The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

perienced companion. Signor Tagliatico's Oberthal
was as good as usual ; and the Anabaptists were
carefully represented by MM. Zelger, Polinini, and
Mei. The divertissement in the skating scene was
highly effective, which was chiefly owing to the co-
operation of Mme. Cerito, who, dressed as a West-
phalian peasant in an extremely characteristic and
pretty costume, danced the principal pas with such
exquisite grace and spirit as raised the enthusiasm
of the house to a very high pitch, that being, more-
over, her last appearance this season. The other
principals in the divertissement were Mlles. Bsttalini
and Esper, who are both deservedly favorites. At
the end of the opera, as at the conclusion of the
scene in the cathedral, Mme. Viardot and Signor
Tamberlik were unanimously summoned. L'Etoile
du Nord was performed on Thursday, when the
Duchess of Cambridge and suite honoured the house
with their presence; and the Prophite will be repeated
to-night.

ate puma.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

THE success of Ristori in Paris has restored Rachel to
life. A year ago her powers were undeniably failing;
her energies appeared to be fading away, her voice was
weak, her declamation indifferent, her attitudes list-
less, and her whole mental and physical constitution
becoming rapidly enfeebled and prematurely decayed.
Every one deplored what was patent to all—but
Rachel was not yet dead. Rivalry is a powerful
restorative to failing powers, and to the sensitive
mind of a woman a most effective incentive to exer-
tion at all times. Ristori suddenly appeared at Paris,
and in a night carried the world with her and away
from Rachel. Rouaed from her listless apathy, the
great tragedienne in an incredibly short time regained
health and energy, voice and power, and once more
claimed and won the applause and homage of the
fickle Parisians. Whether she has taken her final
" farewell " of Paris or not it is impossible to say—be-
cause, with the weakness of her sex, she has taken so
many already that it is impossible to speak positively
on the subject—but at present—en route to America,
that refuge for the destitute—she has consented to give
(for, it is said, the consideration of two hundred
pounds sterling a night !) a few farewell performances
at the old scene of all her triumphs in London.
Four performances at first were only to be given,
Les Horace., Phedre, Adrienne Lecouvreur, and An-
dromaque, but two more next week have been pro-
mised by Mr. Mitchell.
Her interpretation of Camille in the Horace', nor
indeed of Pltedre, needs not now to be closely ana-
lysed. Which of us that has seen her in either of
these characters can forget her eloquent expressions of
love, her bursts of intense scorn and hatred, or that
terrible storm of ungovernable passion which sweeps
across her in appalling force, and stimulates her final
curse in the Horace. ; or the intensity of her passion
as Phidre, when gradually revealing her secret to
tEnone ; or when, in the next act, she confesses her
infatuated love to Ilyppolittis himself, and at his
cold reply utters, in such an exquisite agony of
mind,
Ab, cruel! to m'as trop entendue!
Je t'en ai dit assez pour to tirer d'erreur ;
or, the horror which seizes her when she learns that
her husband is yet alive ; or the remorseless jealousy
and hatred she throws into her expression as she
utters, on discovering Hyppolitus's love for Aricia,

Enone, qui feat cru! J'avais une rivale !

It were useless almost to quote special passages
when the acting of the character throughout
was marked by such singular genius, by such
intense dramatic power, and by the perfect deline-
ation of such a variety of exquisite emotions as
would agitate the heart of such a woman as Phitlre.
Her intense, uncontrollable passion wearing her very
life away, coldly repulsed by the man she so inces-
tuously adores—her fear and dismay at her husband's
return—her ungovernable hatred and burst of wither-
ing rage upon (Enone, who counsels her to forget
Hyppolittu—her plaintive remorse—her utter deso-
lation of mind—her prayers to the gods—her frantic
jealousy of Aricia—and last, her repentance and
miserable death—were embodied by Rachel with
such force and impressiveness, such touching, elo•
quent grief, as electrified the audience. Her acting,
her exquisite by-play, her varied expression, her
plaintive tenderness or terrible earnestness of
voice, were one and all a study throughout. With
her it is not mere declamation and attitude—it is a
common and easy stage-trick to make the " points "
tell; but Rachel so truthfully conceives a character as
not only to make the points tell, but to make every
look and gesture subservient to the leading idea.
There is a unity about her elaborate attention to
detail which takes from it all vulgar claptrap, and
convinces us that in those delicate and expressive
changes of feature and attitude we have Nature
before us—the highest effort Art can attain. The
delight and applause of the audience has been no-
bounded; never has Rachel appeared in greater

.•.'

. .•

force than now. Her health is fully restored, she
looks infinitely well, and her acting creates more
admiration than ever. What the Americans will
say it is difficult to surmise. French is not gene-
rally spoken in America, but, as our cousins are
so fond of being en rigle, they will no doubt welcome
the actress without being able to understand the play,
and accord her a most tremendous triumph. We
have forgotten to mention a lively little prefatory
piece, Les Droita de VHomme, in which the jealousy
of a husband is amusingly played upon by a young
wife of that peculiar demimonde tendency so common
in French comedy. The three sisters of Rachel fill
the female characters, and bear high testimony to the
histrionic talent of the family. Last night she per-
formed Adrienne Lecouvreur to a house as usual
crowded to overflowing with a brilliant and distin-
guished audience. Rachael sails for America on
Thursday next, previous to which on Monday evening
she will play as Virginie de Blossac in Tartuffe, and
on Wednesday as Adrienne Lecouvreur.

