The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-26 00:00:00

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.IBrama.

SCRREY.—Shakspertre's tragedy of "Othello " was
performed at this theatre lest night. Mr. Macready enacted
the part of the Moor, and presented one of those delineations
peculiarly his own, which awaken the keenest sensibility at
the moment, and yet appeal to the understanding with the
force and pregnancy of elaborate essays. In no other play of
the author is the psychological theme worked out with so
much care, or exhibited in such a variety of forms. The
misfortunes of the chief actors originate in a species of jea-
lousy, not unnatural, it is to be supposed, because not
unusual, yet most perplexing, that of a father who frets lest
his daughter should prefer a husband to him. The action
opens with the attempt of a mere common suitor to avenge
the contempt of his passion b, making the object of it mise-
rable. Such puny obataclesovereome, the machinations of
jealousy, in a shape more formidablejand with appliances more
potent, are set at work ; disappointed ambition and wounded
marital honour unite to rouse the vindictiveness of an unscru-
pulous and able man. Lastly, and leading to the catastrophe,
there is shown jealousy in the noblest and least selfish guise,
doting while it doubts, suspecting while it strongly loves,
the very disease of true affection that prizes too highly the
cherished object, and converts its own supposed unn orthi-
nem into an instrument of torture. The final disaster, more-
over, is in some measure a contribution from each of these ; for
it is not obscurely hinted that the recall of Othello is the work
of his father-in-law, and even the weakness of Roderiyo
has its share in barring all retreat to layo, should misgivings
or remorse visit him. The jealousy and revenge of Othello
then are essentia.ly distinct from the corresponding passions
in logo, with which only they are contrasted, for the poet
preserves his bero from all contact with a creature so con-
temptible as Roderigo. In last night's performance Mr.
Macready made tenderness the companion of his suspicions,
so that the wildest bursts of his fury seemed an escape from
the pleadings of affection, a triumph of the will
over the persuasive advocacy of fondness. Of revenge, in
the vulgar sense of the word, there was, in respect of Lhsde-
mono, no symptom; the determination to kill her appeared
a judicial resolve, formed in the awful domestic forum of
which the Oriental husband is at once the judge and the
executioner. With this view of the character, founded on
tie passage—which Schiller in his " Don Carlos" puts under
similar circumstances, and almost word for word, into the
mouth of Philip—
"No: to be oace in doubt

110--cons Seb,resated
the assassination of Cassia was inconsistent : and atonement
for it was made by the deep humiliation of manner with which
Castio'e pard,m ems asked in the dart sane. To panic:ll4llre
the many beauties of this performance would be to swell this
notice to the bulk of an essay: there was, however, one point
made, to us new, which it would be improper to pass over in
silence. When Desdernona moves after Emilia has knocked
at the door, Othello, who would not have her linger in her
pain, again tries to smother her. Afterwards, and when
Emilia has twice again spoken,
, he says—
" Ha . no more moving!
Still as the grave. Shall she come in ! Were% gool
I think she Airs again;"—
At these hot words a dagger gleamed in the hand of the
actor, as if he were about to show himself " cruel, yet mer-
ciful." The incident was horrible, even agonising ; but the
account of the rnurderof Archbishop Sharp shows its terrible
truth to nature. Of the other actors we cannot speak in
terms of commendation. Mr. Cooper made lago such a
• -

palpable seouadrel, that his success,reven with the-particular
Roderigo of this house, seemed unaccountable. Neither he
nee the gentlemen who severally played the parts of Castio,
Roderato, and Montano, seemed to know that they were re-
presenting men of high rack familiar with the highest ranks
of society. Though the nobles of Venice served only in the
navy of the Reputlie, the Venetian troops were offieered by
the adventuroas younger sons of the highe,t families in
Italy; and a coarse, spiteful, vulgarian, such as Mr. Coop( r
etwe to make logo, would never have been permitted to act
as the standard-bearer of St. Mark. The hou,c was filled to
the ceiling, and it gives us pleasure to remark, the perform-
ance was not disturbed by overcrowding.

