The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

Tilt PRESS.

upon the actors, who become mere puppets for the
exhibition of classical costume ; while the dialogue
fairly sinks down to the level of something which
serves to fill up the time during which the stage-
carpenters are engaged in their work,—something
which is hardly as interesting as the cdd music be-
tween the acts,—something, in short, which, on the
whole, rather bores him, and which he finds himself
wishing that it were possible to dispense with en-
tirely. " Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures,
quam qufe aunt oculis subjects fidelihus," says
Horace; and whoever doubts the truth of the obser-
vation had better pay a visit to the Princess's
Theatre, and note the striking difference between
the applause bestowed on the Pyrrhic dance, the
"Theatre of Syracuse," the "Allegory of Time," the
" Ascent of Phcebus in the Chariot of the Sun," and
that accorded even to the most potent rant of
Leontes,—which we take to be the shout with which
he delivers the conclusion : " Nothing have these
nothings, if this be nothing,"—which it most cer-
tainly is not, in an acoustic sense.
In order to confine the time of representation
within the limits of human endurance, several large
excisions have been made of various portions of the
text Gf the play, in consequence of which the whole
of many fine passages, with many smaller touches of
extreme beauty, have been utterly lost. A transposi-
tion has been effected of the last scene of act iii.
to the beginning of act iv., apparently for the sole
purpose of allowing time for the preparation of the
" Allegory of Cronos " (why not Chronos ?), " Luna
and Phcebus," while the locality of many of the scenes
has been altered, in order that Mr. Kean might have
an excuse for introducing the results of his research
into Smith's "Dictionary of Greek anti Roman Antiqui-
ties," Donaldson's " Theatre of the Greeks," and other
very accessible sources of that sort of information
which university men most vulgarly and disrespect-
fully characterise as " cram," a large dose of which
is introduced into the playbills, while the "books of
the play " positively overflow with lengthened ex
tracts from the same eminent authorities. The re-
sult of these processes is called a revival of Shake-
speare. Mr. Kean's idea of revival, or of the means
to be adopted for insuring it, seems original ; it is
comprised in two operations—cutting up and
stifling. _ _

We promised last week a more detailed notice of the
performance of each actor, but there is really very
little indeed to say of anybody but Mr. and Mrs.
Kean. The Hermione of the latter improves greatly
on a second hearing. It is full of that gentle firm-
ness which distinguishes the character. The playful
dialogue with Polixenes was given with the utmost
delicacy and queenly gracefulness, while in the
address to her attendants at the beginning of the
second act, and her reply at the trial, Mrs. Kean's
finished delivery and clear silvery tones came on the
ear in most refreshing contrast to the slovenly enun-
ciation and harsh, rugged utterance of the King, her
husband. From Mr. Kean's performance of Leontes
we have failed to disentangle any leading conception :
all is disjointed and fragmentary. His vehemence
seems to us entirely misplaced in the character.
Leontes is irritable, suspicious, tetchy, pettish ; his
misbelief dies as quickly as it originated, and his
repentance is as sudden as his original offence. All
is little, and weak, and capricious. Mr. Kean is
certainly unsuccessful in conveying this notion to his
audience. He seems to be striving to elevate the
character, to lift it to a higher level than that which
it is evidently intended to occupy ; and failing in this,
as be does fail, he leaves an impression of incom-
pleteness and want of finish on the mind of the
spectator. He still adheres to his system of " strong-
daubing." His peculiarities of pronunciation remain
of course, unaltered : for example, " cordial " is
transformed into " cawjle," and a misplacement of em •
phasis which seems to be gaining ground unperceived
by the actor, is at times both painful and ridiculous.
Of the omission of stops and pauses which we noticed
last week, an example or two may be amusing :—ln
his dialogue with Camillo, Leontes, in answer to the
question " Who does infect her ?" replies, "Why he
that wears her like a medal hanging about his neck—
Bithynia ;" meaning, most evidently, that it is
Bithynia, i.e. Polirenes, who infects Hermione. Mr.
Kean, by omitting the pause before " Bithynia,"
makes it appear that he is addressing Bithynia in-
stead of Camillo, who is a Sicilian. Again, the
line " I have tremor cordis on me—my heart dances,"
is given without any pause at all, and accompanied
by an action—a clutching at the breast, which irre-
sistibly suggests sudden cutaneous irritation. The
other characters are fairly supported. Miss Heath is
graceful and loving in Florizel, and Miss Leclercq
Perdita is a very pretty shepherd's daughter. Mr.
Harley's Autolycres, is Mr. Harley, as grotesque as
e►er. Mr. Meadows makes a very good fussy shep-
herd ; while Paulina in the bands of Mrs. Ternan
becomes a loud, vulgar termagant, who supports the
Queen because it gives her a good opportunity of
telling the King a "piece of her mind." Camillo,
Pclixenes and Antigonus, are just passable "walking
gentlemen."

