The Press. — London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

IP I " tt, 1854 is much good sensein his "Observations" The Go vernment bill, after abolishing the power of removal, wovides that, " thronghout those parts of England and Wales which are contained in unions formed under the Poor Law Amendment Act, the whole burden of maintaining the poor is, as soon as the hilt comes into full operation, to he tonne as a charge on the common fund of the union, and the parishes are respectively to contribute towards that burden 'according to the annual value of the property in such parishes respectively.' rhis proposal in effect deals with the whole union, at the end of a term of ten years, as if it were one parish, and levies the funds for relieving the poor upon all the rateable property throughout such union, in proportion merely to the value of the property, without regard to-the parish in which it is situate." The effect of this would be that some parishes, which now contribute much less than the average charge towards the maintenance of the poor, would have to contribute largely in excess of the average of the whole country. This alteration in a charge on land, which has endured nearly 250 years, Mr. Pashley re gards as a pro tanto confiscation of the fee-simple value of real estate. The learned gentleman raises many other minor objections to the Government measure, and concludes by suggesting what he con ceives to be a better Plan. of his own. One or Two Remarks on the Law Relating to Combi nations. By a Member of the Temple. London : Kenning and Co. THE author thinks combinations of masters on the one side, and men on the other, to raise money for the purpose of carrying on the war of strikes and lock-outs, is illegal, but, to put it beyond all doubt, proposes to pass an act prohibiting these associations. We do not think these combinations are illegal, and doubt the policy of making them so. Preface to the Second Edition of the Russo-Turkish Campaigns of 1828 and 1829. By Colonel Chesney, lt.A., D.C.L., F.R.S. London : Smith, Elder, and Co. WE lately reviewed the work of which this is the pre face, but events are hurrying on so fast that any fresh remarks from so high an authority as Colonel Chesney will not fail to auraot attention. In June last the author submitted to the Turkish Govern ment a plan of a defensive campaign in the minci palities. It was to push on and meet the Russians on the Pruth, to offer no serious resistance beyond obstructing their progress and depriving them of supplies, and thus, gradually falling back, make the Danube, with its fortresseS ' the first line of real defence. If there are defects in the equipment of our own expeditionary army, it is gratifying to find that the medical department is not amongst them. This is supplied on a scale of liberality "which has no parallel." The commissariat is also well arranged, " the soldier will be enabled to purchase in his can " tonments, and at a low price, the best porter, " ale, chocolate, coffee, Szc." Successful resistance by the Russians to such troops as. Englend and France bring into the field Colonel Chesney looks upon as impossible. The second year he thinks will terminate the war. Suggestions tot simplifying and improving the organisation of our artillery complete the pamphlet of fifteen pages which this preface forms. Claudius Ptolemy and the Nile. By William Des borough Cooley. London : John W. Parker and Son. • A wows in which learning and logical power are brought to hear on the geography of co with the view of exposing its errors. As Ptolemy lived in the 2nd century of our era, it is not surprising that his critic in the 10th century has succeeded in his attempt. Mr. Cooley questions the existence of the mountains of the moon. It seems the Arabic word which signifies "moon" closely resembles another which means "pale green colour." In the concluding pages some strong reasons are given for believing that the Blue River is the true Nile. The 19th cen tury is a great solver of problems, and doubtless, be fore its close, the lunar mountains and the stream of mystery will, like the northern ice, have been ex• plored by their M‘Clure. China : her Future and her Past. By George Smith, D.D., Bishop of Victoria. London : Hatchard. This is a charge delivered to " the Anglican clergy" at Sbanghae, in .October, 1853, The address is chiefly occupied in discussing what effect passing events in China will have on the extension of religion and the status of the missionaries. The conclusion at which the bishop arrives is that the success of the insurgents will be favourable to both. The matter of the charge is interesting, but the manner, as the re ader will perceive, is oc casionall y too magniloquent. 