The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 26, 1857.

These are merits which will remain with her; her
faults, we think, are transient.
7. In " Frank Millward," Mr. Kenrick has struck
out an innovation in the established manner of novel-
writing. We are familiar with the good old orthodox
plan of bringing the hero and heroine together to
fall in love with each other, and then separating
them by the cruelty of parents or the malice of cir-
cumstances till the conclusion of the third volume.
We are also familiar with the newer—but neither
good nor orthodox—plan of describing two persons
perversely misunderstanding each other's feelings
till the same point of the narrative brings their
tortures (and those of the reader) to a close. But
we never before met with a story constructed, as
this is, on wbat may be called the Unclouded, or
Total Happiness, principle. As it is in two volumes,
we at first imagined that the usual allowance of
misfortunes had been all contained in the second
volume, and that this had failed to reach us. But
the truth, we imagine, is, that Mr. Kenrick is tender
towards the creatures of his brain,—cannot bear to
furrow their brows with wrinkles or their faces with
tears,—or even to throw a speck of mud upon the
gloss of their old fashioned broadcloth. "Frank
Millward " describes the manners and habits of the
Roman Catholic gentry of Yorkshire at the end of the
last century. Tho hero is a scion of a wealthy
family,—handsome, spirited, honourable, brave, and
a good rider, but in other respects perfectly common-
place. He falls in love,—is made uncomfortable by
a Jesuit for a few months, and by jealousy for a few
days,—has his fortune doubled by the prudence of
his trustees,—serves a campaign with the Austrian
army,—comes home, marries the lady of his affec-
tions, succeeds to his father-in law's vast property,
enters Parliament on the removal of the Catholic
disabilities, and, after a few more plums of prosperity,
dies a respectable and aged earl. Beyond what we
have mentioned there is not a single check in his
fortunate career : and the only feature in the book
which redeems it from utter dulness, is the extreme
distinctness with which the characters are conceived,
and the amusing minuteness with which they are
described. Mr. Kenrick chronicles the features,
manner and dress, not only of his hero, but of his
hero's grooms andgamekeepers, and of his heroine's
waiting-maids, with the particularity of the Hue and
Cry, or of a special correspondent at an exciting
trial for murder. 'These points undoubtedly assist
a reader in "realising" the personages of whom be
reads, but they give the book a wondrously prosaic
and matter-of fact air when carried to the extent of
Mr. Kenrick's practice. We shall be happy to find
ourselves in his company again—for he is not with-
out a certain sort of power—if he will but con-
descend to introduce us to some less conventional
and rather more interesting characters than those
which he has assembled on the present occasion.
8. Fiction founded on scriptural themes is not
usually very attractive except to that., in both senses of
the word, limited class of persons which arrogates
to itself the title of the religious public. If adorned
with the usual decorations of the novel, it is not
unlikely to become unduly secular—if rigidly ad-
hering to the slender hints of its authority, it is apt
to be dreadfully dull. We are happy to say that in
" The Handwriting on the Wall " Mr. Atherstone
has produced a much more readable book than we
should have expected. The style, which is a sort of
bastard epic crossed with biblical phraseology, is
unavoidably stilted and sometimes unduly gorgeous ;
but the characters are distinctly drawn and likely to
engage sympathy, the action is rapid, and the plot
very fairly constructed. Mr. Atherstone has read a
good deal, and, having a pictorial imagination, has
coagulated materials from the Book of Daniel.
Herodoms, Xenophon, Layard, Ilawlinson, and
Martin the painter, into a very effective and some-
times splendid panorama. We observe that be
draws his conversations of Cyrus and Creases, with
simple and undoubting faith, from the Cyropredia of
Xenophon—unaware, apparently, that scholars have
unanimously pronounced that work to be a mere
historical romance, and probably intended as such by
its writer, who could have had no means of knowing
the minute details which he has recorded in his
narrative. In other respects Mr. Atherstone follows
his authorities with fidelity, and selects from them
the most telling features; but they would have hem
still more telling if described with less length and
amplitude of language.

