The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-18 00:00:00

LITERATV'RE.

The Life and Genius of Shakespeare. By Timm;
Kamm London : Longman.

This is in many respects a remarkable work, and
in nothing more than its independent boldness.
We cannot but admire Mr. Thomas Kenny for his
eoursgeous departure from many of the beaten
tracks of criticism, and for the gallantry with which
be walla some of the very strongholds of popular
belief. He at least cannot be charged with flun-
keyiam. Like Mrs. Wittitterly, he forms and ex-
/imams a vast variety of opinions on his own as-
count, and quite unconnected with as y other opi-
nions. We cannot always agree with Mr. Thomas
Kenny. We cannot, for example, assent to his
very disparaging judgment of Coleridge. We, on
the contrary, are of opinion that "The Ancient
Mariner" alone is enfacient tojuntify the renown of
its author. Whilst we thus differ from Mr. Thomas
Kenny, we must do hire the justice to say that his
book is one of very great merit. lie has manifestly be-
stowed intense study and long-continued labour upon
its subject ; he has endeavoured faithfully to com-
prehend the genius of Shakespeare, and to expound
it according to its special ensaifeetations in his
works. If he have not altogether risen to the height
of his great argument, it is because the mind that
could fully comprehend Shakespeare's must be one
of similar capacity and power, and Mr. Kenny is
not the man to claim an equality with his subject.
The biography is well arranged, and well narrated ;
it contains all that is known of Shakespeare, or that
is likely ever to be known. The craning& on the
several plays are marked by vigorousithought, though
the strength of the thought is frequently diminished
by the florid language in which it is wrapped up.
Where the author writes calmly his style is re-
markaby chaste and expressive ; there is an elegance
in the turns of thought and language he employs,
which are the more pleasing that they are wholly
unstudied, and owe their charms entirely to them
natural grace. We think Mr. Thomas Kenny's
work on the whole a valuable addition to our
Shakespearian literature ; for although he con-
tributes nothing new to our stores of information,
be throws much new light upon old materials, sug-
gests many relations between them, and points out
several signification& which are quite fresh.

THE PROTESTANT ALLIANCH -A large number
of the members and sepporters of this society break/steed
togvtber yesterday at St. Jan.ea's-hall, under the presidency
of Lord Lithium Amongst the guests were the Hoe.
A. Kinsaird, M.P., the Hon. Captain F. Maude, Captain
Layerd, Colonel Walker, Captain Low, Mr. T.
Q.C., Captain Story, Lientment-Cokeel Young, Mr. J.
Mr. C. Bird, the Rev. W. M`Call, the Rey.
SM.Acari=., the Rev. C. Peat, Ac. It appears that during
the past year the ordinary subscriptioes and dosatiom
amounted to 1,539!. 31. 3d., being an increase of 260/. 4.. 3d.
over these of lest year. To these must be added the spacial
eeetributious to the Spanish Priscoen Fund of 364 f. 94. 9d.,
sad to the Prise Fond of 79/. 4a. 63., nuking with the
halter* of teat year and the sale of stock a gross total of
2,421!. 13s. X, being the largest amount ever received in
any year. The expenditure during the tame period wee
2,052/. 2s. 83., Maytag a balance in hand of 3691. 10s. 9d.
Addresses were delivered by the Rev. W. WOO, the Rev.
C. Press, Mr. T. Chambers, tied Colonel Walker, and the
proceed** then terminate.
klearrit OF LONDON. -The weekly return issued
by the Registrar-General states that in the three last weeks
the mortality has undergone hardly any enctuation ; and
ie that which waded on last Saturday the deaths were 1,306.
The deaths of persons seder twenty years of age were 636
in the second week of May, which is 12) leis than they were
is the second week of April ; and those of persons at sixty
years and upwards were 240, and showed a decrease of 55.
The average number of deaths in the nineteenth week of
ten years 1854-63 is, with a correction for inaesse of popu-
lation, 1,2N3 ; nod the present retort is therefore rather
in IDIOMS of the number estimated for the second
week of May. Both bronchitis and peetimmia con-
tinue to decline ; 105 deaths are referred to
the former, and 61 to the latter. The corrected average. for
those diseases ars respectively 99 and 80. Phttusis, from
which 170 deaths are returned. exhibits an average rate of
mortality. Fifty children died of measles, sof whom were
in the sub-district of Hackney. Meaelea, scarlatina, whoop-
ing-cough, and typhus produced nearly squat &meant. of
mottality. and so symotic disease predominated io the week.
Seeristina was fatal M 51 eases, and 4of these occurred in
/temente,* East, and 4 in Limrdionse. Six deaths were
caused by horses or vehicles in the rumba A boy was suf-
focated by the fumes of a brick.kile. A man died after
12 days' Meese, of idiopathic tetanus. A charwoman, agd 73
Teem died at the 97th alt., at 14, Newetreet, Birthed- !
green, from breochitis, accelerated by wee* of food. Let
week the births of 963 boys and 973 girls, in all 1,936
children, wenregistered ie Loodoe, la the ten 00179.
*paladin weeks of the years 1864.63 the average number
(corrected) was 1.964. At the Royal Observatory, Green-
wich, the mean height of the barometer is the week was
29.738 ie. The reading fell to 29.44 in. on Monday, and
ran 30.04 in. on Saturday. The mean teuipsrature of the
air is the week was 51.7 deg., which is 0.2 deg. above the
avenge of the same week is 43 yeah (as determined
by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was
below the average on the first four days, above
it en the wit three days. The lowest night 141112p0111611141
was 38.5 deg. on Sunday ; the highest day Numerative was
70.2 deg. on Saturday. The raw is the week was there.
fore 31.7 deg. The mean daily range was 16.4 deg. The
dieereoce between the mien dew-punt temperature and air
temperature was 6.8 deg. The mean degree of humidity of
the sir was 78, complete saturation being represented by
100. A thermometer in the sun attained 117.5 deg. as
Saturday. The mess of the highest temperatures of the
water of the Mums was 57.4 deg, ; that of the lowest was
65.1 deg. The wind was geweray in the est.
rain-fall was 0.39 is., nearly four-fifths of white moaned as
Monday. The deaths in Vises., as rellernedAa Dr.
Clatter, were 486 and 457 in the weeks mem, • 30th
and May 7th. when the temperatures were 54.8 and
44.0 deg. respectively.

Foaron-o►rics, MAT 17.—The Queen bee been
err& to eppome of M. Tbeopbile ebeeetio. Ns mead et
stereo ter ►ie Majesty the Him et tie