The Press.
London, England, 1854-06-24 00:00:00

THEr ;PRESS.

The Rights of British a, 'Neutral Commerce, as
affected by recent Royal Declarations and Orders
in Council. By John Hosack, of the Inner
Temple, Ilarrister-at-Law. London: Sweet.
Tins little treatise is the best of several which have
lately come under our notice on the same subject.
It is divided into three chapters. The first is histori-
cal, and refers to the past state of the laws affecting
commerce in time of war; the second treats of the
recent declarations and orders in council ; and the
third contains much practical information on the
subject of contracts, freights, and insurances. In an
appendix the official documents ale set forth in ex-
tenso. The work is enriched, but not ostentatiously
and unnecessarily crowded, with notes and references.
As the index is copious and the chapters are divided
into sections, any subject can be easily found--a
point of importance in a treatise of this nature. The
language is clear and concise, and the little book,
though sufficiently learned to be of use to the law-
yer, is yet quite comprehensible by anon-professional
reader. The third chapter, especially, should be
read by all engaged in trade and commerce.

The Sultan of Turkey, Abdul MedjidAn. A
Bnef Memoir of his Life and Reign. By the Rev.
Henry Christmas, M.A. London: J. F. Shaw.
Ma. Caanincts is resolved to be the Plutarch of the
present European crisis; his "Life of Nicholas "
appeared a short time since, we have the Sultan now
before us, whilst the career of the French Emperor
is promised "in due course." The view Mr.
Christmas takes of the character of the Sultan is
high, and he considers him to be the " most intereNt•
" ing prince in Europe." From Mr. Aubrey de
Vere's " Picturesque Sketches in Greece and
Turkey," an anecdote is cited showing how this
young prince was disturbed at his devotions. Accord-
ing to custom, be prays at his father's tomb, and at
the commencement of his reign an audible yet stifled
voice issuing thence was heard ejaculating " I burn ! "
Many heard the awful words, and, of course, the
inference of the Ulemas was that Mahmoud was
tortured in the world beyond the grave for his
reforms in this, but one day the Sultan
" announced his intention of going in state to his father's
tomb, and was attended thither by a splendid retinue, in•
eluding the chief doctors of the Mohammedan law. Again
during his devotions were heard the words, ' I burn,'
and all except the Sultan trembled. Rising from his
prayer-carpet, he called in his guards, and commanded
them to dig up the pavement and remove the tomb. It
was in vain that the muftis interposed, reprobating so
great a profanation, and uttering dreadful warnings as to
its consequences. The Sultan persisted; the foundations
of the tomb were laid bare, and in a cavity skilfully left
among them was found—not a burning Sultan, hut a
dervise. The young monarch regarded him for a time
fixedly and with great silence, and then said, without any
further remark or the slightest expression of anger, You
burn ? We must cool you in the Bosphorus.' In a few
minutes more the dervise was in a hag, and the bag imme-
diately after was in the Bosphorus; while the Sultan rode
back to his palace accompanied by his household and
ministers, who ceased not all the way to ejaculate,
Mashallah ! Allah is great; there is no God but God, and
Mahomet is his prophet. '"

According to certain canons of historical criticism
there would be little difficulty in proving this to be a
myth founded on the old riddle about Bagdad. Mr.
Christmas can make a very good book if he chooses :
we therefore hope that he will devote more time, and,
therefore, do more justice, to the Emperor Napoleon
than Abdul bletijid bas received at his bands.

~

Stratford Shakspere. Edited by Charles Knight.
Vols. V. and VI. London : Hodgson.
EACH volume contains two plays. Mr. Knight has
bestowed great care on the text, and at the conclu-
sion of each drama, under head of " Various Read-
ings," he notices the latest corrections which have
been suggested, and gives his reasons for receiving
or rejecting them. Sometimes he strains sense to
support old readings, as when he prefers fast to feast
in Biron's speech (Loves Labour Lost, act i., se. 1),
but his judgment is always entitled to respect from
his diligent study of the text. To each play there is
also an useful glossary, and some critical remarks on
the plot and characters. The edition is cheap, neat,
and convenient.

Gatherings from Many Authors, Living and Dead.
By Philip Smith Sparling. London : Hope.

A sums. volume containing selections in prose and
verse, rarely exceeding a page in length, from our
standard authors, and occasionally from lighter
sources—periodicals and newspapers. The author
diaplass good taste in his extracts, but not much
knowledge of Looks. The well-known anecdote
of the meeting between Charles I. and Mr., after-
wards Sir, Richard Shuckburgh is in Clarendon.
Mr. Spading states Notes and Queries as the
authority.

