The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-17 00:00:00

MARCH 17, 1855.

instructors, namely, his capacity for excessive mechani-
cal expertness, and his stern adherence to time and
rule, are almost inconsistent with the original exist-
ence of real musical genius, while their development
and cultivation have probably fairly extinguished
whatever spark of the true " Promethean heat" he
may have at one time possessed. His pianoforte
mum presents alternate difficulties and platitudes,
or so palpably apes Mendelssohn, affects Spohr, or
borrows from Weber, that even an ear but slightly
disciplined would instantly detect the plagiarism and
the deterioration. His songs are cold and scientific ;
overstrained complexity of construction, and hope-
less wandering over all the keys of the clavier,
characterise his productions generally. On the
other band, his playing is faultless in execution, but
no more. In Bach's magnificent fugue every note
was distinctly given, but without a particle of ex-
pression. No mistake can be more fatal than this.
Bach is rendered dull and distasteful to the public
at large by Euch painfully conscientious performers
as Mr. Bennett, who deprive him of the effect of his
intention, which we assert was to produce some-
thing far greater than mere precision of answer.
Scarlatti's " Study " was admirably played, and
Handel's air and variations came on the ear, palled
by the eternal Rosellen and the ever-recurring
Brinley Richards, like a refreshing shower after
weeks of very dry weather. The remaining concerts
are fixed for the 3rd of April and the Ist of May.
THE FOURTH AND LAST OF THE SERIES Of Concerts
of Glees and Madrigals selected from the works of
Sir Henry Bishop, takes place this afternoon. The
great success which has attended the performance of
this series—a success which we never for one moment
doubted, so deeply rooted in the minds of young and
old is the love for those pure English melodies,
which are the delight of every social and domestic
circle throughout the kingdom—that Mr. Mitchell
has decided upon giving a grand evening concert at
Exeter-hall upon the 27th inst. The programme
will consist of glees, quartets, and concerted vocal
pieces, with a chorus of 200 voices, and moreover
the services of Mr. Sims Reeves have been engaged
for this occasion. The concert will, as in the present
series, be under the personal direction of Sir Henry
Bishop.

tap frame.

HAYMARKET.—A comedietta was brought out here
on Saturday under the title of The Secret Agent.
It is of German origin, and has been made known to
the English public through the columns of Fraser's
Magazine. It is a true German affair in idea and
feeling, as well as invention. You have a petty
court with a petty prince, governed by a petty mother,
with a couple of petty ministers, who plot and coun-
terplot with the mingled bonhommie and tyranny to
be found nowhere but in Germany. The Grand
Duke is under the government of his mother the
Grand Duchess, who has a league with the Prime
Minister and Grand Chamberlain; and, to escape
from their exactions, the Duke invents a secret agent,
under whose advice he declares himself to act. The
whole plot consists in the mystification of the three
intriguers respecting this secret agent, whom t
Minister believes to be a woman, and the Chamber-
lain to be a man ; the mystification being carried out
until at last each believes the other to be their in-
visible tormentor. There is a small love plot run-
ning through. The niece of the Grand Duchess,
persecuted by the attention of a court fop, declares
herself in love with the " secret agent," being really
attached to the Duke. This incident alone relieves
the love part from the most hideous monotony. The
Grand Duchess is bothered into giving up her
power, and the two Ministers are sent about their
business. The strength of the piece lies in a few
positions. Buckstone, the Minister, is thought to be
mad in his wild chases after the secret agent, and in
the same pursuit comes out as a Spanish dancer.
Any one that can imagine the actor kicking and
struggling in the one case, and pirouetting in the
other, can likewise imagine the "hits," such as they
were. But this was totally unrelieved by any other
merit. The everlasting mystification became tire-
some, and the catch-word "secret agent," repeated at
every sentence for an hour and a half, absolutely
annoying. M.
Compton played the Grand Cham-
berlain, but bad little scope for his talents ;
This piece in a very small way is another evidence
that a single idea which does exceedinagly west of tll upon
of
paper will not answer on the stage, t lea
Germany. Balzac's beautiful monologue, "Le lys
de la vallee," one of the most touching of his
writings, was dramatised some time ago at Paris,
and brought out with all the adjuncts and advantages
of the national theatre, and fail
ented alto gether. T
he
he
adaptation of The Secret Ag is by Mr. Stir

Coyne.
The newSS.— farce at this theate, A Game
PRINCE
of Romps, is in every respect a very slight affair—
slight in plot, null in dialogue, and below notice in
characterisation. It begins with a fit of giggling,

THE PRESS.

and ends with a game of blind man's buff, in which
Mr. Harley is, of course, blindfolded, which is, of
course, interrupted by the unexpected arrival of the
marchioness, in whose house it is played, who is, of
course, mistaken by him by him for the soubrette
(who again, of course, is carrying on a flirtation with
Mr. Harley himself), and held in his arms, in spite
of her rigorous and repeated screams, in a very
awkward and very affectionate embrace, the servants
at last arriving, selon lea ?ivies, with the usual
amount of wax-lights and wonder. Of the interme-
diate part of the play, between the giggle and the
game aforesaid, we retain no recollection beyond a
vivid mental picture of Mr. Harley's wig and stock-
ings, and the pretty costumes of the charming
actresses who had nothing to do in the female cha-
racters.

