The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-06 00:00:00

lest night. The speciality is the engagement of Mr. G. V.
Brooke, who opened in Othello. We believe that Mr.
Brooke's performance of that character is not new to the
London stage, but that it took its tarsi with other represen-
tations during his former eagigements in town. If so,
doeibtlem, this delineation met with the careful criticism
and due observance, which we remember et that time his
provincial
fame naturally elicited, and it is hardly worth
while now to enter into • disquisition on the well-known
►endering of this part by • gentleman, who is,
If one is to judge by his reception of last night, •
decidedly "popular" tragedian. It will perhaps suffice
to say that he seemed in extellent health and
the fullest vigour, that he was enthusiastically, nay tu-
multuously, welcomed on his first coining on the stage,
all the points he made received the most hearty applause,
and he was twice called hetes a t►e curtain, so t►at his ap-
pointee* resulted in something like an ovation. Mr.
Davenport was the logo, and • very picturesque-looking,
intelligent, and effective logo he made, taking care to steer
jedicionsly elearofthe usual mistake of letting the " villany"
be transparent even to his dupes. Deedemona was played
►y Miss Anderton, who was feminine, int ing, and ex-
pressive, and very neat besides, while at the proper Dear
sins vibe was quite as powerful as en " gentle " • lady
eight to be. It was a performance worthy of all credit
Of the rest of the characters, with the exception of
the very effective rendering of the little part
of Brabantio by Mr. George Bennett, there is
nothing to be said, except what one does not
wish to say of persons who ars doing their best to please.
After all, Kw enactment " Othello "at any theatre now,
s-days is flying at very high game, and it would be unfair
not to shalt that, all things considered, there was a good
deal of merit la the way it was produced last night. There
could be so doubt of its effect on the audience, who were
mast attentive, as well as epplausive. The after-piece wait
a sew barkeep'. sanded The /014RitliSS of Dowdy. It is,
of eourse,foinaded on • fairy tale, the name or the author of
w►ic► we anal remember ; but there is, es usual, an
'beard old king, • bad joker on current event•, who has •
liesetiful daughter to marry, and who is wooed by a
orals " King Pretty," who, despite his charms of
bee sod mind, is cursed with a humped•back and
other deformities, and can't get the love of the
Prattle is that guise; so he starts off through a
MRS of adventures to find • certain " fountain of beauty,"
which is to do the needful with the unnecessary appendages
to his shoulder,. Ile gets dreaafally bothered in basaltic
gloss aid enchanted words, drinks of charmed springs, is
pestered by a fiend, and rescued by • benevolent fairy, to
whom he doe, • se►rice unconsciously, and is conducted
through the " world of flowers" to the aforesaid fountain,
where he is made quite straight, end returns to sane his
lovely Prince.. in the most gallant siyle from his and her
persecuting genius. All this is trite enough, but as the
burlesque part is not very dull, the cheeses rich, the scenery
Italy beautiful and tasteful; and as a Miss Featherstone
makes a delightful " King Pretty," and sings parodies
ea popular songs with en admirable voice and much skill,
aid the working of the wise ee scene went quite smoothly,
although it was a first night, the production was unques-
tionibly successful. The house was filled to overflowing,
with a cap.tally good•humoured and appreciative audience,
and in every respect last night was a cheering initiation of
the season, and augured well (or its prospects.

TUE sIIOEMAKERE STRIKE AT DEI"O\PORT.

Mr. William Reed, of Muket-atreet, Devimport,
one of th. most extensive employers in the welt of Einit.
load, and who, in consequence of the late strike of his work.
people, has hero advertising for 200 hoot and shoemakers,
has put forth the following statement relative to the shoe-
makers' strike.

lUntlerst.d a general canvass of this town and neigh-
hourho.d has been set on foot for subscriptions to assist
those of the shoemakers who hare thought proper to strike
Tee k with a view of obtaining a higher rate of remunera-
tion fur their craft. They solicit aid under the pretence
that they are cruelly treated and imposed on by their em-
ployers, whim they represent as men caring for nothing
but to get ea much work u poseil:de out of their workpeople
at the lowest remunerating prices whilst they put immense
profits into their own pockets. This is both unjust and
untrue, and as the men have thought proper to mike false
statements relative to their wages, I beg to inform the
public, sir, through the medium of your paper, that the
amount of wages paid to the sober and industrious shoe-
Laken in my employ has ged from his. to 245. per
week through the year, and for the I .st ten years. This is
a fact, and any respectable person who may feel interested
in the subject is at liberty to inspect my wages book for
the period I have mentioned. It is true that some men
do en- earn more than els. 10s., or 12s. per week, but these
are either inferior workmen, idle and given to intempe-
rance, or have not served a regular apprenticeship to the
Ind". The rate of wages employers now pay
is as good and better I believe than it war
Meaty years since, notwithstaading that boots and
shoes have fallen in prico from 20 to 35 per cent.
bet nevertheless I should be glad, and other employers, I
believe, would be equally so, to advance the wages of the I
men, but cannot do so under canting circumstances to com-
pete with a similar class of goods manufactured elsewhere.
The price of leather is advanced from 30 to 100 per cent.
and if masters in this locality were to comply with the
demand of the strikeout' they would be compelled to raise
the prim of their spode, aid the effect of this would be to
ruin the wholesale trade of the three towns, and, in fact,
drive large dealers to other markets. At present the rate of
wimps paid here ie as good, and I assert it boldly. as that
?lid in must of the large manufacturing towns. Trusting
the few (sets shove stated will commend themselves to a
discerning p.th'te who should cot countenance or support a
set of men who desire to impose on their generosity."

THE Bisitor or Dosium.—This right rev. pre-
•lso manifested unmistakeable ague of the effects of
Me and infirmity in his r mut VillitlitiOe tour, continues to
60 in a st^rl precarious state of health. At the confirma-
tions shout to tak• pl ice in different parts of the di.icese,
the Bishop of Manchester will officiate for the hie
prelate

• •
[EATIMoNIAL To ML RYAN*, LATE M.P.—A meet-
+sr bee sit lwen held, under the prrsideney of the Arendea•
eon ill Iserhy, forth. p-rpose of inviting tu•dinner, and Pee-
l'ehtnit with a tigtionoial, Mr. W, Evans, who has recently
wired Irma the representation of North Derby. A day
Ins twee named fur the chaser and presentation.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—Mr. John Males, the
tritiatrnetor of railways, well known as contractor for the
lone extending from Coalville to Eurtos-npon-Treat, Was
ki'ied a few days ego by falling from a soaffelit erected
J net hn boon, called Erkotes-hall, near Ttinbridge
He had recently pennined the estate upon which
M.' 'torsion stands, and was superintending the outside
"tae whet this melancholy accident took place.