SATURDAY,

The Statistical Companion for 1453. By T. C.
Bonfield, Bsq. London : Longman and Co.
IN this well-compiled volume the globe itself is first
described, including the height of its mountains and
the length of its rivers ; and afterwards the statistics
of commerce, agnculture, population, and of all that
exists or is administered on its surface, are given.
The work, though small in size, contains an im-
mense quantity of matter.

The Life and Adventures of Dick Diming. By C. J.
Collins. London : Collins and Tonsford.
THE author has given us a low comic novel written
with no little talent., and exhibiting some knowledge
of the external phases of "turf" society. The story
is well constructed, but wanting in refinement. There
is too much of vicious life described ; and, although
the writer's object be a good one, we cannot commend
his having introduced us to such "a queer lot" of
" dark" characters.

Oakileld ; or Fellowship in the East. By W. D.
Arnold. London : Longmans.

THE second edition of a work which, on its first ap-
pearance anonymously, attracted considerable atten:
tion, and was the occasion of some controversy.
It was said to be an unjust attack on the Indian army,
to which Mr. Arnold belongs, and for this reason the
second edition now appears, under his name, with
some prefatory remarks in which, whilst disclaiming
any attack on the Indian service, be justifies his
censure on that part of those " who regard our noble
" profession not as furnishing a pledge and security
" for the honour of its members, but rather as afford-
"ing a justification and excuse for licence ; who
" denounce uprightness as folly, gentlemanly principle
" as cant, and common decency as methodism." Mr.
Arnold is a lieutenant In the 58th Regiment 8.N.1.
Conscious of what belongs to the name he bears, he
deliberately republishes these startling revelations,
on which recent intelligence from India furnishes a
fearful commentary.

Thoughts on the Vocation and Progression of the
Teacher. By Miss Sarah Jolly. London : Samp-
son Low and Co.

A TREATISE, in which Miss Jolly discourses rather
solemnly about teachers and teaching, and mingles
metaphysics with practical rules. Amongst the latter
is one which juven►les will heartily applaud. "When
" the attention is wearied, recreate rather than e'er-
" else it : time will be gained, not lost, thereby." Sir
E. Bulwer Lytton lately said it was by observing this
rule that he has been able to accomplish so much.

THE ROYAL FIOTEL GUIDE AND ADVERTISING HAND-
noox.—Messrs. W. H. Smith and Sons, of No. 13F,
Strand, have just published a first edition of 10,000
copies of their [novel guide and handbook. It con-
tains a list of more than 8,000 hotels in every part
of the United Kingdom, arranged in a tabular form
under their respective localities, with, in a small pro-
portion of instances, the particulars of their charges.
The innkeepers, from some cause or other, have
with the exception of three per cent., withheld their
co-operation from this useful enterprise. Another
edition will he published on the lst of August. The
book has been widely circulated in all public institu-
tions in England and in the principal cities of the
Continent, the colonies, and America, and the public
at large is invited to send hotel bills to ➢lessrs.
Smith, that prices from these documents may be in-
serted in future editions of the book, which would
then, of course, be greatly increased in utility.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
Boors.
The Life of Marguerite Angosileme. M. W. Freer.
Hurst and Blacked.
The Byzantine and Greek Empires. G. Finley.
Blackwood and Sons
Trephely. A Poem. By J. Longland. Saunders and Otley.
The Bachelor of the Albany. Chapman and Hall.
The Life of Cardinal Richelieu. W. Robson. Itoutledge.
We're all Low People There, and other 2'alrs. Ditto.
Master's Ready Reckoner. Ditto.
The Coves of the C'sgotal Palace. Ditto.
The Mysterious Marriage. C. Sinclair.
Clarke, Keeton, and Co.
Anecdotes of .4nimal Life. J. C. Wood. Loutledge.
Wilson's Tables for Seamen's Wages. Neely.
Jerningham. Chapman and Hall.
Tilbury Nogo. Ditto •
Clara Morison. Parker and Co•
Syria and Palestine in 1851.52. C. W. M. Vande Velde.
Blackwood and Son.
The Last of the Old Squires. Longman and Co.
Poems. Second Edition. M. Arnold. Ditto.
Gibbon's Roman Empire. Vol. 111. Monty.
England and Russia. 1)r. J. Hamel. Bentley.
PAMPHLETS.
The Poor of the Metropolis. A Sermon. Rev. H. Makenzie,
Warrington and Co
The Religious Restoration in England. The E'pieroptil
Sermon. C. Wordsworth, D.D. Rivingtons
The Religious Restoration in England. Census of Religious
Worship. C. Wordsworth. Rivingtoni
Letter to Lord John Russell. Right Hon. T. 1%.
Kennedy. rßidgol'ay

JuNE 24, 1854.

