The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-03 00:00:00

PERIODICALS.

Royal Gallery of Are. No. 12. Edited by S. C. Hall,
Colnaghi and Co.
Fraser's Magazine. J. W. Parker.
(Jolburn's New Monthly._ Chapman and Hall.

The New Existence of Man upon the Earth. Part 7.
Effingham Wilson.
Tracts for the Present Crisis. Nos. 20, 30, 31, 3'2.
BlackwoodsMagazine. Blackwoods.
Dublin University Magazine, Orr and Co.
The Home Companion, Do.
Bentley's Miscellany. Bentley.
Marlins of Cro' Martin. Chapman and Hall.
Falstaff. Part 1.
Law Magazine. Butterworth.
North British Review. Hamilton and Adams.
Freemasons' Monthly Magazine. lioutledge•

tqf puma.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.

WANT of space has compelled us to postpone our
notice of The Little Treasure, both play and actress,
until it is almost too late ; on such a subject, how-
ever, " potius est si;ere quam parum dicere." The
piece is one of those quiet bits of home life, with its
every-day tears and laughter, which need the aid of
an accomplished rather than a powerful artist to
produce any effect; but wl ich, when developed and
filled up by such an actress as Miss Blanche Fane,
go at once straight to the heart of every audience.
To those who look for striking effects of situation,
and clever novelties of dialogue, there is little merit
in the play ; beyond compact construction, and that
is borrowed, there is nothing to arrest attention. It
is a fireside scene, and pretends to be nothing
greater. The dialogue is homely, made up of the
gentle prattle of mother and child (for Gertrude is
hardly more), springing from the heart rather than
the head, and some good-humoured quizzing, with•
out mush point, with no good things, and no sparkle
and brilliancy, but we fancy nobody misses them ;
all is quiet and gentle, save the awful Mrs. Med-
dleton; and we go away softened and subdued by the
simple nature of the scene, perhaps with a slight
but very natural regret that we have no such friend
as Gertrude to plead our cause with the enemy. The
story has been described at full length by most of
our contemporaries ; it is very simple, its peculiar
beauty lying in the idea of employing the influence
of a daughter to reconcile a husband and wife long
since estranged. The real cause of their first quarrel
is a mother-in law, that fertile source of domestic dis-
agreement and dramatic involvements. Sir Charles
Howard (Mr. Howe) has a peculiar dislike, so says
Mrs. Meddleton (Mrs. Poynter), to babies in long-
clothes and the agonies of teething; and poor little
Gertrude very soon after her birth becomes the
regular family grievance, and so improved on by her
grandmamma that a separation soon takes place
between Sir Charles and Lady Howard. During the
twelve years of their disunion, the little baby in long-
clothes, in the common course of nature, grows up
into a pretty girl ; and when the action commences,
we find her, half child, half-woman completely
mistress of her yielding mother, and quite a match
for awful grandnaamma herself—fairly ruling the
house by her pretty wilfulness and coaxing ways.
The secret of the separation has of course been care-
fully kept from her; but, alarmed by a hint in-
cautiously dropped by a shy cousin, Walter, she
easily wins the whole story from him, and imme-