9. The author of Gardenia " is not without a
considerable share of that facility in composition
which a constant perusal of Tennyson, Keats, and
Shelley is found to confer. He has some power
of word painting, and has looked on nature with an
affectionate and mindful gaze. He is generally free
from affectation, and can be charged with no worse
fault than insipidity, which Is now so common as
scarcely to be a matter of reproach.
10. " Corona " is a little volume of which the
principal feature is a poem concerning a band of
emigrants to an uninhabited island, named Corona.

Their object is to regenerate the world, and, strange
to state, the expedition is a failure, and the colonists,
who belong to some great modern kingdom which we
cannot identify, embark once more in their ships,
and resolve to settle in England. Mr. Reed, like
Mr. Sandes, is drenched with Tennysonism. The
language of "Corona" is just an echo of "The
Princess," and the song of Atalia is evidently in-
spired by the famous garden song in " Maud." Mr.
Reed, however, is a very expert versifier, and seems
a man of taste and culture.

11. This is not a bad subject for a poem, though
he is a bold man who should seek to succeed where
Sir Walter Scott had failed. Any attempt, however,
at descriptive or martial poetry in the present day
deserves encouragement. Mr. Belaney has had the
courage to grapple with a difficult subject, and to
resist the siren temptations of the spasmodic bchool,
which have wooed many a promising young poet to
destruction. For this he deserves credit.

12. The illustrated Wordsworth is a good book for
a Christmas present. The illustrations are suffi
ciently good. Among the best are Mr. Birket
Foster's from "We are seven," another from "Mi-
chael" by the same gentleman, and one from
"Lucy Gray" by Mr. H. Warren—i.e., "They fol-
lowed from the snowy bank." As a carious instance
of carelessness we may observe that in the three
illustrations of " We are seven," by Messrs. Thomas,
Warren, and Foster respectively, there is a different
kind of church in each.

1259

is the ensuing Hilary Term. Thetesoher will be appointed,
in the first instance, for a period ending Oct. 28, 1802, but
to be re-eligible, with a stipend of 1501. a year.
The Rev. Lewis Sneyd, M.A., Warden of AU Souls
College, has tendered his resignation of the Wardenship
which he has held thirty years, having succeeded Dr.
Legge, late Bishop of Oxford, in 1827.
Upwards of twenty candidates have applied for the
vacant Head-mastership of Ipswich Grammar School.

lmustments, &t.

THE THEATRES.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Three special per-
formances will be given next week, with Giuglini
and Piccolomini. On Tuesday the first performance
will take place, on which occasion the Trovatore will
be produced.
HAYMARKET.—Miss Sedgwick, whose debut has
been the great event of Mr. Buckstone's season, took
her first benefit on Wednesday night. She played
the principal character in The Reigning Favourite,
which is Mr. Oxenford's adaotation of Adrienne
Lecouvreur, and played it with much force and
energy, and again appeared in the little comedy of
The Dowager. Miss Sedgwiek's engagement bas now
terminated, and she is on the point of quitting
London. We hope, however, in a very short time to
have her again among us, and then for a permanency.
Her success has been unquestionable and legitimate ;
and we believe her to be the most promising actress
that we have had for many years past.

The Burlesque•, Pantomimes, and Extravaganzas
intended to celebrate the Christmas of 1857, if report
be true, will surpass those of previous years.
At DRURY LANK, a genuine pantomime, Little Jack
Horner, in which Boleno, Flexmore, Milano, Barnes,
the Brothers Elliot, with Miss Rosins Wright and
Mme. Auriol, will undertake the principal characters.
The reputation of Drury Lane for the excellence of
its pantomime will no doubt be amply sustained.
The HAYMARKET produces a new version of The
Sleeping Beauty in the Wood, in which the Leclercq
family will entirely support the harlequinade.
The Purscess's will also give us a new version of
the old story of The White Cat, in which the scenery
and changes are promised to be brilliant and novel.
The Corsican Brothers, in which Mr. Kean will
resume his original character, will be performed
this evening.

The LYCEt adopts a burlesque of Lalla Rookh,
the scenic effects of which generally, and of one
scene in particular, report declares will sur-
pass everything which has ever appeared on the
brilliant stage of this charming little theatre. Miss
Woolgar will sustain the character of the Troubador
Feramoz.