HOME CIRCULATION.
THE young King of Portugal is the town lion (a royal
lion is the most terrible and taking of all). At Wool-

wich ; at Portsmouth ; at every one of the London
sights; at the houses of three duchesses in one night;

with the Lord Mayor (and actually permitted to go
over the Stook Exohange without being mobbed) ; at
the last Caledonian ball ; to say nothing of the opera,
the parks, and public gardens, has he presented
himself, so everybody in London must have had a
chance of meeting, staring at, and wondering about,

this royal young gentleman of seventeen.
At the botanic fete on Wednesday, which her Ma-
jesty and the Prince Consort attended, Mr. Turner,
of Slough, sent a "perfection" pelargonium, which

is to go down to Windsor. The Duke of Nor-
folk's gardener won honest rewards for his fruit.
Some two thousand guests were summoned to the
state ball on Tuesday at Buckingham Palace. The
greatest attractions were Gibbon's classical statues of
the Queen and Prince Consort "in the costume of
heroic art, with a slight and delicate introduction of
colour in the draperies and adjuncts of the figure."
This tinging of statues is destroying the one artistic
principle of the sculptor's art. No ono wishes a
statue to be a reality.
Lord Ellesmere has paid twelve hundred guineas
for the " Francesca " by Delaroche, now in the
French Gallery. There is a pleasant picture just
added of the Empress of the French, by Dubufe
file, who sold his widow's mite for two hundred and
fifty guineas,
Mme. Rachel, at Paris, has just lost her sister
Rebecca, a very pretty, clever actress, of the Theatre
Francais, who used to shine in Victor Hugo's Angelo
as Catarina.

Here, in our town, the Opera Lyrique extends its
success. Mme. Cabel is the most natural of all the
various Filles du Regiment who have sung the
"Rataplan." She is piquante down to her very boots,
the maker of which has been inquired after by more
than one lady of distinction.
The war is making our merchants turn their
thoughts, long withheld, to India. There is the
finest field in the world for flax and hemp, as also
for the cheaper production of paper. The St. Peters-
burg hemp broke with a strain of 100 lbs., while the
Indian varieties bore tests of 175 lbs. to 400 lbs.
The strongest of all is the "Kote Kangra."

The Royal Albert ship is being fitted for the
Baltic. She is to have a complement of 1,000 men
only. Everywhere the Jacks are scarce. The mer-
chant pay has risen 2/. per mensem for able hands
since May. There's a very just hope expressed that
this new " sea castle " be despatched to the Black
Sea rather, for Admiral Dundas wants a larger flag
ship. Her mainmast, weighing twenty-five tons,
has been shipped. Heaven speed her wherever
she goes !
It was a fine sight on Sunday to witness the con-
firmation of three hundred of the household brigade
by the Bishop of London. He's a good hand at a
ceremony where the rubric is strictly decisive and
irresistible. The men seemed strongly impressed
with what they went through. 'Twas like the opening
of a prayer before battle.
It is rumoured among our old officers wbo know
the Russian army well, that the late accidents to
Paskiewitsch, Luders, and other officers of distinc-
tion in the Russian army, were by "bullets with
a sure billet." News from the: English camp
states that in several instances the Russian privates
have shot their own officers in the melie.
Ella's Musical Union on Tuesday was as usual
thronged with pretty faces: wherever they go you may
be sure of crowded rooms. Ernst and Mlle. Clause
in one of Mozart's quatuors, brimful with melodies,
satisfied every one thoroughly. That charming
pianists is liked everywhere, by nobody more than
her Majesty; and though the Queen's band is
directed for her, her taste is not; and in the petites
soities you frequently can find "Little Clauss" as
the profession familiarly call her.
Mr. Charles Kean takes his benefit on Monday.
He has catered well for the public, but his morals as
a manager want mending, for he has certainly pro-
duced the wickedest drama on the English stage, let
alone its irreverent and infidel tendencies. Faust
and Marguerite ought to be burnt at the top of
Oxford-street or in Torrington-square by the licenser
of plays.
Captain Owen, of the Department of Practical Art,
has been summoning the various trades at the Society
of Arts rooms in John-street, to elaborate arrange-
menta for their display at Paris next year.

