The Press. — London, England, 1856-08-02 00:00:00

740 Ile bring thee Where Mistris An Page is a feasting at a farm•house, And thou shalt wear hir, cried game : sed I wel bully. It will be seen, therefore, that the only change made by the poet himself in the finished play was from " wear hir " to " woo her," omitting the favorite word of the host, "bully," but retaining "cried game ;" and though, as Mr. Halliwell states, the phrase •is obscure, yet, as it seems to have been originally written and afterwards retained by Shakespeare, it looks like rashness to alter it even for the old cor rector's suggestion, who was perhaps thinking of Perdita, "the queen of curds awl cream," Winter's Tale. In this delightful play there is a word which re quires a better explanation than the critics har•e yet given. Falstaff says . I do mean to make love to Ford's wife ; I spy enter• tainment in her; she discourses, she carves, she gives the leer of invitation.—Act i. se. 3. Mr. Collier considers " carves" to be a misprint for craves," but the former word occurs in the first sketch of the play, and may therefore be assumed to be the poet's word. We find the expression in Love's Labour Lost. Biron, speaking of the " honey tongued " Boyet, . . The ape of form, monsieur the nice, thus describes the chamberlain of the Princess of France This gallant pins the wenches on his sleeve, Had he been Adam, he had tempted Eve ; He can carve too and lisp.—Act v. sc. 2. We can hardly supposo that the verb to carve, in either of these instances, refers to helping at table, as suggested by some critics, for Alice Ford was only a guest at Page's dinner, where it is not very likely that she would carve the " hot venison pasty ;" and the application of the word to Boyet would imply eDme peculiarity of speech or action of which we have lost the true meaning. We have still in use aparallel word often tound in Shakespeare, " to mince," deno ting an affectation in gait or language, and evidently derived from the table :—" Mincing steps."—Mer chant of Venice. "A minced man."—Troilus and Cressida. " She minces virtue."—King Lear. "Hold up your head and mince."—Merry Wives of Windsor, duo. GEORGE RUSSELL FRENCH. USit. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. DONIZETTI'S comic opera Don Pasquale was com posed expressly for Grisi, Mario, Tamburini, and Lablache, whose admirable acting as well as singing rendered the ensemble one of the most perfect spe cimens of vivacious vocalisation ever heard on the lyric stage. In 1848 the cast at Her Majesty's Theatre was Mme. Tadolini, Labocetts, Belletti, and Lablache. Subsequently, Mme. Sontag was the Norina, and in 1852 Mme. de Lagrange undertook the part, supported by Calzolari, Ferrauti, and La blache. At the Royal Italian Opera Grisi, Mario, Ronconi, and Lablache, gave unusual attraction to this lively work. Labiache is now hors de combat, it is feared, for ever. He has been confined to his house in Paris the entire season with dropsical symptoms, and has been unable to appear at the Lyceum this year. His only possible successor in Don Pasquale would be Ronconi, but the music must be transposed to suit his voice. Rossi, wbo enacted the ancient bachelor to Mlle. Piccolomini's Norina, Belletti's Dr. Malatesta, and Calzolari's Er nesti, is a good and conscientious artist; but his position was most difficult following Lablache, whose grotesque Pasquale is so fresh in the recollec tion. The disposition of the dramatis persona, indeed, taken individually, on the present occasion, will not stand comparison for a moment with former representations ; but, on the whole, all the artists being Italians, the composition itself being quite familiar to them, and the acting being con amore, the interpretation of the opera was one of the best aid closest of the season. Mlle. Piccolomini de• pitted the assumed bashfulness of the fiery widow very amusingly—in the storms of the scold she was less successful her fun was too transparent. Belletti carried off the honours of the singing. He delivered the romanza, "Bella siccome un angelo," with remarkable taste and animation. The noble quatrain " E rismasto," was steadily given ; this piece alone would stamp Donizetti as a dramatic musician of the first order. The dramatic performance of Mlle. Wagner came to a close last Monday with Tan credi, and she has left town for Berlin, without having had the opportunity of really displaying her unquestionably great powers in a German opera. The subscription season terminates this evening with La Traviata, and three extra nights at reduced prices, next week, will bring Mr. Lumley's short campaign to an end. