The Press. — London, England, 1855-09-29 00:00:00

SEPT. 29,1855. 'lt !zama. COVENT GARDEN.—The Wizard of the North has, we believe, obtained a lease of this house for the winter months, during which period he will produce a pantomime unequalled for tricks and startling effects. His usual entertainments will of course pre cede the pantomime. DRURY LANE.—The benefit of Miss Escott took place on Thursday evening, upon which occasion Lucia was performed. The fair beneficiaire sang and played the part to perfection, and was rewarded with loud and well-deserved applause. Mr. Elliot Galer was an admirable Edgardo, and Mr. H. Braham played Henry Ashton in an exceedingly creditable manner. The opera was followed by Mr. Davies's petite comedy, A Mcrniny Call, a short concert, and Mr. Selby's burlesque on the Spanish Dancers. The house was very fully attended, and the applause as marked as it was well deserved. The operatic season closes to-night, and on Monday the house reopens with an original drama from the pen of Mr•. Fitzball. A great deal of curiosity has been excited by the announcement that it is an historical Egyptian piece, and to be produced with every accessory of scenic and decorative art. Miss Glyn, Mr. Barry Sullivan, and Mr. Charles Mathews, are among the artistes engaged. Mr. Robert Roxby is the stage, and Mr. Charles Mathews the acting, manager under the new regime. SURREY TxuArat.—Yankee peculiarities have found an efficient representative at this theatre in a Mr. McVickar, who, in spite of the intolerable prosiness and absurdity of the rest of the characters in the farce in which he enacts the "comic man," manages to keep his audience in a roar of laughter from the moment he enters the scene to the moment be leaves it. The play, Sam Patch, is below the level of those generally concocted for an imitator of na tional peculiarities, and provokes the sensations of fatigue even in the most tolerant of playgoers ; yet Sam's Yankee impudence, intrusiveness, inquisitive. ness, and sing-song nasalities are so cleverly repre sented by the actor, every tone and gesture being in perfect keeping, that the ultimate and predominant impression carried away is one of almost entire satis faction. We should be happy to see Mr. McVickar engaged at some West-end theatre, and saved from the vulgarising influences of a trans-Thamisian au dience: in the remote and uncivilised district near the Elephant and Castle, the ultima thule of acces sible theatres, where people in the dress-boxes sit in their hats and eat stall•fruit during the performance, where porter displaces soda-water in the pit, and the gallery displays its approbation by actual vivd-voce imitations of a favorite actor, it is impossible but that the critical faculties must be in quite a rudimentary state. A representation of the first part of King Henry the Fourth preceded the farce, and offered many novel features to the observant hearer, several highly curious new readings being presented, and a very remarkable effect produced by the general sup pression of all the aspirates in the play ; Falstaff, as far as we remember, was the only character in which due prominence was given to "poor letter H. Thus, Hotspur and Prince Henry addressed each other as "'A rry Monmouth" and "'Arry Percy"; and Douglas, by way of compensation for leaving out one letter, introduced another, and informed the audience that "kings grew like 'ydria's 'eads." The fight between Prince Henry and Hotspur was a fine spec► men of the theatrical duel proper : the swords clashed and clanged together as regularly as hammer and anvil in a blacksmith's shop; and when, in the heat and violence of the combat, showers of sparks were beaten out by the industrious actors, the enthusiasm of the audience rose to its highest pitch. Mr. Barry, during the protracted agonies of his last moments, went through contortions quite worthy of his name sake the clown ; and when his let.gthened sufferings were happily brought to a close, and he fairly breathed his last, it appeared to us, judging merely from the symptoms, that his decease was rather due to the effect of a powerful emetic, combined with a severe attack of croup, than the result of a home-thrust administered by the sure hand of the Prince of Wales. The scenery was disgraceful. The famous sun of the last act looked exactly like a huge red wafer stuck into the middle of the horizon; and in the last scene, the idea of filling a bridge at the back of the stage with soldiers, to whomsoever due, created a laughable effect—from the utter dispropor tion between the height of the men and that of the bridge, they appeared to be contemplating the scene from the parapet with their legs in the water, like so many armed Garg.tntuas. Surely Mr. Creswick, on whom the arrangement of details we suppose devolves, and whose opinion, at least, would be of some slight weight, should prevent these abstirdi ttas; if lie cannot correct inveterate faults of pro nunciation in the actors, he can at least exclude bad scene painting and false effects of grouping from the mice-en-scene. ASTLEY'S.