M.-

Ttlt PRESS.

tnsir.

• PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
THE programme of the eighth and last concert of
the season, given on Monday last, was as follows :
PART I.—Sinfonla In A, N 0.2, Memlehmolm—Seen, "Softly
sighs" (Der Freiseltilts), Mine. Clara Novello,Webor--Concerto
in E flat, Pianoforte, Herr Pacer, Beethoven—Aria, " Sorgete "
(Maumetto Sesonio), Sig. Ballettt, Rossini—Overturs (Frei.

,
*eh iitz), Weber. . .
PART ll.—Sinfonia In C minor,lleethoven—Duetto, " Cinque,
dieci" (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mme. Clara Novelto and Sig. Mel-
lott', Mozart—Overture (Joasunda), Spohr.

This concert, though not comprising one piece with
which the public are unfamiliar, was, on the whole,
very successful. Mendelssohn's symphony in A,
No. 2, produced all its wciald enthusiasm, the se-
cond movement being, according to custom, rede-
mended and repeated. We contess that we never
listened to this composition with greater pleasure ;
and the progress it makes in our affection is the beet
test of its merits as a work of art. We well remem-
ber the time when the applause and praise bestowed
upon it, even in the presence of the composer, were
very qualified, and now there is scarce a lover of
music who will deny it to be the inspiration of a
genius of the first order. The execution was almost
without a fault. Beethoven's symphony in C miner
calls for no remark. The unfortunate indisposition
of M. Ernst having rendered his appearance impos
sible, his place was supplied by M. Feuer, who per-
formed Beethoven's concerto in E flat. This com-
position (in point of structure and weight of
instrumentation almost equal to a symphony ), in-
terpreted by so able a player, was the best consola-
tion the directors could administerto the subscribers
for their disappointment. The overtures to Der
Freischitz and Jessonda were well executed, though
the effect of the former was much marred by the
inaccuracies of the horns, caused, no doubt, by the
excessive heat of the room. The vocal music was
partly good, partly indifferent. We never heard
Signor Belletti to greater advantage than in the aria,
"Sorgete." The music is not of a very high order,
but it, is essentially vocal, and, when delivered by an
artist who can feel as well as execute, it cannot fail to
delight such as appreciate good singing. Signor Bel-
letti gave his aria to perfection—his performance, in
shore, could not be surpassed. We regret we cannot
extend our commendation to Mme. Clara Novelle,
though, it must be confessed, her execution of the
scene from Der Freischiitz was perfectly successful
with the audience and obtained great applause. This
lady is a good musician and possesses a tine voice,
but her method is bad, and she is so little endowed
by nature with feeling and sensibility that she must
be content to hold a second place in our estimation.
On the whole, we think the directors have reason to
congratulate themselves upon the results of the pre-
sent season. Of novelty, it is true, we have had but
little ; but when did novelty succeed at concerts of
this class unless backed by some name which was a
warrant for its excellence ? It is idle to suppose that
the public will subscribe in order to listen, night
after night, to long, tedious symphonies, the work of
masters who, though of unquestionable talent, have
no pretensions to that high order of success which
few have attained since music became an art.
We think, however, that something might with
advantage be done for novelty in the selection
of the overtures and other lighter pieces. During the
present season the specimens of overtures have
been confined to compositions which, although ex-
tremely beautiful, are so well known that they have
almost lost their interest now with audience and or
chestra. We regret to say that we can report no
satisfactory improvement in the vocal department.
The directors have evidently endeavoured to effect
something, but their attempt has been a failure.
Their choice, it is true, has in general fallen
upon classical pieces, but these, for the most
part, have been so hackneyed and unsuited to the
concert-room, that the change has not been for the
better. The engagement of singers has been also
the cause of dissatisfaction, and not without reason,
seeing that Miss L. Pyne, who is undoubtedly the
best English singer, has never appeared but once.
Before taking our leave of these concerts until next
year we must express our gratitude to the directors
for abandoning the absurd practice of giving two
symphonies and two concertos in the same evening,
and generally for their efforts in shortening the con-
certs. This policy has proved very popnlar with the
subscribers; and we hope to see it followed up next
year by the promulgation of a request or suggestion
that individual movements of symphonies may not be
called for.

Lord John Russell has appointed Mr. John F.
Boileau his private secretary. Mr. Arthur Russell
continues with his lordship in the same capacity.
The curacy of St. Paul's church, Knightsbridge,
in the diocese of London, has become vacant. It
is in the gift of the Hon. and Rev. Robert Liddell,
M.A.