265

Lucas to the Calcutta; JooslyneJ. W. Lewis to the Coast Guard
Spencer H. Pickard to the Odin ; Thomas M. Campbell to the
Archer ; Allen Bathurst to the Enryalus ; Frederick C. Herber-
selected for special service, and attached to the transport depart
went; William G. England to the ',liver; Charles G. G. Per
eevsl to the Horatio; Hon. A. C. Hobart to the Duke Of
Wellington; James W. Armstrong to the Bulldog.
Chaplain—ltev. Richard B. Howe, 8.A., to the tle ylon.
Surgeons—William F. Noott to the Hecate; Witham T. Billing'
to the Melampus ; James Whicher to the Bulldog.
Assistant-Surgeons—Daniel W. Stephens, 11. D., to the Vi gnaw ;
John Fisher to the St.tieorge ; William G. J.Ayre to the Recruit ;
Thomas H. Smith to the Pembroke ; James Holt to the Hastingii;
James Young, M.D., to the Tyue; Simon A. Willis, ILD ,
the Calcutta.
Acting Assistant-Surgeons—Andrew M'Mann to Plymouth
Hospital ; Joseph King to the Cornwallis; P. W. Wallace, M.
to the Arrogant; Joseph King to the Cornwallis; George T.
Keele to the Pylades.
Masters—Richard Stokes (of the Fleet) to the Duke of Wel-
lington; George Biddlecombe to be Assistant-Mrster-Attendant
at Keyliam-yard, Devoliport; John N. Willis to the Hecate!
William Mills to the Fisgard ; Charles A. Smart to the Arab;
Peter Wellington to the Tyne; William T. Mainpristi to the
Victord.
Mate—Alexander Henderson to the Neptune.
Second Masters—James H. Ryan to the Volcano; Edward I'.
Cox to the Neptune; Edwin P. Cox to the Weser.
Midshipmen—H. F. H. Parker to the Duke of Wellington ;H.
paoke to the Orion; A. W. Murray to the Ariel; C. W. Blount
to the Odin; C. Mitchell to the Arrogant; P. Prosenburg to the
Est: T. G. D. Bedford to the Vulture; N.l). 1. Ullingston te
the Weser.
Naval Instructor—Thomas S. Osborn to the Agamemnon.
Master's Assistant—H. G. Kelly to the Pylons..
Paymasters—James Lewis to the Hecate; William B. V.
Farror to the Rodney ; William H. Richards to the James Watt.
Clerk-in-Charge—Thorns C. H. Shears to the Wearer.
Clerks- John 0. Rikerd to the Hannibal; John F. Fairsoll
(acting) to the Hastings; William Rogers to the 'Victory Joseph
/linemen to the Impregnable; Edward J. Giles to the Belleisle ;
Richard Curgenven to the Pembroke; Richard Shambler to the
Cornwallis; Henry J. Kelly to the Victo; Robert Davison to
the James Watt; Gee . Brown to e Centaur ; Richard
Shambler to the Cornwallis; George M. Ulyth to the Hawke.
secretary's Clerk—John T. Sorter to the Victory.
Clerks' Assistants—FrealerickJ. Fitiansurice, Alfred J. Meyers
Henry T. C. Medder, and John B. Alviee the Royal Albert ;
Bertram Mitford to the Prowetheur.
Nand Cadets—H. T. Stevens to the Royal Albert; R. 0.
Baker to the Majestic; J. D. V. Butler to the Pembroke ; A. B.
C. Booth to the Exmouth.
PROMOTIONS.
Mate—Willlam H. 'Mutton, of the Nankin, to be Lieutenant.
Second Mestere—Francis Taylor, of the Vulture; John Thomp-
son, of the Sharpshooter—to be hisSteTS.
Deputy-Inspector of Hospitals—David Dees to be Inspector,
and appointed to the Royal Albert.
Surgeon—John Davidson, M.D., to be Deputy-Inspector of
Hospitals.
Corps of Itoyaltlarines.—First Lieutenants A. de FL Raper),
H. Sprott, and 0. E. 0. Jackson, to be Captains; Second Lteu-
tenants T.P. Newell, F. G. I.e Grand,S..l. ()ration, R. F'. Tayler,
J. W. V. Arbuckle, A. H. (laid. E. It.
Pritchard, and O. F.
Blake, to be First Lieutenants; First Lieut. Poueonby May Carew
Croker to be Adjutant First Lieut. Edward Joseph Ridgway
to be Adjutant.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, March 13.
BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED.—Davw LEoeol.o I.sw
Is
Cannon-street, and DiuthallVES grove C, Clapham
REEOM, Dare'
court, (}utter-lane, JACONN HILL, Rynis,
Isle of Wight, tailor.
BANKRUPTS. --CORNELIUS AUBREY 'MARKHAM, Godman-
cheater, currier—lin:HAßD KUSIDILL, LeamingumPriors,printer
—ItoBERT HIMMER,TOLIIJOU,WOMBBI.BriiIIITE, publican--JOKE.PII
WELL, Brierly hill, Staffordshire, grocer KDWARD
Wolverhampton, licensed victualler and timber-dealer—Tnougs
?Hums MEYRICK, Wolverhampton, cominissiomagent and 13lts
-
dealer--Jostan Hann's, Quethiock, Cornwall, miller—Jo
NORRISH 0 REENHLADR, Ookfonl, Devonshire, fanner and butcher
—JOHN SMITH, Horton, Yorkshire, innkeeper STEPHEN
COMPERTHWAITE, Idanningham, Yorkshire, bobbin turner—
WILLIAM CLAREBROUOII, Sheffield, mason and
LIAM BIRKS, Sheffield, brush manufacturer—J Joss., Man-
chester, innkeeper—JOHN Lows, Salford, slate merchant.
SCOTOH SEqu EST KATIONS.—J AKE% Mitu.s, Dundee,
hatter—H NCTOIt TINNANT, Glasgow, wine and spirit merchant
—WILLIAM FLEKINO and HOBERT PRITCHARD, Glasgow, sewed
muslin manufacturers—WiI.LIAM MACDONALD, Glasgow, draper
and oommissionageut
Friday , March 16.
BANKRUPTS.—Jassa Ilarusws and
JANZX ALUM'S.*
JAMES E.Pansars,
_ -a .• .m•mt.A.) 1111 l mo

