The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-15 00:00:00

168

Shall this excellent reform be checked in mid
career ? Shall the Board of Health be swept away,
in spite of the above-cited evidences of its useful-
ness? Shall Mr. Chadwick be driven from office,
after having done so much real service, and before
doing the further services which still remain for him
to render ?
Lord Palmerston thinks not. That eminent states
man, who has a clear perception of what is really be-
neficial to the country, and does not mistake the cla-
mour of class interests for the voice of the public at
large, is for giving the Board of Health and Mr.
Chadwick two years' further term of existence. With
the " pluck" which characterises Lord Palmerston,
and which makes him such a favourite in this coun-
try, he undertakes to be himself responsible to Par.
liament for the measures of the men he backs, and
at the same time to watch and control their pro.
ceedings
Lord Palmerston'S bill comes on for discussion
next Tuesday. It is for Parliament and the Press
to consider whether, weighing fairly the above stated
services of the board, they will support Lord Pal-
merston's moderate proposal; or whether, making
themselves the unconscious tools of an opposition
which I have shown to be interested, they will reject
the bill, cripple the board, and crush a useful public
servant.

I have the honour to be, sir, Sze.,
F. 0. WIRD.

12, Cork-street, Burlington-gardens,
July 14, 1854.

tip paw.

OLYMPIC THEATRE.
ANOTHER adaptation from a French original entitled
Pas Jalouz has made its appearance in the bills of
this theatre under the name of Perfect Confidence.
The chief incidents upon which the plot turns arise
from the disposition and temper of a certain Mr.
Easy (Mr. Robson), who, pretending to have "per-
fect confidence" in his better-half, is in truth a
most complete martyr to the torments of jealousy.
This species of character is well suited to display
Mr. Robson's peculiar excellences, inasmuch as it
gives him the opportunity for introducing, in the
midst of highly-laughable scenes, those outbursts of
nervous passion which he knows so well how to portray.
The situations of the piece, too, are very comic, es-
pecially one where the jealous husband is discovered
to be concealed under a table by having his hand
accidentally stamped upon by the supposed destroyer
of his peace. Mr. Robson acted with great energy
and ability, and announced the piece for repetition
amidst the unanimous applause of the audience.
The other characters were respectably sustained :
our only cause for complaint is that the dresses
were not designed and manufactured with the
good taste which is in general so excellent a
feature of the wardrobe department of this estab-
lishment. On Wednesday night, on the occasion of
Mr. Wigan's benefit, The Jealous Wife, compressed
into three acts, was produced, the parts of Mr. and
Mrs. Oakley being sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Wigan.
Notwithstanding the excessive familiarity of the
public with this play, it was to all appearance
witnessed with very great pleasure, and the sound,
legitimate acting of the manager and his wife seemed
to give much satisfaction to a densely-crowded au-
dience. Though it is hardly fair, perhaps, to criticise
severely a representation which was at once a benefit
and a first performance, we will take upon ourselves
to say, because we consider it a compliment, that the
best-rendered portions of Mr. Oakley's character
were those of the most elevated cast. It is clear to
our, perhaps erroneous, judgment that Mr. Wigan's
talent shines most in impersonations of a high order,
and that, if he should have the courage, industry,
and health requisite to make the attempt, he is the
only actor of the day who can hope to fill the void
upon our stage created by the retirement of Mr.
Macready. It may fairly be said that Mrs. Wigan's
Mrs. Oakley took the audience by surprise. Granted
as it now must be, that she is an actress of the first
order, no one ever gave her credit for the ability she
displayed in a class of part she is so little accus-
tomed to act. Her impersonation of Mrs. Oakley
was distinguished by its intelligence and feeling, and
in comparatively modern times we have not seen any
superior representative of the character. Space will not
allow us to say more than that Miss Marston looked
positively lovely as Harriet, and that Mr. Emery was
a good representative of the rough and honest Major
Oakley. The play was well put upon the stage.