SATITRDAY,

diately organises an innocent scheme with ber
quondam playmate —who is half-afraid of her—for
the recomiliation and reunion of her father and
mother. An engagement is extemporised with
Walter, to which she gains her mother's consent, and
a letter having opportunely arrived from Sir Charles
to Lady Howard, asking permission to have a portrait
of his child, Gertrude resolves on going to town to
present him with the original instead; a scarcity of
Berlin wool, and a want of "all manner of things,"
being the ostensible reasons for the journey.
She discovers her father in the midst of his
worthless associates, a little softened towards
Lady Howard by a previous interview with
Walter, who has explained his intentions and feelings
towards Gertrude. Sir Charles, completely subdued
by the beauty and affection of his child, consents to
be present at her marriage ; husband and wife are
at length brought together, and Gertrude with a
depth of feeling which hides its intensity under a
veil of girlish fear, pleads the cause of each to the
other, until the hands long separated are once again
clasped together, and the penitent husband asks and
wins the forgiveness of his injured wife. Then
follow the elimination of Mrs. Meddleton, Walter's
discovery that a day has converted his friendship for
his cousin into love (very natural under the circum-
stances), Gertrude's real engagement, and the hap-
piness of all. The character of Gertrude in the
hands of Miss Pane wins the hearts of all her
hearers. The effect of her acting to those accus-
tomed to frequent the theatres is novel and surprising;
it is long since we have seen so universal a homage
to the mimic art of the actor ; all, old and young,
men and women, yield to a common emotion, and
prove, by their laughter or their tears, the presence
and influence of a real artist. But there is nothing
strange in this but its novelty—" one touch of nature
makes the whole world kin"—and from the beginning
to the end of the play we seem to be witnessing a
reality and not an imitation. In the scene with her
father, the sweet, unaffected pathos of her tones, or the
childlike fun breaking out through her tears, like a
gleam of sunshine through a falling shower, and strug-
gling through the sobs which oppress her utterance,
are all alike true to life and reality. Comparedto the
mechanical sorrows of the stage, Miss Pane's art
(we hardly like to call it art) is flesh and blood to
an automaton ; her nature shows by the side of the
imitations of many artists like a dew-drop to a glass
lustre; it is the pure fresh odour of the violet to the
smell of a perfumer's shop • a beam of the light of
heaven stealing in on the glare of the footlights to
show artifice and conventionality their own ghastly
ugliness. Mr. Buckstone and the public have cer•
tainly found a " little treasure " in this charming
actress, and it is for him to be careful of the gem
and its setting.

LORD PANMURE has received from her Majesty the
dignity of a Grand Cross of the Bath.
THE GERMAN BUND had its first sitting after the
re"ess last Thursday, at Frankfort. Baron von Pro-
kesch•Osten took leave of the assembly, and an-
nounced that Count Rechberg would succeed him as
President of the Diet.

BARON BAPTISTE DAMIER, a negro baron of the
empire of San Domingo, who has just come to Eng-
land to represent the Emperor Solouque at the Court
of St. James's during the absence of the present
Hayden ambassador, is described as a very handsome
black. He speaks the French language fluently, the
English grammatically, and is remarkably shrewd
and well-informed.
THE TELEGRAPHIC CONVENTION between Russia
and Germany, concluded on the 29th of June last,
was ratified at Berlin on the 30th, between M. de
Manteuffel for Prussia, and MM. de Nothomb and
Malaret for the Austro-German Union. On the pro-
position of Prussia it has been agreed that this con-
vention shall come into operation on the Ist of
November. Russia has adhered to this arrange-
ment.

THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT has granted to Id.
Hermann Lindheim, a banker and great landed pro-
prietor, the right to construct a railroad from Vienna,
by way of Linz, to Salzburg. The whole line is to
be finished within two years from the present time,
so that (if the Bavarian authorities keep their en-
gagements) travellers between London and Trieste
will, in the year 1858, be able to accomplish the
journey in four days, or at most four days and a half.
THE LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER, after a month's
absence, during which he visited the Southern lowan
Islands, returned to Corfu on the 10th. His excel-
lency was everywhere warmly received by the popu-
lations.

THE soi-disant PRINCE LEON OF ARMENIA, who was
stated a few days ago to have offered his services to
the Russians, under Lieneral Mouravieff, against the
Turks, has ,just been arrested at Berlin as an im-
postor. Some curious details are given in the Berlin
papers of the successful swindle which this gentle-
man has achieved in many parts of the Continent.

MI VII

NOVEMBMI 3, 1855.

Cold aull lastion.