1111111111Mmigm , Tlll4 I.ll.ll,EstS: An Open College Best for All. 'A Reply to " The Case of Queen's College, by the Rev. John Barrow, 4:c." With an Appendixx, en the Michel leuudit tion. By the Rev. Thomson, M.A., &0., of Queen's College. London: Ridgway. • THIS pamphlet evinces the known ability of its author ; and, as a learned and logical argument to determine the real intention of the founder of Queen's College, is most valuable. We have not seen the pamphlet to which it is a reply, and have not, there fore, materials for forming ajudgment on the sulgeet in dispute ; but the dispute is at this moment of considerable interest, and important permanently with reference to the history of university endow ments. The pamphlet contains an appendix on the proposed relegation of the Michel Fellows to St. Edmund's Hall, the fellows iu question objecting to this species of transportation. A Lecture on the Life and Writings of Oliver Gold smith. Delivered before the Members of the Newark Mechanics' Institute. By Granville E. H. 'Vernon, M.P. London : J. W. Parker and Son. By a political opponent, but good ; otherwise full of interesting particulars well told, but specially remark. able for its emphatic dissent from the political usage of the Peelite party:— " Goldsmith spoke his mind out, mid was all goolnature the minute after. He was author of a saying, Is the justice qf whi4. l 4 I tie aot sulmtribe, but which ltas beau often qtugael, imd amnetimes erroneously attributed to the crafty Tu/ley rand,,that ' language is given us not so much to express 'as to conceal our thoughts.' It is to be found in the Bee." Oh, Bee! where is thy sting? • • Theory. and Practice of the German Language. By J. N. Vlieland. London : Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. The : author of this little work has been for many yeaea,Prefessor of French and German in King Ed ward 'the SINAI . % Grarnmex School it Norwich, and 'lli 'known as the author of many useful works on 'Modern languages. The present volume, which is an a great measure translated from Meidinger's " Grammaire Allemande Pratique," partakes of the nature of a grammar, a dictionary, and a course of exercises, in which rules and examples are inter woven. Its style is intelligible and concise; and the whole forms an easy introduction to the Ger man language. ViithiPittier Press .Direetary, - aid' 'Advertisers Gui'te. Landon : Tut: fourth edition of thie . 'chre' ctory, which com menced in 1848, appears under an enlarged form and at, a reduced price. For the former change, the ra • pidly-eXtending number of the journals which have to be described, and the more elaborate nature of the description afforded them, have been the suM dent motives. The latter is in consonance with the spirit of the times, and will, doubtless, like many other changes in the same direction, meet with com mercial success. As guide sad index to the names, localities, principles, and leading characteristics of ' every newspaper in the United Kingdom, nut omit ting tlo British Isles, the publication is at once full, accurate, and useful. The Beard! Why do we Cut it Off? By David. London : Bosworth. A untrrrns: of sense and ignorance. The arguments in favour of bean's are good, but the author asserts that "in our own army not even a moustache is " tolerated, except in some few favoured regiments, " such as the hussars." All our cavalry wear the moustache. PUBLICATIONS , . RUE/VET). Ilooxa. Claudius Ptolemy and the Nile. W. D. Cooley. Parker ana Son. Bulger Lytton 's . Poems and Dramas. Vol. 5. Chapman and Hall. Jerome Cardan. B. Morley. Chapman and Hall. Curzon's Armenia. Murray. Erelina. Miss Burney. mnrtison. S e rmons. T. G. Hatehard, M.A. Hateliard. .Faksnbeek Hall. J. Harwood. Newby. The Comforter, or Thooghts on the Influenee if the Holy Spirit. Rev. J. Cumming. llidl and Virtue. Signs of ahe Times; the Moslem and his End; the Chris tian and Ms Hope. Rev. J. Cainming. HaR and Virtue. Nine, or, Songs and Legends of Roumania. E. C. G. Murray. Smith and Elder. Boatmen of the Baspluerns. Newby. The History of Latin Christianity. Dr. ?Allman. Murray. PAMPHLETS. Popery in the First Century. Triibner and Cu. 283 TAs Speteh ef the Bari V Shselesbunt, March 1011 s. Murray. SPeceher stclic•Ttsl is the House (!1* Colonions,oo the Turkish Qur.ijon , Ity A. 11. Lu;%ttal, Esq., M.P. Murray. The Potato Disease; its Origio, .Natetw, and ('use. Hon. (inuitley Berkeley. Longman and Co. '. fat giraM3.,' '-'•!- :;:.,-;-- '.',.. .. • HAY MARICI"T ItitATltE. . Willikind and hys I)innh it Sn'ittempt to take ad- - ' vantage of the present popularity of a song which has already been popular and forgotten five or six times over, and to introduce in a new dress the time honoured story of cruel parents and broken-hearted lovers. The piece is worked out with but little variety. 