Ca

505

pram.

HAYMARKET THEATRE.
Miss REYNOLDS, one of the most accomplished and
deservedly-popular of our actresses, took a benefit on
Wednesday last, when she performed in Planche's
new play, The Knights of the Round Table, and in
Haynes Bayley's little drama, The Barrack lioom.
In times past an actress of Miss Reynolds's class
would have been considered as a representative of
what was then termed "high comedy " ; but, now
that the high comedy aforesaid has become an ex-
tinct species, Miss Reynolds is known to us as an
artist who, more efibetually than any other lady on
the stage, holds the mirror up to nature, shows
society her feature, and the age and body of the Time
his form and presence. Though she, no doubt, ex •
eels in those parts where the lady of education or the
woman of the world has to be represented, she is by
no means unsuccessful characters which involve a
deeper interest; and, if the power of expression and
flow of sensibility which she unquestionably possesses
were more under command and directed with
greater knowledge of effect, she would soon become
a serious actress of no mean pretensions. Her per-
' formance in The Barrack Boom was exceedingly
pleasing. Unassisted as she was, by even moderate
ability, in the representatives of the other characters,
it is only surprising that she obtained so decisive a
success. We are happy to state that the house was
exceedingly well attended.
OLYMPIC.
ROLSON'S benefit drew a crowded audience to this
theatre on Wednesday night. In addition to The
Wandering Minstrel and Hush Money, Wigan's
clever farce of A Model of a Wife was reproduced for
the occasion.

CnEMORNE.—The summer weather of the last
week has drawn large numbers of visitors to the
Cremorne-gardens. The chief feature in the at-
tractions has been the novel and daring descent in a
parachute by Mons. Letur, a French aeronaut., who,
after two failures, owing to the want of ascending
power in the balloon at another metropolitan estab-
lishment, succeeded in his attempt on Tuesday last.
This admirable and courageous experiment will be
repeated on Tuesday next.

THE DECIMAL SYSTEM.
A DEPUTATION from the society lately formed for the
purpose of promoting the system of decimal coinage
waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer oa
Tuesday last t t urge upon the Government. the
propriety of adopting that system. The deputation
included Lord Monteagle, Lord Stanley, the Hon.
H. Liddell, the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, Sir Joshua
Walmesley, Sir G. Strickland, Mr. Cobden, Mr.
Dundee, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. H. Brown, Mr.
Oliveira, and many other members of Parliament.
Mr. H. BROWN, M.P., after explaining the object
of the deputation to the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
remarked that the decimal system of coinage wan
either in existence or in course of adoption in Sweden,
Holland, Belgium, Lombardy, the Zollvertsin. Poland,
Switzerland, France, Rome, Sardinia, Greece, Ma-
deira, Spain, Portugal, South America, the United
States of America, Canada, Bermuda, China, Japan,
and Russia.
Mr. GLADSTONE replied that with reference to the pro-
posal to issue new coins, it was necessary that the
Government should previously have made up its mind not
only as to the propriety of introducing a decinial system,
but also that a pound should be the unit of account.
Although they had had various commissions and com-
mittees upon the subject of a deeitual coinage, it bad not
yet gone thmagh anything near that process of sifting
amongst all classes of the comistrurity interested in the
question that would make it itafe for the Government to
take any decisive steps. There could not be a doubt that
the decimal system of account would be of immense ad-
vantage ; even if there were a doubt', the high authority in
favour of it would be resistless; bat with regard to a
decimal system of coinage, they had not yet received suffi-
cient evidence as to the 'reuse and feeling of the com-
mercial claSses of the country. It was plain that the
class who had really paid great attention to the subject,
the commercial population, were certainly favourable to
the general principle of a decimal coinage with a pound as
the unit; but there were numerous musses of people who
knew nothing of decimals, and who carried out their busi-
ness on a different system of account, with different divi-
skink ofi'etin,g some peculiar facilities, the omission of
which would be lost if they adopted a decimal system. In
his opinion this was a question on which the mere judg-
ment of the Government was of no importance. There
were dome questions which were caned on the recom-
mendation of Government, and others by the convictions of
the country, and some by a mixture of both. Now, this
was one on which the feeling of the people must decide the
whole question. lie frankly owned that he worthy no
means convinced that they could get rid of the penny ; but
lie made this admission to them, that nothing could be
more unimportant than the opinion of himself, or env man
in office. upon a subject of this nature. The question was—
what did the country think? Were they prepared for this
measure? It was a matter on which they could not take
any decisive steps until it had undergone that sifting and