—A grand spectacle of the fall of Sebas topol was of course to be expected at Astley's, and THE PRESS. expectation has not been disappointed. On Monday a melodramatic military spectacle, upon the model of last year's Battle of Alma, was brought out with every success, and with every prospect of being as popular as its predecessor. By throwing the whole of the pit and circle into a stage, a large space is ob tained for grouping the columns of infantry and masses of troops ; and by keeping the soldiers per petually marching round, out one side and in the other, the appearance of numbers is admirably sus tained, and the effect produced very striking. The spectacle consists of a series of detached scenes taxen from the actual events of the siege, while the capture of the Malakoff of course forms the conclud ing tableau. But the interest of the piece does not solely depend upon military effects; there is a charm ing domestic incident introduced by means of a vir tuous navvie who seeks his runaway daughter and finds her at Balaklava the wife of a staff officer! The usual amount of sorrow and sentiment, blessings and forgiveness, is gone through, and the navvie conde scends to approve of his son-in-law instead cf knocking his brains out with a pick. Among the big wigs the French and English generals and Omer Pacha are characteristically represented, and take snuff and shake hands together in the most amiable manner, while the Russian commandant is repre sented in the rather undignified position of a hen pecked husband. The whole of the tableaux are admirably designed, particularly the general inspec tion of the troops in the second act ; while in the concluding capture of the Malakoff there is enough powder burnt to inflame the ardour of a less patriotic audience than that of Astiers. On the whole, it is a very successful "spectacle," and, unless superseded by any more immediate victory of the allies, promises well to retain its interest and attraction throughout the autumn season. POLYTECHNIC—MODEL or SEBAsTOPot.—There is now exhibiting at these rooms one of the bestmodels yet seen of Sebastopol. The scale is three inches to the mile, just sufficiently extensive to give minute ness of detail, and to show the superficial features of a country with accurate truthfulness. The whole plateau of Sebastopol and its adjacent heights are included from Tchorgoun on the east to the Belbeck on the north, and every battery, trench, ravine, fort, and earthwork, allied or Russian, is given with careful detail. Starting from the Quarantine inlet and Battery, the eye takes in successively Kamiesch, the Monastery of St. George, Balaklava (whence it fol lows the course of the railway), Kadikoi, the scene of the memorable light cavalry charge, the advanced positions of the British and Sardinians at Kamara and Tchorgoun, the rivers Tschernaya and Chulin, the Tractir-bridge and the ravine down which the Russians came in their last attack, the Mackenzie road, winding along the precipitous sides of steep hills and commanded by numerous batteries, the Inkermann lights, and the Star Fort and its outworks. The head-quarters of the two generals are marked by their respective flags, and every division of the army, French and English, is represented in its given position. The massive earthworks on the north side, the enormous Star Fort, and the formidable batteries which command the steep, narrow road across the Tschernaya to Mackenzie's Farm, are represented with singular skill. The model has excited a great deal of interest just now, and to Mr. Holman, the modeller, every credit is due for the admirable skill he has evinced. We believe it has been presented to the Institution, and takes the place of the former model of Sebastopol, which has been removed to another room. THE DUKE OF SAXE COBURG has arrived in Paris, to he present at the production of his new opera, Santa Chiara, which is to be brought out on the most magnificent scale on Friday next at the Grand Opera. A rehearsal took place on Wednesday night before the Emperor and Court. BIRDS ON THE SHOOTINGS IN SCOTLAND are still numerous and strong, but are now turning very wild, so that sportsmen in future are net likely to make such heavy bags as in the earlier part. of the season. The Banffshire deer-stalking has been carried on very successfully. THE new Sheriffs for London and Middlesex, Ald. Kennedy and Ald. Rose, were yesterday introduced to the Court of Aldermen, and took and subscribed the customary oaths, Mr. Stone, the senior under• sheriff, also taking the usual oaths for the due administration of his office. M. PIERRE Sorr.r., who made himself so extremely obnoxious at Madrid when he represented the American Republic at the Court of Spain, has, says a Madrid letter of Sept. 21, met with a violent and dreadful death. M. Soule has been shot. His family had been kept as hostages in the town of Zuluf, and after the place had been attacked by Santa Cruz, this fearful act was accomplished. ABD-EL-KkDER, and a numerous suite of Bedouin chiefs, paid a visit on Tuesday to the machinery department of the Universal Exhibition, Salt mtb Volict. MORE WIFE-BEATING AND BRUTALITY. Mom cases of brutal assaults upon wives and wont( a appear in the police reports of this week. The frt. quency of these shocking attacks calls for some preventive punishment more efficacious than that at present in force. Why not try flogging ? The hand of many a ruffian might be stayed if conscious that the indulgence of his passion would be followed i y an infliction of the