—J °MEM LILNY and

Wood-street, Cheapside, wareoooscmco--
HuouEs, Victoria park-road, Hackney, builder—Airaan Tog-
STALL Tottenham, Middlesex, eltictro-plater—Hasas Yosinmis.
Southampton, corn and coal factor—Tuouas Crtatu.stsworrri,
Nottingham, plumber-147E1,1mm Krum Coventry,
_printer—
WILLIAK RUMMY, Coventry, NORRIS, Peolthaca,
wholesale stationer—WILLIAM DOVTICrr Bride/Ater,
plumber and glazier—Jogs Mamma. Mososs and Jour' LEWII,
Ystalyfera Grit Glamorgan, dripara—HOSEßT Ntomnitos,
Hingstomupon- sailmaker—Wii.i.isu JENNINGS, Bradford ,
linendraper—JOHN Paws barium., Blackburn, shuttle manufac-
turer—WiLuxu FRENCH, Bedlington, Durham, brewer-111111?
HOLLAND, Liverpool, merchant—Many JACKSON anti THOIIIII
HEYWOOD, otherwise THOMAS JACKSON, Droyl^den, Lancashire,
skein printers—Crwusa Pgssiscrox, later, builder--
WILLIAM (MICR WELL, South Shields, shoemaker—Duscas lgo
OsEoon, "Newcastlempon•Tyne, paper manufacturer.
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.—PETER M'Lzurs, Goesis,
Glasgow, gyoeer—Joms MARTlll,Milleroltreet,Olasgow, aldler
—HENRY 'GALBRAITH, Haddington, iromnonger, dewllak•
ANDER WADDELL SHANKS, Glasgow, late ruNEHMKaltrar and HWY
IniSßloll agent.

ADAM AND EVE.—A large gallery picture, repre-
senting Adam and Eve in Paradise before the Fall,
has just arrived in this country for exhibition, painted
by the celebrated Belgian artist Van Lerius, who has
devoted many years to the production of this work of
art. It is spoken of by continental authorities in the
highest terms of eulogy.
A raw days back (says the Courtier de Lyons) a singular
phenomenon wee produced in the neighbourhood of
Botugoin ( Isere). A considerable number of black
worms, nearly half a foot long, came down at the same
time as a heavy fall of snow. It is supposed
ntairthat m
of
the
were carried up into the air from ths nxiu
Dauphine by some kind of whirlwind, and then fell as just
described.