The Or.vmptc, famous for its extravaganzas, pro-
mises us one new even in origin. The Doge of
Duralto will exhibit Mr. Robson in an entirely new
part.
At the ADELPHI The Loves of Cupid and Psyche
will exhibit Mr. Paul Bedford as Jupiter. The
harlequinade will introduce the dogs and monkeys of
M. Desarais.

CRYSTAL PALICE.—A series of revels to last during
Christmas week will commence on Monday next.
It is impossible, in the limits of our necessarily brief
notice, to do justice to the extensive preparations
made to secure the enjoyment of visitors to the
Palace. There are fabulous reports floating about
with respect to gigantic Christmas-trees and plum-
puddings, of such a size that the Leviathan could
scarcely contain one unbroken ; but we think the
following may be relied on. There are to be
" masques" and "revels," " terpsichorean sports"
and "juvenile wonderments." There is to be a
colossal cartoon of Grimaldi on the screen which
shuts off the tropical plants from the less genial
portions of the building, and the whole of the centre
transept vr:11 be hung with mottoes appropriate to
the season, and in keeping as regards size and deco-
rations with the great type of pantomime on the
screen itself. The centre of the transept will be
occupied by a gigantic Christmas tree, the prizes on
which will be given away among the juvenile marks-
men who most distinguish themselves in shooting at
(or near) targets which, with all the requisite appa-
ratus, are to be provided without extra charge.
There is to be a Christmas•cake of stupendous pro-
portions, weighing four cwt., and expressly com-
pounded for this occasion by the Messrs. Staples.
There are also to be swings and roundabouts pro-
vided, together with the royal nursery " Punch and
Judy," a small ballet company for the opera stage, a
grand wizard, to which he of the North is to be as
nothing, with other attractions more or less appro-
priate, the whole concluding each day with Sir Roger
de Coverley. " danced by a thousand couples." These
festivities are to last for one week, commencing on
Monday the 2t sill of December, and from the scale
of preparations now going forward at Norwood there
is not the least doubt but that the whole programme
is intended to be carried out in the most thorough

and effective manner, and will be really popular.
But it is not alone in these additional features that
great efforts are being made, since every branch of
the ordinary attractions of the building is being
made to assume its brightest and most festive aspect.
All the orange and citron trees have been so arranged
as to assist in the general effect of the Christmas
revels, and, as their boughs are now heavy with
golden fruit, their appearance is beautiful in the
extreme. Since the winter, too, the picture gallery has
been largely augmented. There is a very lair average
show of works of the French school and a tolerable
display of native art. In addition to these there are
also some really fine and notable paintings of the
pre-Rapbaelite masters, many of which were at the
Manchester Exhibition, and in the large vestibule
leading to the picture-gallery are a fine collection of
French photographs, which are quite astonishing,
both as regards size and their perfect finish of detail.
So that, altogether, the Palace presents the most
attractive features to holiday keepers, and is in every
way most worthy of the patronage and support of
the public.
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—Tfie Christ-
mas programme at this institution is this year more
than ordinarily attractive. A private view of the
holiday entertainments was given on Wednesday
evening, and received the unqualified approbation of
those present. In addition to the Indian dissolving
views there have been prepared a new series beauti-
fully painted, and appropriate not only to the pre-
sent festive season, but to the tastes of the juvenile
visitors who may he expected during the next few
weeks. Experiments in natural magic and legerde-
main follow, but they lose their charm by, we think,
a rather inappropriate explanation of all the secrets.
This, of course, will be peculiarly attractive to boys
ambitious of becoming conjurers, but it destroys the
delusion. Iu addition to these attractions an in-
teresting lecture is given by Mr. Pepper on several
recent inventions. When to these are added the
permanent entertainments of the institution we may
safely conclude that the Polytechnic will justly
occupy a large share of patronage during the Christ.
mas holida)s.

SACRED HARMONIC SOClETY.—Haydn's Creation
will be produced on Friday, the Bth January, when
Mr. Sims Reeves make. his first appearance this
season.

Obituarg.