The Court has remained at Windsor during the
week. Her Majesty and the Royal Family have en-
joyed their usual walks and drives as far as the in-
clement weather of the week would permit.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, on Saturday
last, presided at the opening of the new Commercial
Traveller's Schools, Pinner. The Lord Mayor, the
sheriffs, and a numerous assembly were present to
meet the Prince, who arrived shortly after half-past
one, attended by Colonels Grey and Seymour. An
address having been read explaining the charitable
object of the institution, by which from two to
three hundred young orphan children between the
ages of seven and fifteen are now being educated by
the association, Nis Royal Highness made a brief
and appropriate reply, and, having declared the
building opened, Dr. Vaughan, head-master of
Barrow, offered up a prayer, after which a collection
was made in the presence of the Prince, and as soon
as his Royal Highness had taken lunch and left,
about 450 ladies and gentlemen sat down to the usual
repast which inaugurates all such proceedings in
England. A list of subscriptions was then read, and
the contents of the purses announced, the whole
amounting to nearly 2,0001. One of the largest
donations was from Mrs. Cuffiey, of Birmingham,
whose purses exceeded 2001. The remaining toasts on
the chairman's list were then disposed of, and the
company separated. The musical arrangements were
under the direction of Mr. F. Mori, and Mr. Harker
was the toast-master.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has
been on a visit at Windsor Castle.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess and Princess
Mary of Cambridge, and the Duke of Cambridge,
took leave of her Majesty and left the Castle on
'Thursday. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon and
Lord Panmure also took leave.
Major-General the Hon. Charles Grey and Captain
Du Plat have succeeded Major-General Buckley and
Col. Seymour as Equerries in Waiting to the Queen
and Prince.
His Excellency the French Ambassador has been
also on a visit to her Majesty atWindsor. His Excel-
lency returned to town on Thursday.
The Duke of Newcastle is daily expected home
from the Continent. His grace has extended his
travels into the heart of Circassia.
Lieut.-General Sir de Lacy Evans, M.P., is staying
at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkstone ; the gallant gene-
ral's health appears much improved since his return
from the seat of war.
Lord John Russell has consented to deliver a lec-
ture at Exeter-ball, on the evening of Tuesday,
November 13, on the subject of "The obstacles which
have retarded moral and intellectual progress."
The Duke of Rutland and Lord John Manners
.have arrived at the Clarendon from Newmarket.
The Bishop of London has experienced an attack of
;paralysis this week. The following bulletin was
.issued on Fiiday morning :
The Bishop has made as much progress as can reason-
'ably be expected, and is going on satn,factorily.
Mr. Headlam has not been appointed to the vacant
'Commissionship of Charities. We believe Mr.
'Campbell, Q.C. has been offered the post.
Lord Raglan arrived in town a few days since from
Hanover. The noble lord, it is said, has resigned
;the appointment he held at the Court of the King of
aianover.
Madame Lind Goldschmidt (in reply to an appli-
tattier' addressed to herby Mrs. S. C. Hall) has ex-
pressed an intention to visit London, for the special
purpose of giving a concert in aid of the proposed
Nightingale Fund.
Sir Thomas Troubridge was married on Thursday,
at Norwich, to the daughter of Mr. Gurney, the
banker.

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS.
'Tae mortality in London last week is much below
the usual average rate which prevails within its
limits. The deaths of 903 persons were registered
in the week that ended on Saturday, 27th October ;
while the corrected average of the corresponding
weeks of the previous ten years was 1,079. The
weekly deaths would amount to 836 in London, if the
annual rate of mortality did not exceed the natural
rate of 17 deaths in 1,000 ; so in the present week 67
deaths by unnatural causes have been recorded. Of
the 903 persons who died, 437 were under 20 years
of age, 129 were 20 and under 40, 155 were 40 to 00,
158 were 60 to 80, and 21 were 80 years and up-
wards. Two hundred and nineteen persons died of
zymotic diseases, including 7 by cholera, 10 by small-
pox, 58 by scarlatina, 49 by typhus or by ti:e various
forms of fever. The death of the late Secretary of
State for the Colonies in the Belgrave sub-district,
at the age of 45, is referred to " gastric fever and low
peritonitis." The ravages of scarlatina in St.
Pancras, where it has caused 13 deaths, require in-
vestigation. Three of the deaths from cholera were
in the Millbank Prison. The deaths from diarrhoea