cat-o' wine-tails Walter We!lard, a powerful•looking young man, respects bly dressed, residing at No. 7, Haywanl•place, St John'r street, Clerkenwell, was charged at Clerkenwell Police court on Tuesday by Eliza Wellard, his wife, a sickly young woman, with having violently assaulted her, by which she was so seriously injured that her life is in jeopardy. The poor woman, who wished the charge might not be proceeded with, as her husband was drunk at the time, being ordered by the magistrate to proceed, said, with some difficulty, that on Monday night last the prisoner returned home in a state of intoxication, and, without the least pro vocation, he abused and ill-treated her very violently. She ran away in terror into the back yard in order to escape his violence, and shut herself inside the closet, from which he dragged her, and, after beating her, he dashed her head violently against the brick wall, which injured her dread fully. She bled much, and a surgeon was sent for, who dressed her wounds, and she was now under his attention and treatment. _ _ Mr. Corrie : Pray, what is he ? Witness : He is a gilder. We have just commenced in a small way of business, and if he is sent to prison 1 shall lose all—it will bring us to ruin. When he drinks he is mad, but when he is sober he don't beat me. He has beaten me before, but I have forgiven him. [ Here she became very weak, and was allowed to be seated.] Sergeant John Herbert, IS U, produced the following certificate from the surgeon : This to certify that is suffering from a severe wound on the scalp, extending quite to the bone, and the result of which cannot at present be determined. September III4ISM. L. M. GoDDARD, Surgeati. Herbert added that he heard cries of " murder," and on proceeding to the house No. 7, Hayward place, he found Mrs. Wellard bleeding profusely from a wound on her head. He sent for Mr. Goddard, who attended, and he said she was in danger. She said he had used the poker and tongs to her. The prisoner said she fell over a tub and cut her head. Mr. Corrie: I shall remand you for a week, and your wife shall be properly attended to. The prisoner was then locked up. Mr. Corrie directed Sergeant Herbert to make some in. quirie•s about the wife, &c. The sergeant in course of the day communicated that he had made inquiries, and ascertained that she was a quiet, industrious, deserving woman. She was perfectly friendless, and received scarcely anything from the prisoner. Mr. Corrie said she must be attended to, and ordered 10s. to be handed to her out of the poor•box. James M'Cann, 28, was charged on Thursday, at Won. ship•su•eet, with the following outrage : Elizabeth Clarke, a decently-dressed young woman of pleasing features, but whose eyes were both shockingly contused, and her nose so injured that she was obliged to hold it with a handkerchief while giving her evidence, stated that she was acquainted with a young man named Green, residing in Paternoster-row, Spitaltields, on whom she called on the preceding evening, and between whom and herself a sort of lover's quarrel ensued. This, how ever, was made up, and had been over about five minutes, when the prisoner, who lived in the same house, but of whom she knew nothing, suddenly rushed into the room, and, with an oath swearing he would pitch her down the stairs, grasped her round the waist, dragged her out of the room, and tried to fling her over the banisters. She clung with desperation to the jamb of the door, and the prisoner, on finding that he could not wrench her away with all his efforts, dealt het• such a heavy blow in the face as to bruise her eyes in the manner they now appeared. A violent struggle ensued between them, in which the prisoner again tried to fling her down the stairs, and, again not succeed ing, he seized her by the shoulders. dragged her back into the room, and dashed her to the ground, her face down- wards, with such violence that her head came in contact with the leg of a bedstead,and she became nearly senselesa. In this condition the prisoner again seized her, and endea voured to fling her down the staircase, but she clung with tenacity to some of the furniture, and, her screams bring ing in one of the neighbours, a constable was procured, an.l she was rescued from further violence. In answer to the magistrate, the complainant added that at one time she was completely stunned by the prisoner's blows ; the bridge of her nose was broken, so that she was now under the care of a surgeon, and she bled so dreadfully that the sacking of the bedstead to which she cluing was saturated with blood, which was also all over the room—in fact, the room was smothered with it. Mr. Hammill sentenced the prisoner to be cnmin;tted to the House of Correction for six months, and kept to hard labour. John Penningheacl, a powerful labourer, was cha-gel at the same court with unprovoked assaults. Elizabeth Fieldwick, a seamstress, living in Prince's street, Haggerstone, stated that while s!tting at work with her sister and cousin on the previous evening the door was suddenly buret open by the prisoner, who lodged in the same house, and who staggered into the room ill a state of intoxication, and, after assailing them with the most gross and disgusting epithets, told them he " was ready to fight the whole lot of them." They were very much 935