111 r. Corti, the stern father, raves and sings parodies; Mr. Buckstoue, the disagreeable pretender, raves and sings parodies ; Mrs. Fitzwilham, Miss Howard, Mrs. Caulfield.-llituih, Wiliikitul, and the fond mother—all rave and sing parodies. With this is mingled a variety of hits at the topics of the day, more or less successint The thing is, in fact, a frag ment of a burlesque, put up without any framing, - and when there was already another burlesque in the bills. We would fain have one thing or the other, ~ and cannot quite approve of a morsel of a burlesque •'' served up instead of a farce. Fur the relit it. was well sung and acted. The hest part was the death of Lima, who laid herself out amid the cabbages, . labelled her bosom, put on her nightcap, and poi soned '. herself with British brandy cooled with W ham ice, after a very amusing fashi' - /1•;. . , . - .. • • PRINCESS'S. .s .7 . • . , Wit cannot afford space upon our critiell , Wheal ,. to • • break such a fly as the new farce, A Storm in a Tea cup, produced last Monday at this theatre. We will ' content ourselves with stating that the pains and energy with which Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lacy act very indifferent parts will probably succeed in making • this piece the stopgap for whi. . A i ia, qh : • • ie.. .,' • -- Am . • -," - tended by the management. - - .. , ' APELPItt: ''' 44. ' .l " 1"' AN " Adelphi " melodrama of the genuine sort is a wonderful thing and eke a good thing ; and o aof . the wonderfullest and best is the specimen p roduc ed .: on Monday night, front the pens of Mt. Tim kylor and Mr. C. Reade, under the title of Two Loves avid a Life. That the play should be crammed full bf .: incidents, and that the incidents should be of the • most sharply-contrasted, thrillingly-interesting cna racter, is a matter of Adelphi necessity. That the c haracters should be numerous , comprising all the most popular members of the Aelelpht company, and bringing into play their most popular peculiarities, is a dictate of managerial prudence. The new melo drama, like its predecessors, fulfils both of these condi tions, and much besides ; for, unlike most of its predecessors, it contains nothing that violates nature, - - outrages probability, or shocks taste, but presents a' coherent, well-developed plot, worked out through a succession of well- devised scenes depicted in lan guage at once powerful and dramatic. The authors of Two Loves and a L(ji have done much to rescuak the melodrama from the abyss of coarse effects , , vulgar horrors into which it was falling. Nor is' their least merit that they,have done this without - - either borrowing a French plot or—what is even worse—infusing a French sentiment into their play , Our limits will permit us to give but the bare ske ton of the story which the melodramatiets Zia dressed and tinted so brilliantly. The two "loves" - are those of the daughter, Ann, of a village post master, and Ruth, his orphan protegee. The " life" ~ is that of Gervase Rokewood, a Jacobite gentlem .. who is found, when the piece op ens, livin g in ' guise on the coast of Lancashire, in company with the Jesuit, Father Redeliffe, watching for and co operating with the Pretender's march into England -• in the fatal year of the battle of Culloden. The postmaster is a regular O. Smith-villain, and played by 0. Smith capitally, who contrives to discover and denounce the disguised Jacobites, in which perfor- - mance he is assisted by a comic schoolmaster, whose character, though quite subordinate to the mein action of the drama, affords some excellent oppor • tunities for Mr. Keeley. Both Ann and Ruth, as treks e said, have fallen desperately in love with Ro • ' ' •• They know of their rivalry, and, in a capital - resolve to turn it into a mutual emulation who shag • serve, or preserve, him best. Of course their endow. • yours do but result (until the end of the drama) in increasing his dangers and distresses, insomuch that Rokr7road is captured, tried, condemned, married (to Ann), and brought out on Tower-hill for execution. Ruth, however, has previously rescued the Duke of Cumberland and his regiment from the perils of a fog and a rising tide, receiving in recompense . of those rings so common in melodrama that the giver to return the service in any wa time it may be claimed. This ring ' ' _ Ruth so dextronely as to secure a pardon Tar Roketrood, which, after a sharp struggle between I love and despair on discovering his union with her rival, she displays just in time to arrest the fall cf : --•••••••••-•-••••..... I