The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-19 00:00:00

SEPTEMBER 19, 1857.

;t pranta.

SURREY THEATRE.—The opera season having
terminated, the " dramatic" season of the Surrey
has recommenced this week under the able manage-

ment of Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. The staple
commodity of the evening is the comedy of A Bird
in the Hand, which was one of the most successful
pieces last season, but this is followed by a burlesque
version of La Traviata proper to the reopening. A
store of exciting dramas are in course of preparation
for the winter. _ _

ADELPHI.—Mr. T. P. Cooke has appeared upon the
stage once more. Without exaggeration, his rein.
venescence, as the Times remarks, is one of the most
singular events recorded in the history.of the stage.
To say that he acts, fights, sings, dances, and, in
short, performs his part, whether as" Sweet " William
in Shia Eyed Susan, or Long Tom Coffin in The
Pilot, with vigour and freshness, and with the most
careful attention to detail, scarcely expresses the
nature of that acting with which our fathers and
grandfathers were conversant. Everyone should go
and see this illustrious representative of the British
sailor.

THE LATE MR. DOUGLAS JERROLD.
WE published very recently a circular from Mr.
Charles Dickens and Mr. Arthur Smith, announcing
the conclusion of the Jerrold performances, and re-
ferring to " the untrue and preposterous statements "
which had obtained circulation, with reference to pro•
ptrty asserted to be left by Mr. Jerrold. Mr.
Dickens and Mr. Smith then stated that the Jerrold
committee, " unless they bad thoroughly known and
beyond all doubt assured themselves that their exer-
tions were needed by the dearest objects of Mr.
Jerrold's love, those exertions would never have
been heard of." As a comment upon this circular,
we subjoin the following letter from Mr. Blanchard
Jerrold, the present editor of Lloyd's Newspaper.
It has gone the round of the daily press during
the last week :

My father left property sworn at Doctors' Commons at
1,5001. In addition to this sum, my mother held a policy
in her own right on my father's lite, value 1,0001. Other
items raise the total sum to 3,0001. The copy-rights of
my father's plays realise an average income of 1001.
More, the position of the members of my father's family
would have enabled them, had there been need for their
exertions, to supply any deficiency the above prope-ty
could not cover. It is due to the memory of my father
that the public should know that he left a sufficiency for
my mother and sister, and that the love of his own kin-
dred, in any case, would have insured this sufficiency.
In explanation of the " Remembrance" performances,
I, as representative of my father's family, should state that
I declined emphatically to receive anything that should
wear the appearance of a charity—such charity being
needless. The " Remembrance" performances. I was
distinctly assured, would be in honour of my father's
memory, and be offered as an addition to his estate. If

the public have gathered any idea from the condoet of
these performances that they were effurta of charity, I
have only to ensure them, on the part of Mr. Douglas Jer-
rold's family, that the illustrious dead had husbanded
enough against the need thereof—even after the loss of

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thousands, for which, in the chivalry of friendship, he
became security. I thank the earnest friends who have
conducted these performances for their zeal and kind
intentions, bat I decline to permit the English public to
remain impressed with the idea that there was need to
pass the hat round—however gracefully—in the name of
Douglas Jerrold—a name that shall not want my exertions
at least to preserve its independence.