Mn. JAMES COPPOCK, the *ell-known parliamentary
agent of the Reform Club, in the interests of the
Whig party, died on Saturday night of an attack of
bronchitis. Mr. Coppock, who was about fifty-five
years of age, was only in the autumn of this year
appointed by the Government to the Treasurership
of the County Courts of Kent, in the room of the
late Mr. W. F. A. Delane. His services to the
Whig party are too well known to need recapitulation
here.

SIR GEORGE CArrxv, BART., died on the 15th inst.,
at the advanced age of eighty-four. Sir George as a
scientific man held a high reputation. He was a
Liberal in politics, but preferred the quiet of philo-
sophical pursuits to an active parliamentary career.
He sat for Scarborough once in the first Reformed
Parliament. The late baronet was the father-in law of
Mr. E. S. Cayley, one of the members for the North
Riding of Yorkshire, and he is succeeded in his title
and estates by his ROD, Sir Digby Cayley.
REAR-ADMIRAL SIR FRANCIS BEAUFORT, F.R.S.,
died at Brighton on the 18th instant. Sir Francis
entered the navy in 1787, and after a long and gallant
career, in 1812 retired from active sea service to
hydrographical labours, and finally was appointed
hydrographer to the Admiralty in July, 1832. In
1885 he was nominated a commissioner for inquiry
into the laws, &c., under which pilots were appointed,
governed, and paid ; and again, in January, 1845, for
inquiring into the state of the harbours, shores, and
rivers of the United Kingdom. He accepted the rank
of retired rear-admiral on the Ist of October, 1846.

A DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNER, One Woszkowski, a
quasi Polish refugee, last Monday explained to us, at
the Court of Exchequer, the manner in which some
of these persons continue to subsist, and to sub-
sist magnificently, in this country. M. Wosz•
kowski, by profession a teacher of languages
and a writer of begging letters, was in the
habit of extending his services to servants and
landladies, so as to obtain either an introduction
to their lady lodgers or the conveyance of bouquets
to his susceptible pupils. Iu this way M. Wosz-
kowski appears to have eked out a tolerable living,
for the bouquets led to letters, to professions of love,
and to promises of marriage, but beyond the promise
affairs seem never to have progressed. M. Wosz-
kowski, when the fatal settlement was broached,
seems to have displayed himself in hie true colours.
The matches were invariably broken off, and M.
Woszkowski, as in the case of a lady of family in
Staffordshire, pocketed a handsome sum (3004 on

fflontg 'ffttrket anD otitg

THURSDAY EVENING.
THE most important event of the week in the
Money Market has been the reduction by the Bank
in the rate of discount from ten per cunt., at which
it was fixed on the 9th November last, a few days
before the issue of the Government letter, to eight per
cent. By this measure the circulation is again
placed under the Act of 1814, and the excess of
2,000,0001. issued against securities, for which the
Indemnity Act was passed, is cancelled ; therefore
for every note issued ab0ve114,475,0001. bullion must
bo reserved. As a necessary result of this movement,
the terms allowed by the discount•houses and joint.
stock banks for money at call and on short notice
have, been reduced. The banks are only giving 0
per cent., the discount•houses Oi and Of per cent.
A moderate demand has been kept up for discounts
during the week, and on the best bills it has been
met with ease and readiness at rates varying from
eight to nine per cent. The Lombard-street houses
have had almost exclusive possession of business
this week, the joint stock banks having done but
little, while the Bank of England has been kept out
of the market altogether, by the high terms neces-
sarily required before the rate was reduced. But in
all cases it has been only the choicest paper that
has met with ready negotiation. Inferior bills are
still regarded with distrust, especially as commercial
failures are of almost daily occurrence, and no one
can tell what the annual balancing at the end of
the year may bring forth. At the reduced rate
to-day there was an active demand, of which the
Bank took advantage to lend out some rather large
amounts.

Specie continues to flow in, principally from the
United States. As there is an unwillingness to take
bills for remittance to this side, specie only is avail-
able; and large amounts may be expected weekly,
until the ordinary course of trade revives and coati.
dence returns. Some Australian ships with gold on
board are now overdue.

The Stock Exchange was closed to-day until Mon-
day, in order that Saturday, as well cis Christmas-
day, might be a day of rest from the wear and tear
of business.

