? " with which the adrrirers of Mrs . Paul are familiar , was a lady ' s imitation of a celebrated tenor artist , at once resented what he conceived to be an attempted imposition upon his credulity , and backed his opinion that the person and voice , as well as dress of the singer he had just heard , were those of a nialeby a bet to the above amount . The party
, waited , of course , till the close pf the performance ; an introduction was procured to the fair artist : her repetition then and there , and in her ordinary dress , of Mori » s ballad could hardly convince the illustrious foreigner out of his opinion and his money , but when the vocalist followed up the imitation by a Russian troika in her natural voice , he cheerfully resigned both , admitting that for once he had founfl Fro nch aptUude , so much appreciated by his countrymen , more than equalled by a daughter of Britain . —A new three-aqt comedy , by Mr . Stirling Coyne , is understood to bo in course of preparation at the
Hnymarket , and will be produced early in March . Mr . Falconer , of the Lyceum , is engaged upon a new , comedy . The favourite theatre of the Pro Catalan , at Paris ' , was very severely damaged by fire last week . It burnt for four hours , and the whole of the decorations , &c , wore consumed . •*•* Mr . Slous ' s play , The Borgia Ring , seems hardly destined to hold the stage permanently , being now played on alternate nights only . Its entire withdrawal may foe looked for at no distant period . We are not officially authorised to announce , but we hare reason to suppose , that the Amor ican opera of
Rip Van Winkle , reported to contain a good deal of agreeable and original music , is in active rehearsal at Covent "Garden , and will be produced as soon as time has been allowed for the influx immi gration attendant upon Parliament to have made themselves acquainted with Satanella : —The management of the Princess ' s Theatre passes , as has frequently been stated , to Mr . Augustus Harris , on the approaching termination of Mr . Kean ' s tenancy . The new lessee has already made some engagements of importance , among which are those of the favourite actress Mrs *
Charles Young , and Mr . Walter Montgomery , actor well known at Manchester . —The Pyne and Harrison season at Covent Garden terminates on the 19 th of March ' , when Mr . Gye , of course , will take the field against the various competing opera houses . Apropos , of music , we observe in the columns of a contemporary , that the official diapason will be promulgated in the beginning of April . The musical world , says JL'Entr ' acte , awaits the report of M . Hale'vy , which we understand recommends the simple reduction of a quarter of a tone in the present pitch .
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BOOKS RECEIVED . Russia . By a Recent Traveller . W . F . Graham . A Critical Dictionary of English Literature , and British and American Authors . By Austin Allibone . Philadelphia : Childs and Peterson . The North American Review . No * CLXXXII . Jan ., - 1859 . Boston : Crosby , Nicbollsj and Co . ; London : Sampson Low and Co . : The Christian Examiner . No . CCXI . Jan ., 1859 . Boston : Crosby , Nicholls , and Co . ; London : E . T Whitfield . ; Redress of National Grievances , &c . By Charles Enderky , F . R . S . Richardson Brothers . Behind the Scenes in Paris ; a Tale of the . Clubs and the Secret Police . 2 vols .: James Hogg and Sons .
CasseWs Illustrated Family Paper . Part XIV ., Vol . III . Cassell , Fetter , and Galpin . Half-hour with the Microscope , Illustrated from Nature . By Tuiffen Westi . R . Hardwick . Parliamentary Representation . ¦ By David Chadwick . W . F . Jackson and Son . Spray . Cambridge : M'Millan and Co . Plan : for Collecting Sewage in London . By a Ratepayer . Effingham Wilson . . The Trade of Russia . By B . A . Kokoreff . Wertheiraer and Co . Extracts from the Works of Jean Paul Rlchter . By Georgiana Lady Chattertori . J . W . Parker and Son . The Welcome Guest . Part IX .
The Irish Quarterly Review . No . XXXII . Dublin : W . B . Kelly . Nothing to Eat , By N . Sunnyside . Journal of the Dublin Statistical Society . Part XIII . January , 1859 . The Parents' Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction . Smith , Elder , and Co . New Zealand audits Colonisation . By William Swainson . Smith , Elder , and Co . Unica : a Story for a Sunday Afternoon . Smith , Elder , and Co . , . The Fixed and the Voluntary Principles . By E . Miall . Ward and Co . Lettres stir I'Enseignement des Colleges en France . Par M . C . Clavel . Paris : Guillaumin etC .
The Eclectic Review . February , 1859 . Ward and Co . The Works of the Rev . Sydney Smith . Part II . Longman and Cp . Revue Britanriique . No . I . Janvier , 1859 . Paris : aa Bureau de la Revue , 60 , Rue Neuvo-Saint-A » igustin . Church of England Monthly Review . No . XXXII . Bell and Daldy . Adam Bcde . By George Eliot . 3 vols . W , Blackwood and Sons . The Year-Book of Facts in Science and Art . By John Timbs , F . S . A . W . Kent and Co . On Liberty . By John Stewart Mill . J . W . Parker . The Life of James Deacon Hume . By Charles Badhom , M . A . Smith , Elder , and Co . Proceeding * of the Society of Antiquarians of IjohUoiu Vol . IV . No . XUX .
That ' s It . No . I . Woulston and Wright . Dictionary of Useful Knowledge . Parts I . and II . »««»" eton and Wright , , Dictionary of Daily Wants . Vol . 1 , Houlaton nnu Wright . , A Letter to the Working Claseei . By Henry DrummonU . Bosworth and Harrison , Ernest the Pilgrim . A Dramatic Poem . By J . W . King . Partridge and Co . . „„ ,-., in « Veterinary Medicines : their Actions and Uses , By * wwy Dun , V . Q . Slmnkin and , Marshall . ¦ , > Our Brothers andVowins : a Summer Tour in Canada and the States . By John Maogrogor , M . A . » oiuey > Jackson , and Halllday . ' . The North British Review . No . MX . Edinburg h .
W . P . Kennedy . . „ _ . „ ., » Constable ' s Educational Series : " Hiotbry qS England •• Elements of Musical Analysis . "
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184 THE LEADER . 1 ^ ° - ^» rtjarY 5 , 1859 . - ¦ ¦ ¦ m . , .- ' ¦ - ' ¦¦ ' - ¦ ¦ ¦—¦—' ,. ¦ . _ .. -. _ -. i . _ _ — ¦ . — '— . — - ¦ ' — ¦ '_ - ¦—•¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' — - ' ¦ -.. ¦'¦¦ - ¦ - ¦ ¦ *¦ - ' . . . ' . — . —_ — - ¦
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 5, 1859, page 184, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2280/page/24/
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