451

lIMIEllpg

THE AMATEUR PANTOMIME.—The gentlemen who
last year had the honour of performing their amateur
pantomime before her Majesty at Drury Lane are about
to appear this season in a new pantomime, written ex-
pressly for them, and fuunded upon the story of " Wil-
liam Tell." The Lyceum has been placed at the dis-
posal of the amateurs by 'lr. Gye ; and the 2nd of
June, an "off" or non-opera night, has been fixed
upon for the performance, which, it is anticipated, will
again receive the Royal patronage. The charitable
institution which will benefit by the exertions of
the amateurs has, we believe, not yet been decided
upon. 'lle selection will probably be left to her Ma-
jesty, as on the last occasion, when a sum ex-
ceeding NO/. was paid over to the trustees of the
Wellington Cullege. With the exception of the
harlequin, the pantomime " cast " will be the same
as last year.
Mn. HOWARD GLOVER, the distinguished composer,
is, we believe, about to open Sadler's Wells for a
short English opera season. lie will be assisted by
Mr. and Mrs. Sims Reeves, Mr. and Madame Weiss,
Mr. Miranda, Miss Poole, Mr. Balfe, Mr. Benedict,
and others, forming a strong company. Balfe's
Bohemian Girl is to be produced, with additional
music, for the first time in this country, and under
the personal direction of the composer, who has not
appeared before the London public these five years.
CREMORNE GARDENS open next Monday with a
good supply of novelties. A new panoramic view of
Berne, and other pictures, will be exhibited, and
considerable variety shown in the selection of enter-
tainments. The buildings have been entirely re-
decorated with much taste ; and, if the weather
be tine, a good season may possibly be anticipated.

452

scarcely more satisfactory than those for the last two or
three weeks. The diminution in the Reserve is very con-
sidemble. The notes alone have decreased to the extent
of1(01,5801., compared with the antoaut in reserve last
week; and the total sum of notes and coin in the Bank
till is now no more than 4,04,3151. So long as this state
of things, or anything like it, exists, there can be no ex-
pectation of a change in the rates of discount. From
wher items it appears that the Government, besides dip-
ping freely into the Public Deposits' bag. also become a
borrower to a considerable extent ; whilst both the Private
Deposits and Private Securities have fallen off to an
aggregate of 759,5261. The two latter are features which
may be taken to indicate that active and profitable em-
ployment is found for money out of doors.
The directors of the Bank, at their weekly court yester-
day, were occupied fur more than two hours in the discus.
sion of some important question. It is the general
opinion that they took into consideration the expediency
of reducing the rate of discount on three months' bills
from seven to six per cent., and thus equalising the terms
on long and short-dated paper ; and, from the duration
of the sitting, an inference has been drawn that this
operation will not be deferred much longer. This is an
expectation which has been held out in some quarters
for many weeks past; but the position of the Bank's Re-
serve, as shown above, scarcely justifies the presumption
that it will be realised so soon as next Thursday.
The Money Market, notwithstanding the removal of the
pressure caused by the liquidation of the commet...ial bills
at the end of lust week, has been very stringent, and maxi-
mum rates have been required iu all except a few excel).
tional cases. This, too. has occurred in conjunction with
the fact that the discount-houses and joint-stock banks
have good reserves on hand for which it has been not easy
to find employment at existing rates, except for the
shortest possible periods. The market, in fact, is in a
very anomalous position. It is to be expected, however,
now that we know pretty clearly the financial position of
the Government, that matters will in a few mouths fall
into the ordinary tract, and that the disturbing causes
which have occasioned so much perplexity will gradually
disappear as business is relieved from the irregular
operations which have pressed upon legitimate enterprise
ever since the beginning of last September. There was
considerable pressure upon the market to-day, and the ap-
plications for advances and discounts at the Bank were
numerous. It is believed, however, that the present de-
mend is only temporary, and that more of it is connected
with the several speculative undertakings, home and
foreign, that are now in the market than with the ordinary
trade of the country.
. . .

