The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The Groat Gorham. Case: a Hiasoli: Fres Boar. In-
cluding Espositiorito/ the Rival issial Theories. By
h
a Loossa•ox. With • Preea wax Bassett. Loa.
dos : Partridge sad 04-y. 1840.
This little book is deserving of attention. It is in
eximinatioo of the Gorham controversy by one who,
standieg outside of the pale of the church, regards the
disputants with perfect impartiality. It is the work of
an avowed non conformist, but of one who weighs the
comparative merits of establishment and voluntaryism
with equal acuteness and candour, and who speaks
with frankness, as well when he has to recognise
beauties in the Anglian-Episcopal church, as when
he has to express his dialect from its views. We
have not often met with a book on such subjects
evincing so well balanced a mind, such an avoidance
of all unchari•able feelings—partly the result of a na-
turally amiable disposition, partly of rigorous systems-
tic self-control. Two brief extracts will suffice t 3
justify these remarks: they are submitted to the
reader without any intention to express assent to their
views or dissent from them—simply as historical
facts. The first is :

I hove never been reluctant to express my high estimation
of many things in the established church. I like parts
of her tech nutted system : I admire the Collects, the Lit-
urgy, and the general tone of her service+ and
worship. Often hero I cordially attended that worship, and
to expert( need the power of some of the formularies,
as to have been melted into tears—to have had my hear•
broken and healed at once—and to have felt that I could
dispense wi ti the sermon altogether. To me—to my feel-
ings, judgment, and taste—thecturch has many and strong
attractions. I can not only understand how powerful may
be the inducements to devout minds to turn away from then
I Rice objections that would disturb their repose or dimi-
nish their enjoyment; but I can slso appreciate the nature
of the mugs!a with which minds of deer., insight to sy
endeavour to tying themselves to accept or tolerate the terms
of sub ,cription.
Our sccond quotation is as follows:
It was my intention, when I began this preface, to have
mad• some alma/Its on the tendency of ettobliahments to
protect liberality and lati•ude of opinion, and to check the
ferocity and racemes of the clergy. I meant to have con-
firme•t and illustrated this position by the past history of
the Anglican establishment and the disposition to spirituel
rests Ica m and tyranny in purely rearms:teal convocations
sad conclaves ; from ■ll which prf mission inference would
have followed as to the necessity of the Sate controlling the
church, and riding it, too, with a tight rein, so long as it is
allowed to p fuses the property of the nation, derives power
and unity tom that, •' wands before kings," and •c lifts its
mitr d front in courts and parliaments." At the same time,
it would hays been proper to have adverted to what cannot be
denied, the fearful price, namely, at whith latitude of opinion
and diver,ity cf interpretation, are secured its a national
established (hutch, +Fhb such dogmatic standards as ours ;
on the ore bend, by nothing lees than by open infidelity to
solemn enb•criintons, or, on the other, by applying the prin-
ciples of interpretation to the language of formularies, whith,
it applied by gentlemen to their Intercourse with each other,
or by merthouts and tradesmen in the t tinns of busi-
ness, wou:d sap and destr:y the found-alone of soci.ty by
destn.ying that good faith which alone rendsrs society
posible.
Whtther we agree with what is said in these ex-
tructi or not, we cannot but rect•gniee in them the
utterance of a mind that has thought long, compre-
heawively, icdependently, and in perfect clisrity. Tne
retl-ctions ct each a mind cannot bat be full of in-
structive end useful suggestions. It is fur this reason
we would recommend tne perusal of the bock to dis-
putants within the church on both sides of the qua e.
Lion. Th(y may learn from it at least this—the ter-
minus whither that controversy to which they arc
eager;y restricting their attention is hurrying them
and their church.

The pereonel claims of the author to a respeciful
and cardd hearing are great. We allude to this
without h: sitation, for it is obvious that the author of
the book end the preface writer John Search are one
and the same. We believe that it is pretty generally
known iu circles interested in such dircuesions who it
is that assumes this pseudonym; and it is clear from
the manner in which he plays with his assumed name,
that the author retains it lees for the purpose of con-
cealment, than of imparting a kind of dramatic at-
tractiveness to hie remarks. The invaluable setvicrs
which the reverend author has for a series of years
rendered to soc.ety by his judicicus and parental at-
tentions to young men, thrown loose from the whole-
some control of the family circle, who have resorted
frau the provinces to London to engage in a mere tn-
tile career, =title him to be regarded by ail right-
thinking persons with an affectionate veneration.

DRAMA.

HAYMARKET.