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. THESE have been three performances this week— Lucrezia Borgia, last Monday night; Rossini's Bar- THE PRESS. bare, on Tuesday ; and Verdi's Trovatore, with Bosio and Mario, on Thursday. The subscription nights will be ended to-night (Saturday), with La Favorita, sustained by Grisi, Mario, Zelger, and Graziani. The last of the twelve concerts with the company at the Crystal Palace took place yesterday (Friday '. Next week our review of Mr. Gye's season will be given. THE ROYAL SURREY GARDENS. The programmes have taken Jullien's normal promenade state, as they ought to be, considering the pleasant arrangement of the gardens, the open condition of the mixed music hall, the vicinity of the giraffe's court, and the yards of those acute bis cuit-munching animals the bears, white and black. And right well do Jullien's forces play their valses, polkas, and quadrilles,—the sop of a single sympho nial movement being thrown in to soften the souls of the classics. One discovery has, however, been made by the Surrey schemes--a genuine vocalist has been found—really a new and excellent vocalist-- in Miss Kate Ramie, a contralto, and a pupil of Duprez. Her declamation, as might be expected from such a master, is decisive; and the sensibility she evinced in the melody of Costa's evening prayer from Eli—truly angelic music—must convince her hearers that a brilliant future is in store for her. Jullien's style of conducting the accompaniments is emphatically to be commended. One word as to the business arrangements of the gardens. The nomi nal entrance money is one shilling—cheap enough, in all conscience, but it looks like a" do," to announce low prices and then swell the receipts by charging extras—the dingy-looking programme at threepence; the caverns at thrt epence ; and so forth. " Limited Liability " in music is not oblivious of ordinary cupidity. Then, again, as to the restaurant. MM. Potet and Chabot are clever caterers ; their cuisine is good, but the service is very bad. The waiters are hungry wolves and extortionate exactors. The charges of the limited liability proprietary are first rate. Here is au exact copy of an " addition " for a dinner for two persons; it is a curiosity, and recals the " notes " of the Boulevard des Italiens :—Two saumons, 35.; two poulets, 4s. 6d. ; two omelettes confiture, 2s. 6d.; jambon, 25.; homage, 4d.; two petites poix, Is.; one champagne, ss. 6d.; one pale ale, Is. ; 1 cafe, 61—total, It. Os. -Id. In the prospectus of the "Limited Liability Com pany" it is stated, "the directors entertain a confi. dent hope that, both in the quality and price of the refreshments, and the mode in which they are served, the public will be fully satisfied." The quality of the above was unexceptionable, but the fish, fowl, and ham portions being on the "limited liability " scale—that is a very small responsibility— the dinner became a heavy tax. The Epernay, at ss. 6d., is very palateable ; and this is a real revo lution—a glass of real champagne at a fair price to the consumer. BRADFORD MUSICAL FESTIVAL. THE full programme of the arrangements for the second of the triennial musical festivals in St. George's-hall, Bradford, has been just published. There will be four morning performances, entirely of sacred music, on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 20th of August, and three evening concerts, on the 26th, 28th, and 29th. On the Wednesday, the 27th, there will be no performance, the evening being appro priated doubtless to a rehearsal, and to the exten sion of that hospitality for which Bradford so distin guished itself at the last gathering. The oratorios to be given will be Mendelssohn's Elijah, on the opening day, Costa's Eli on the second day, and Handel's Messiah on the third morning. On the final day a new Psalm (the 103rd), composed by Mr. W. Jackson, the clever and indefatigable chorus master of Bradford, will be performed for the first time, the soli to be sung by Viardot, Mrs. Sunder land, who enjoys deserved fame in the north, Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr. Weiss. Mendelssohn's 114th Psalm, a selection from Mr. Henry Leslie's oratorio Emanuel, and gleanings from werks by Handel, Cherubini, Haydn, Himmel, Mendelssobn, and Mozart, make up the selection. Mme. Clara Novelle., Mrs. Sunderland, Miss Fanny Huddart, Vine. Weiss, Miss Sherrington, Miss Milner, and Viardot, Mr. Montem Smith, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Wino, and Herr Formes, will be the chief singers of the sacred selections, and they will be reinforced in the evening by Alboni, Mlle. Piccolomini, Signor Bellati, Signor Beneventano, and Herr Reichardt. The remarkable items at the concerts will be the MS. cantata Robin hood, by Mr. J. L. Hatton, the words by Mr. Linley, and the MS. cantata May Day, by Mr. G. A. Macfarren, the words by Mr. John Oxen ford. It is most praiseworthy on the part of the Bradford committee that they have thus afforded our English composers the opportunity of distin guishing themselves. Mr. J. S. Brownsmith, of Exeter ball, will be the organist, and a solo is also