The total impowrts of speck during the week have
amounted to 4 41,0011. Between 60,0001. and 70.0001.,
out of about 200,0001. which have arrived from the United
States, were brought on account of the Bank of France,
and that establishment has commissions to purchase gold
in London still uncancelled. It thus appears that the artifi-
cial system adopted tool Vain supplies of gold by purchasing
it at a premium upon the natural market price, is still in
operation. Silver is advancing in price, owing to the
enormous demand from India.

The reduced estimates for the naval and military
services show a diminution of 17,558,9811., being
14,250,930/. for the army, and 3,308,0011. for the navy. It
is believed in some quarters that means will be found to
increase the aggregate diminutions to 20,000,0001., if
possible ; but at present there does not appear any great
prospect of that description. Still, 17,058,981/. is satisfac•
tory. With this reduction, and the new loan of 5,000,0001.,
it is presumed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when
lie introduces Ina budget on Monday week, will be able to
make " all ends meet " without adding to the taxation of
the country.

The monthly debtor and creditor acconnt of the Bank of
France for the four weeks ending yesterday, the Bth inst.,
published this morning, shows some important changes
compared with the account for the precedin mouth of
April. The bullion now amounts to 11,453,9181. against
10,730,000/. last month, showing an increase of 723,9171.
The increase, however, is far from being in the same pro-
portion as that shown in the last monthly account; it was
then 2,165,00.11. upon the amount stated in the return for
Mauch. Still the increase is progressive, and it would be
very favorable if we could Le assured that it was all ob-
tained by the natural results of commercial and exchange
operations. The deposits have increased 1,289,7781.; and
tte Treasury balance has decreased 354,79(11. This
account also clearly shows that the bank has been exten-
sively supporting the Bourse during the past month, for
its loans on Rentes have increased 937,1291., whilst its
advances on Railway Securites are 259,3421. more than in
fhe preceding month, showing an aggregate increase of
1,195,471. The premiums paid during the month on pnr-
chases of gold and silver amount to 93,8181. against
75,3001. last month, being an increase of 18,5181.; and, as
stated before, this class of transactions are still in
operation.

Consols were but slightly affected in the first instance
by the announcement of the loan. The opening prices
were 9.21 to 93 for Money, and 931 to for the Account
(June 4): when the loan was announced there was a
decline of only one•eighth, which was almost immediately
recovered; but afterwards, on some rather heavy sales,
there was a fall of a quarter to three•eighths, and prices at
the close were 94 to for Money, and 93 to i for the
Account.

The bnsiness of the week has been very limited, owing
in a great measure to the attention of dealers being ab-
sorbed by the settlement, which has passed over without
difficulty. The public have been money purchasers to
•
some extent.
The Railway Market has generally maintained firm
prices, and an improvement of from a quarter to one-half
per cent. has been realised on some descriptions. Others,
however, sorb es the London and North-Western and the
Great Western, have rather Audi:lW, owing to shilling off

Pi./ tt

'HIE PRESS.

in the traffics, and to-day shares of all descriptions were
flat, more in sympathy with Consols than from any other
sure of Stock.

Joint-stock Banks and Miscellaneous Shares are, on the
whole, somewhat better than last week, though there has
been no striking change in any.
The amount paid into the Treasury of the East India
House for bills on India, from the 23rd of April to the
Bth of May, was 152 643/.
The Colonial Wool Sales have commenced, and prices
on the average have improved I id. per lb.
The dividend and bonus of the National Provincial
Bank of England amounts to 161. per cent. per annum.
The capital is to be increased to 600,0001.