If the production of a COMely is at any time a
work of merit, certainly to produce a comedy in these
days entitles the author to a b ign al mark of approba-
tion. How long is it since we have welcomed a new
one to the stage? Which was the last that took the
town bf storm, and impressed its features on the
public recollection ? The dates of both events are so
remote, that out of courtesy to the distant reminis-
cences of biauty we forbear recalling either.
Comedy, however, has, happily, its votaries—even
now. A crowd—a perfect cripl—in every corner cf
the Haymarket last night bore attestation to the fact.
The occasion was the production of a new comedy by
Douglas Jerrold—an occasion when the theatre might
be even visited in anticipation of a production des-
tined to survive not merely the hour, but the age
itself.

The scene of the comedy is laid in London—where
else, indeed, would Mr. Jerrold lay it? The principal
character is a Mr. Sisencbitll, a bachelor of middle age,
and considerable wealth, residing apparently in Hyde-
park-gardens. The piece turns upon some of the more
memorable incidents of this gentleman's career. He
is of a nervous and excitable habit, but his bodily
maladies exist less in reality than in imagination.
He has about him as a permanent attendant, "a
physician and friend," one Dr. Pelgoose, who has ob-
tained comple'e mastery over his mind and body, and
who causal him, with the skill of a mesmerist, to
feel well or ill, to take his pleasure or
to take his bed, precisely as it may suit his, Petgoose's,
convenience. Dr. Petgoose's mastery over the old
bachelor is finely exhibited as among the trials of his
life, wholly unconscious, as Mr. Snowball is, of the
medico's ascendancy. His other trials consist, first, of a
Chancery suit about a will, into which circumstances
appear to force him ; then of a matrimonial specula-
tion, into which he is advised to enter, in order
to avoid the consequences of the said suit;
then of a duel, which appears likely to arise out
of his pretensions to the lady ; then from a discovery
that he has been thrice swindled by a begging-letter
impostor; and lastly, from a quarrel with Dr. Pet-
goose, which ultimately leads to that practitioner's
reluctant resignation of his post, and his announce-
ment of his intention to introduce to public no-
tice his new " Friend of the Family Pal," in
which, as he acknowledges, the merits consist solely
in the title.

" Plot" to the piece—in acoordance with the usual
play-bon.e requisition—there is none: or, at least, none
worthy of the name. The characters brought into asso-
ciation with Mr. Snowball in the course of his domestic
miseries serve, in the absence of a constructed plot,
to fill up the back-ground of the picture. Chere is
Mr. Snowball', niece, played by Mrs. Buckingham,
and her lover, played by Mr. Selby. There is Mrs.
PeneAdown, represented by Miss Reynolds—the lady
with whom Snowball is about to engage in the Chart- I
cery suit, whom it is proposed to him to marry, who
he invites to elope, and is at last inclined to jilt, when
he hears that her fortune has been lost in railways.
There is also a lover for this lady-7a Captain
in the heavies, bat of no great weight in the piece.
Thtn we have Mrs. Keeley in the character of Mr.
Snowball's housemaid, in love with a drummer played
by Buckstone. Lastly, there is Dust, a butler, grown
independent and saucy in Mr. Snowball's service,
very admirably performed by Mr. Tilbury.
Such is the construction of the comedy. The inci-
dents are not striking, nor are there any @Ru-
stling of a novel charac'er. The scene in- 11
deed lies in Mr. Snowball's drawing-room through-
out the whole five acts, without asy variation. But
I the stresgth of the piece consists not in the tiCee6ll3-
flOq: it rests entirely upon the dialogue, whi.M, from
the first scene to the last, is a succession of jests,
jukes, repartees, and witticisms—some of them ex-
tremely biting and severe, but all pres.mting with
their keen edge an elegantly polished surtace. The
house echoed to a r.pid succassion of
hearty laughs. It would be unfair to those 1
who were not present to anticipate the exciting
causes of their risibility. We premise, however,
to the wits of this and future generations that they
will find many materials in the "Catapaw" which
have not at present come to hand, and which may be
safely branded "genuine."
The weight of the piece falls on Mr. Keeley, who
plays Snowball, and on Mr. James Wallaek, who hss
the part of Dr. Pelgoose. Keel, y threw all possible
I humour into the performance, and made his points with

telling success. la the character of hr. Petyniet
Mr. Wallach hie( seed the genus " Quack" with soma
degree of novel interest; showing among other things
that there are irregular among the regular as well
as regular among the irregultr prwtitionere.
Mr. Jerrold was vocifi:rous'y called far, ar.d bowed
his acknowleugmenta from a private box.