NAVAL.
PORTAMOVTII, Seer. 23.-The Ajax, steam screw pro-
peller block ship, was docked yesterday in No. 4 dock, the
next to the Edifthuoilf, same class of vessel for coast de•
fences ; they are bt;th in such a state of forwardness that, in
an emergency, could soon be ready for the service intended,
but at present will only have a few handremployed in them
• as they can be spared.-The Plover, Captain Collinson,
sailed this morning for the eastward to be paid off.-The
Champion, 18, sloop, and Serpent, 16, will both be docked
in No. 1 flock to-morrow, and brought forward as rapidly
as possible for commission.-The Victoria and Albert yacht,
Captain Lord Adolphus Fitzelarence, has gone on two
months' leave. Rear-Admiral Parker has returned from
his leave, and resumed his duties as superintendent.-
The Hastings. 72. advance ship, was brought down from her
moorings and taken into the basin to-day, and will be
docked to-morrow, in No. 2 dock, to examine her copper and
bottom.-The Fairy steam-yacht tender has received her
external coat of paint, and her bottom a coat of linseed oil,
and will go out of flock to-morrow, and, if necessary, will be
docked again when the Hastings goes out of dock. She is
required for her Majesty in about ten days.-The Naiad, 42,
fitting for the coal depot, is taken out of dock into the basin.
-The Rattlesnake, 2, Captain Owen Stanley, proceeds to
Borneo on a surveying expedition when ready fur sta.-The
Recruit, Captain Slade, sailed this afternoon for the coast of
Africa.
The Penelope steam frigate :-We stated in our paper
of the 12th instant, that an official notice had been
published in the Gazette of the previous evening, that an
account of the tonnage bounty received for the capture of
a schooner, name unknown, by H.M.S. Penelope, on the
20th of October, 1811, would be delivered into the registry
of the High Court of Admiralty yesterday. A further
notice was published in lest night's Gazette, stating that a
distribution of the tonnage bounty granted for the capture of
the above vessel will be made on the 19th of October next,
at No. 22, Norfolk-street, Strand; where the unclaimed
shares will he recalled fur three months: Captain, 311.95. Id.;
first class, 3/. 17s. 71d. ' • second class, 2/. Cs. 61d. ; third
class, 11.35. 31d.; fourth class, 1.13. 61d. ; fifth class, 7s. 9d.-
sixth class, ss. 22. ; seventh class, 2s. 72. The Alert, 16:
We also stated at the same time that an account of the nett
proceeds of the tonnage bounty for the Brazilian brigantine
-Triumph° de 'Priv iga, captured by H.M. sloop Alert, on
the 23rd of May, 1815, would be delivered into the registry
of the Court of Admiralty yesterday. Another notice was
published in list night's Gazette, stating that a distribution
of the seizors' moiety of the nett proceeds of the above-named
brigantine, and of the tounage bounty granted fir the said
capture, will be made on the 19th of October, at 22, Norfolk-
street ; where the unclaimed shares will be walled for three
months : Commander, 231. Bs. 1 id, ; fret class, 121.135. lid.;
second class, 71. Ils. 10Ad.; third class, 31. 1.55. 111 d.; fourth
class, 21. 10s. 7id.; fifth class, 11. 6s. 31d.; sixth class,
16s. 100.; seventh class, 80. 51d.
Capt. Sir Thomas Bourchier, .C. 8., recently appointed to
the auperintendentship of Chatham Dockyard, vice Capt.
W. 11. Shirreff, time of servitude (five )ears) expired, took
charge of that establishment on Mondry, Capt. Shirreff
taking his final departure on Tuesday. Sir Thomas Dour-
chicr has since proceeded on a few days' leave of absence.-
Capt. Alexander Ellice, who, we believe, was a candidate
for the appointment, is again put down for Sheerness Dock-
yard, vice Richard Arthur, C. 8., about to be promoted,
there being no truth in the statement of his having b.sen
appointed to the Comptroller-generalship of the Coast Guard.
The Southampton, 60, fitted as an advance-ship with the
exception of masts and bowsprit not being yet iu place, was
put out of dock at Chatham, on Wednesday, when the Hite-
spite, 50, recently paid off at that port from tho Mediter-
ranean, was hauled in to be fitted fur commission. Alba-
tross, 16, and .llatine, 12, are progressing with their fittings
for commission in dock.
arroisvvesrs, Sam. 24.-Capt. E. P. ILdsted, to study at the
stesin factory, Woolwich; Lieutenants C. B. Stockdale, to the Ordi-
nary, Sheernesa ; Thos. Tribe, to the Ocean; R. W. Suckling, and
Joseph Dayman, to the Rattlesnake; Master T. T. Brown, to the
Rattlesnake ; Second-master T. 11. Insldp, to the Rattlesnake ; Mas-
t( r's4essistants E. Brookes, to the Reath snake ; C. 0. Johnston, to the
Blase,; issistant-aurgeon G. Pizey, to the Express; Gunner W.
Tenet% to the Saute ; Boatswain E. R. Douglas, to the Rafileanake;
Carpenter C. Freud, to the Rattlesnake: Naval Cadet C. neat 11, to
the linftirshrtkr; First.engincer B. R. Cameron, and Second-engineer
J. Stewart, to the Williams and .Vary (supernumeraries).