HAYNARIET.—The Stranger was performed on
Monday night for the purpose of introducing Miss
Heraud in the character of Wm Haller. Of the
play there is little to be said now-a-days. In the
time of Siddons and O'Neill the whole audience were
wont to dissolve into tears at the tender reconcilia-
tion of the penitent adulteress and her forgiving
husband. But its day of popularity is past. It is
seldom now brought upon the stage ; and yet, with
the ridiculous compromise to morality which is now
devised, and the most pathetic passage in the whole
play omitted, we could well afford to dispense with
the piece altogether. Miss Heraud performed the
part of Mrs. Haller with sweetness and grace, but it
is not a favorable part for a young actress ; it is a
character which requires more passion and dramatic
power than Miss Heraud possesses. She has intel-
ligence and feeling, but she cannot rise to the in-
tensity of passion which these scenes demand.
OLYMPIC.—The regular season at this theatre ter-
minates this week, after which the whole company
reappears at Sadler's Wells.
ADELPUL—Mr. Wright during the week has been
giving a series of representations in his favorite ohs•
racter of Paul Pry.

CAIIPDEN-HOUSE THE/al/E.—A second performance
of private theatricals took place on Thursday even-
ing at Colonel Waugh's mansion, Kensington. The
pieces chosen for the occasion were, M. Planehe's
one-act vaudeville, The Loan of a Lover. Grrtnide,
the Hon. Mrs. George Wrottesley ; Ernestine, Miss
Louisa Carew; Captain Ansersfort, Sir George
Bisshopp, Bart. ; Peter Spyk, Mr. Ashe ; and Seises
Mr. Bontine. After which another one-sot piece,
written by Mr. Charles Dance, entitled, Delicate
Ground ; or, Paris in 1793, was performed. Pasting,
the Hon. Mrs. George Wrottesley ; Citizen Sangfroid,
Captain Disney Roebuck ; and Alphonse de Grandiers
Sir George Bisshopp. This also went off very wells
But the last was the piece de resistance, being no less
than the fairy extravaganza of Beauty and the Beast,
with a corps de ballet of amateur fairies and zephyrs.
The cast was—Beauty, Miss Louisa Carew ; The
Beast, Mr. Bontine ; Sir Aldgate Pimp (Beauty's
fond papa), Mr. Ashe ; John Quill, Mr. Alderson;
Dressallinda and Marygolda (Beauty's naughty
sisters), Miss Maxwell and the Hon. Mrs. George
Wrottesley ; Queen of the Roses, Miss Disney Roe-
buck ; and Cupid, Master Disney Roebuck. The
whole performance was a decided improvement on
that we had the pleasure of seeing on a former occa-
sion. The Hon. Mrs. George Wrottesley displayed
great talent and much E• iuine feeling in her
acting. Miss Carew was also very successful in both
her characters. Miss Maxwell played with consider.
able ease ; and Miss Disney Roebuck, as the Queen
of the Roses, delivered her royal speech with great
spirit. The gentlemen all acquitted themselves well,
and Mr. Ashe obtained a well-deverved encore in one
of his songs; a similar honour was offered to Miss
Carew, but declined. Master Disney Roebuck, as
well as the very juvenile corps de ballet, also merited
the highest approbation for the professional style in
which they went through their labours. Thedressas
were appropriate and very elegant. The orchestra
was good, the audience in the best of humour, and
very liberal in their applause throughout the evening,
and at the conclusion of each piece the performers
were complimented with a recal. Among the com-
pany present were the Duchess of St. Albans and
the Duke of St. Albans and Lady Diana Beau-
clerk, the Marchioness of Ely, the Countess
of Tankerville, the Countess (Dowager) of Carni.,
warte, Lady Georgians Fane, Lady Theresa Lewis
and Miss Lister, Lady Thesiger and Miss Thesiger,
Lady Louisa Cator, Sir John Burgoyne and Miss
Burgoyne, Sir James Drummond, Colonel the Right
Hon. Cecil W. Forester, M.P., Mr. J. Cator, Mr. F.
Cator, and Mr. Albert Smith. The performances
were succeeded by a ball, for which Coote and
Tinney's band was retained. The festivities were
' prolonged to an early hour on. Friday moping.

746

Iflneg arh►et anb tit

FRIDAY EVENINO.
THE demand for money in the Discount Market has
experienced a considerable increase during the pre-
sent week. This result has been long anticipated,
owing to the influence of the new loans, as well as
the continued drain of bullion to the Continent and
the East, which even the large arrivals from Aus
tralia were insufficient to meet. On Thursday the
Lombard-street houses gave notice of an advance of
;.per cent. in the minimum of their rates for dis-
count on the best bills, and at the same time have
found it necessary to raise their allowance of interest
on money deposited with them " upon call " from 21
to 21 per cent.
Notwithstanding this comparative scarcity of
money, the Funds continue to be well supported,
although speculations remain still very inactive. The
weather just new constitutes the chief subject of in-
terest, and cases of fluctuation on 'Change and the
partially fine days that have occurred since Monday
have been followed by a restored buoyancy in the
quotations. The daily oscillations have been, in
Consols—Saturday, 901 j ; Monday, 901 1; Tues-
day, 901 911 ; Wednesday, 91; Thursday, 90j 1. To-
day there has been a marked improvement in the
market, and Consols have been quoted nearly per
cent. firmer, there being alternate buyers and sellers
at 01j. Reduced Three per Cents. were 91j; New
Three per Cents., 921 ; Bank Stock, 214; India Bonds,
:11s. prem. ; Exchequer Bills, 20s. to 245. prem. for
June bills, and 19s. to 225. prem. for the March
issue, 100 j.
The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of
England in both departments during the month
ending the 7th of July was 17,958,0901., being an
increase of 641,6821. as compared with the previous
month, and of 4,145,0561. in comparison with the
same period last year. The stock of specie held by
the Scotch and Irish banks during the month
ending the 7th of July was 3,690,5671., being an
increase of 15,9411. as compared with the previous
return, and 284,8001. above the corresponding period
last year.