announced to be played by Master Robinson Holt, of Reigley. Hill has just constructed a new organ for this meeting. The magnificent hall has been newly decorated, and the band and chorus both strengthened. On looking over the list of instrumentalists, every SATURDAY, amateur will be struck at the talent congregated on this occasion. The principals of the stringed instru ments are—Sainton and Blagrove, first violins; Wat kins, second violins : C. W. Doyle, violas ; Lucas, violoncellos; and Howell, double basses; and amongst the names are Cooper, Carrodus, Case, Willy, Deicbmann, Pollitzer, Seymour, Zerbini, H. Hill, W. Blagrove, E. Chipp, H. and C. Griesbacb, N. Mori, H. Westrop, J. M. Marshall, Trust, W. Thomas, E. H. Thomas, Webb, Hatton, H. Chipp, Hancock, Hausmann, Pague, W. L. Phillips, Mo rent , Rowland, F. Pratten, C. Severn, &o. The woo d and brass bands include R. S. Pratten, De Folly, Barret, Nicholson, Lazarus, Maycock, Baumann, C. and 'I. Harper, Irwin, Crotli, Winterbottom, Prospere, Chipp, Rae, do. One of the greatest treats at the last festival was the splendid choral singing. The freshness, beauty of tone, and accuracy of intonation of the nottheru choralists completely electrified the London connoisseurs. It is intimated that th e singers will be even superior, if it be possible, at this meeting. Costa will test his band in the symphonies and overtures. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Three farewell nights have been advertised at reduced prices --Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday next—when Mlle. Pieco lomini will appear each night in a favorite character, and the famous ballet the Corsaire, with Mlle. Rosati, will be repeated. THE LYCEUM.—Mme. Ristori completed her triumphant series of representations last night by repeating Francesca da Rimini, and Adelaide in I Gelosi Fortunati. As this truly great tragedienne is engaged for three years, her return next season will be heartily welcomed. Nothing will tend more to revive the taste for the drama than her acting. CREMORNE GARDENS on Thursday evening di- played a most beautiful illumination and creditable exhibition of fireworks witnessed for some time past at any public place near the metropolis. The occa sion was the benefit of the proprietor, and the entire day was devoted to a series of entertainments. Th• grounds of Ashburuham-house were thrown open, and the gardens ware crowded from morning till morning, and in the evening were visited by the several distinguished persons in town. The Duke and Duchess of Wellington, among others, were present with a large party. The grand banquet to the Guards will be given in the Pavilion used for the American flower-show last June in the Ashburuham grounds. Dontg Varha 4nitileigtatt. FRIDAY EVINING. THE return of the Bank of England for the week ending the 26th ulc. shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding : Decrease in Circulation .. Increase in Public Deposits Decrease in Other Deposits Decrease in Government Securities Decrease in Other Securities Increase in Bullion Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve . Bullion iu Both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post Bills 21,323,637 This comparison is, on the whole, of a favorable character. As between the Government and the Bank it will be perceived that the amount of the advances made on the security of Deficiency Bills bus been reduced by the payment of rather more than the whole of the last instalment upon the loan, which was twenty per cent., or 1,000,000/., and that whilst the Government has thus been reducing its temporary liabilities it has also increased its balances in the hands of the Bank by more than 600,0001. Tho public balances now stand at nearly 4,000,0001., this, too, at a moment when the whcle of the dividends have been paid. We anticipate a further reduction in the Government securities next week, and a proportionate addition to the Bank's reserve. The Bullion shows a respectable increase, consider ing the demand that has arisen from the Continent, in conjunction with the extended circulation usual st this period of the year in the rural districts. The reserve shows rather less increase than we antic:- paled. Still it is large ; and as the notes and coin approach an aggregate of nearly 6,500,0001., this item is also becoming more satisfactory. The present return, however, coupled with the general aspect of the one', Market, does not lead us to expect a reduction in the minimum rate of discount, at least for the present. When we last wrote money was easy, with some prospect of a further reduction in its value at no dis tant period. The banking and discount establishments were increasing their reserves by daily deposits left on call ; and, altogether, though the business of this day week awakened some suspicious that a change might be anticipated, few persons, even among the