Consols left off last Saturday at 92} to fez div.
The daily influx cf gold into the Bank, and the grow-
ing ease of the open Money tdarket, soon produced a
conviction that discounts would be lowered, and in
response to this opinion the funds advanced, Consols
touching 93} without the dividend. They gradually
settled down at 93} to }, and they stood at this price
when it was announced that the Bank had reduced
the rate two per cent. For some hours afterwards
quotations remained the same, thus proving that the
movement had been generally anticipated ; but sub-
sequently • few large purchases, principally specula-
tive, caused an advance to 93f toa, and that was the
final price this evening.

Railway Shares have also improved since our last
but the highest quotations have not been maiutaiued,
owing to the traffic returns iu sonic of the great
lines showing a large falling off.
In the Foreign Market an advance of about one
and a quarter per cent. has been established in
lurkish Six per Cents.

Some of the joint-stock banks have also derived an
improvement from the favourable circumstances of
the week.

Exchequer Bills are ls. better. The latest price
to-day Wee 3s. die. to Is. prem.
The Trade Reports from the manufacturing dis-
tricts, particularly those in some of the woollen
branches, are very bad. In Manchester, however,
there is rather more employment than last week.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, December 22.

BANHRUPTS.—Jons Barrrns, Noble street, raleon•square,
dealer in ilk-CHABLCS HUBBARD, Queen's•ruad, Havistock•
hill, builder—Jolts COLLINSOM, Pitwau•buildiogs, St. Luke's,
licensed victualler—Sami•st.Hannts and ISAAC GABRIEL COSTA,

Commercial-street, Whittchapel, wholesale clothiers—SemnEL.
EDWARD STEANE, Oxford. soap and blue manufacturer—HOßEßT
CAVE, Windeor, Berkshire, ffshmonger—Nisiuomv Moos, Green-
street, Orosveuor-equare, child-bed linen manufacturer-JOIN
STARKEY and JUNIN FRRDERICK ADCOCK, Birmingham, percus•
awn cap makers—THOMAS Banks, Caswell End, Staffordshire,
malster—HENßY JOHNSON, %Yost Bromwich, Staffordshire,
licensed victualler —JOHN JAMIESON krftxs, Newark-upon-
Trent, Nouiughsuishire, tailor—THomes Gowns, Bristol,
victualler—EDW•ND SMYTH, Swansea, Glamorganslare, draper
ALEXANDER BRYSON, Hecker, Yorkshire, brewer—JOHN STEAD,
Dewsbury, Yorkshire, joiner—WILLIAM CROAMLEY and GEORGE
Ckosscax, Elland, Yorkshire, cotton spinuers—JoHN BUCKLEY
SHARP, Biugley and Bradford, Yorkshire, worsted spinner.—
DAVID ROBERTS and WILLIAM JAMES HANSON, Halifax, Ycrk-
1-hire, worsted spinners—SAMUEL atatow, Sheffield, grocer—
WILLIAM WAINMAN, Sheffield, joiner-41.3M HAYNRI, Liver-
pool and Cork, Ireland, shipowner—JOHN HAMPSON, Wrexham,
Denbighshire, grocer—Wu-Lux SIGRVING WALIER, Liverpoo4
shipbroker —EDWIN SPENCR ROBERTS, Liverpool, shipowner--
Oh:01ton Wortankm., Warrington, Lancashire, iron manufacturer
—ANDREW VEITCH, NeVICWILIe•UpOII Tyne, musicseller—WD.
LIAM GOUNDRILL, Eastrington, Yorkshire, farmer.

-- -
SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS.—WiLuAis WILSON MorrAT,
Edinburgh, bookseller--JAties MURPHY ANDERSON, Glasgow,
ironmonger—PETE*/ ML'L+aaw, Glasgow, ship carpenter--
WILLIAM DAVIDSON, Edinburgh, coffee merchant —EDWARD
KERR, Kilmarnock, tinsmith—WiLmAst CAMERON, Glasgow,
0011101ISSIOD merchant-0E09.0i }ituaßAY, Glasgow, Hasher—
Jamas Warr, Elton, hotel keeper—Josmim RAissnAis, Dundee,
baker—Wu .mou Isioximas, Frio, Aberclesuabire, menhaul.